May 26, 1856.] SOUTH AMERICA. 169 



Andes, and for each 100 miles of longitude on the line of road across 

 the Pampas, — a task which he completed in 60 days. 



The results, which are given in a tabular form, constitute an im- 

 portant collection of authentic data for geographers. It is satisfac- 

 tory to observe how they corroborate the accuracy of the labours of 

 the old Spanish officers, Bauza and Espinosa, whose map of the same 

 line of country over the Pampas was published in the Hydro- 

 graphic Office at Madrid in 1810. A copious appendix gives a 

 particular account, drawn up by various learned individuals in the 

 United States, of the Indian antiquities, and of the zoological, bota- 

 nical, and mineralogical collections made by the officers in the 

 course of their travels. 



These volumes are beautifully embellished by well-executed 

 plates, especially the natural history part; and the work reflects 

 great credit not only upon the scientific attainments of the offices 

 employed in carrying out the great astronomical and geodesical 

 work entrusted to them, but also on the industry and ability with 

 which they have brought together a large and varied mass of in- 

 formation regarding the countries they passed through; and the 

 Government of the United States has done but justice to their 

 labours in publishing the results of this important survey in the 

 most liberal manner at the expense of the State. 



Brazil. — The labours of our Honorary Member, Dr. Martins, in 

 Brazil have come before us recently under a new form, in a volume 

 presented to us by the author, containing fifty beautiful views illus- 

 trating the vegetation of Brazil. 



Paraguay. — From Lieut. Page, commanding the U. S. Steamer 

 * Water Witch,' we learn, under date " Buenos Ayres, Dec. 26, 

 1855," that " the embarrassments arising from the jealous prohi- 

 bition of the Government of Paraguay have, to such a degree, con- 

 tracted the field of operations, as to deprive this expedition of the 

 privilege of making contributions to geographical science and 

 natural history to the extent that I had anticipated. I neverthe- 

 less hope that our labours will prove not to have been in vain in 

 either of those fields, and that the result may give rise to com- 

 mercial intercourse with countries fruitful in natural products and 

 susceptible of extended and varied cultivation, but whose resources 

 as yet lie dormant, waiting for the hand of energy and industry to 

 awaken them to life. I allude particularly to those provinces most 

 directly interested in the navigation of the river Salado, a river 

 rising in the Cordillera, in the western part of the province of Salta, 

 and discharging itself into the Parana at tlie town of Santa Fe. 



