barouche – a four-wheeled carriage for four passengers and the driver, with two seats facing each other
26
the Mississippi – the largest river in North America; it flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. Together with its tributary, the Missouri River, the Mississippi is the longest river in the world
27
Louisiana – the US state (123,366 square kilometres) admitted to the union in 1812 as the 18th member; it borders Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas
28
a Creole – in the old French or Spanish states in the south of the USA, a person of pure European or mixed European origin; descendants of the French and Spanish settlers
29
penates – home, household; in Roman mythology, Penates were household gods who protected the house
30
Erebus – in Greek mythology, Erebus (Darkness) is the offspring of Chaos (the Greek for Abyss)
31
gramineae – grass
32
algarobias – a kind of wood species
33
mezquites – a name of a bush with thorns
34
Fort Inge – a settlement built in 1849 on the eastern bank of the Leona River, 135 kilometres south-west of San Antonio
35
lazo – lasso – a long rope used for catching horses and cattle
36
ranchero – rancher (Spanish)
37
calzoneros – trousers (Spanish)
38
calzoncillos – men’s underwear (Spanish)
39
botas – boots (Spanish)
40
Moorish – related to the Moors, a population of medieval Spain and Portugal of Moroccan, Algerian or Berber origin; the Moorish style is typical for architecture and decorative art of medieval Spain
41
the Conquistadores – participants of the Spanish conquest of America in the 16th century
42
cavallero – a nobleman; originally: a cavalry man, a military man on horseback
43
mustangs – North American wild horses; they descended from Spanish horses brought to America in the 16th century. Tamed mustangs are known for their speed and strength
44
a Jack – a common man, a plebeian
45
a tête-à-tête – a private meeting of two persons
46
piccaninny – (US) a small child; an African baby
47
Lucifer – in Greek and Roman mythology, the Lightbearer – the morning star, symbol of dawn; in Christianity, the name of Satan before his fall
48
Tartarus – in Greek mythology, the deepest part of the underworld
49
Pluto – in Greek mythology and religion, the son of Cronus, and brother of Zeus; he ruled the underworld, the dark land of the dead
50
Proserpine or Persephone – in Greek mythology and religion, the wife of Pluto, king of the underworld
51
hullabalooing – making a lot of noise about smth; expressing excitement
52
ambuscade = ambush – an unexpected attack from a hidden place
53
lorgnette = binoculars, field-glasses (French)
54
ghouls – in Arabic folklore, demonic spirits who inhabit cemeteries and deserted places
55
ogres – in fairy-tales, giants eating human beings
56
Titans – in Greek mythology, the children of Uranius (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth)
57
Bacchus – in Greek mythology and religion, the god of vegetation, better known as the god of wine and ecstasy; in Roman mythology this god is known as Dionysus
58
musketry – from musket – a firearm of the 16th–18th centuries; in the 19th century it was replaced by a rifle
59
crape –
