Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/495



AGAIN TO THE ALLIED FRONT. 465

Loma Valentina, aud containing as you will see, a wealth of damaging documents. Good horses were tethered to the tree-stumps around. The General welcomed us, glanced at our letters, and asked if we had breakfasted — it is his generous practice to keep open house or tent. He then produced a box of the best Havannas, which were followed by cups of the fragrant Yungaz coffee. Originally from Mocha, this Bolivian variety is justly held in the highest esteem ; unfor- tunately it is rare as it is delicious. I first tasted it in the hospitable house of the Messrs. Duguid at Buenos Aires^ and the perfumed flavour faintly suggested the odour of incense.

The guest-rite concluded, we sat down to a table spread with charts, especially an enlarged copy of Captain Mou- chez^s excellent map, into which details taken from various informants had been filled. D. Emilio pointed out to us what he thought should be the future of a campaign, con- cerning which I can only say that it still drags its slow length along when it should have finished in the beginning of 1869. Commanding the Argentines during the latter part of the war, he has seen much service, and he wdll pro- bably see more. He is one of the few Platines that have ever shown aptitude for la grande guerre, and his country has done wisely to employ him. D. Emilio is a tall, stout figure, well known for personal strength, and he has the jovial look which often accompanies great physical force ; his beard is dark and full ; his hair, though not grey, is becoming scanty at the poll, and yet he appears much younger than his brother, D. Bartholome. Altogether he is a prepossessing and military figure, which must com- mend itself to the sex whose commendation he mostly values. His men are thoroughly satisfied with him, and he has something to say in favour of their dash, but little about that solidarite which he so much admires in the

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