The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 827: Chapter 383: The Evening Breeze Brings News from South America (5K2)_2

A local butcher proudly told me that he could handle twenty-two horses in one day, and at most, he could kill and skin fifty horses in a single day. However, I think he was bragging because this is an enormous workload. Generally speaking, being able to skin and hang up fifteen or sixteen horses in one day is already considered a good day.

Nonetheless, over the past six months, through my interactions with them, I had the opportunity to glimpse the character of the local residents. The Gauchos, or countryside people, typically have a much better character than those living in towns.

Although they sometimes make you feel uneasy, this is actually due to their helpful, courteous, and hospitable nature. I have never encountered any rude or indifferent behavior. They are gentle, respectful of themselves and their country, and full of vigor and courage.

On the other hand, the likelihood of robbery and bloodshed occurring is too frequent. The custom of carrying knives is the primary reason for the latter. Too many people have lost their lives over trivial quarrels, which often escalate into fights. Every time they strike, they try to leave scars on the opponent’s face, aiming for the nose and eyes, as evidenced by the deep and ugly scars on many faces.

Robbery is the inevitable consequence of prevalent gambling, alcoholism, and extreme laziness. When I was in Mercedes, I asked two poor fellows why they didn’t have jobs. One of them seriously told me that the daytime was too long for him, while the other said he didn’t have a job because he was too poor.

Their words amused me instantly. It was then that I realized it was hard to encourage diligence in a place with beautiful scenery, abundant horses, and plenty of food. Besides, there are too many holidays here, which, although I don’t dislike them, as more holidays mean more reasons for daily celebrations, it does result in wasting one or two months of the year.

Additionally, police and law enforcement efficiency here is at a relatively low level, nowhere near the standard at Scotland Yard. I have no doubt that if you came here, you would immediately be appointed as the local chief constable.

If a poor person kills someone and is caught, he will be imprisoned or even executed on the spot. But if a wealthy person with friends commits murder, well, you know, he doesn’t have to worry about any severe consequences from the crime.

The strangest thing is that the local high-ranking residents will assist murderers in fleeing. They seem to think that crime is against the government, rather than the common people. Travelers have no protection other than their own weapons. Therefore, should you ever want to travel to South America, carrying a weapon is absolutely necessary.

The virtues of the educated upper class in the city might be comparable to, or even slightly worse than, those of the Gauchos. However, I believe they have also adopted many vices that Gauchos absolutely do not have. Debauchery, contempt for religion, and severe corruption are far from rare.

Before coming to South America, I once thought Britain was bad enough, but compared to here, Britain seems like Heaven, while the moral standards in the officialdoms of Argentina and Chile are comparable to the sewage outlet of the Thames River.

From what I’ve seen, all public officials here can be bribed. Yes, I mean all of them. I’ve found that the heads of post offices sell forged government currency, while provincial governors and prime ministers openly embezzle state resources and lands.

Every law enforcement process involves more or less monetary transactions, so people here never expect any justice or fairness. In Montevideo, I met a British businessman who told me a funny incident that happened when he first arrived here.

When he first came here, unaware of the local situation, he was deceived while doing business. He sought advice from a lawyer following his usual British thinking, hoping to understand how to sue the fraudster. The lawyer told him to give some money to the High Chancellor.

When he went to see the High Chancellor, still unfamiliar with local customs, he walked into the office shaking in fear. He stammeringly presented the case and said, “Sir, please accept these two hundred pounds, and I hope you can catch the person who deceived me before a certain time. I know this is illegal, but my lawyer XXX advised me to do this.”

The High Chancellor smiled and tacitly agreed to the request. Moreover, he politely thanked him for the money. Before the businessman even returned home, he was informed that the fraudster had already been thrown into prison.

Tsk tsk tsk, in a country where even the highest-ranking leaders are so unprincipled, and lower-positioned officials receive extremely meager salaries and behave just as unscrupulously as their superiors, it’s laughable that people still think a democratic government can succeed in such an environment.

Of course, my impression of South America isn’t always bad. On first contact with the people of these countries, you notice two or three characteristics particularly stand out. People of all classes are courteous, dignified in their behavior, the women’s grooming and dress are exceptionally tasteful, and people across classes treat each other equally, unlike the rigid social hierarchy in Britain.