Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman, 99 



broad, of a regular depth of 4 feet all across, and gliding 

 slowly north-east at about a mile an hour ; on our return it 

 was quite dried up, and in place of w^ater we found nothing 

 but white drifting sand and gravel, brought down from the 

 mountains of Cordova. Two more days and nights travelling 

 brought us to the Rio de Cordova, a fine stream of the clear- 

 est water that can be seen in any of these provinces. The 

 bottom is stony and gravelly, the stones having been brought 

 down from the mountains, 30 miles distant, by the current ; 

 for throughout these extensive plains not a vestige of stone or 

 metal can be found. 



6th. We rested at the passage of the river for most of the 

 day, repairing carts, &c. The town of Cordova is in view, 26 

 miles on our left, and appears charmingly situated at the foot 

 of a ridge of hills, stretching north-west. While travelling 

 through the woods I noticed a Passiflora, and saw several 

 species of strong-growing Cactus ; and on the steep and dry 

 banks many of the largest Algarobas were completely killed 

 with loads of air-plants, of which great masses hung fi-om 

 every branch. 



8th. After passing this river, the road rises considerably, 

 proceeding more to the north ; its former direction was north- 

 west, and is now north-north-west ; the tract over which we 

 passed was miserable, dry, and barren in the extreme ; a few 

 stunted shrubs of Chaneos, Algarobas, and some other species 

 oi Mimosa were all that could be seen. One of the latter pro- 

 duces a quantity of clear amber gum which distils from its 

 beautifully green bark. At the posthouses we obtained water 

 at from 12 to 15 feet from the surface, and in one instance the 

 cattle were served with it at the rate of a Spanish dollar for 

 100 beasts, the water being raised by a horse in a sheep's 

 hide from a well 5 yards deep. In this dry tract we passed 

 over 18 miles, which having been set on fire accidentally by 

 a camp, had been left a naked plain of black ashes, with the 

 bare stems of the shrubs remaining erect like blackened rods. 

 These extensive conflagrations are common in these districts, 

 making a splendid appearance by night. With the first shower 

 that falls on the scorched ground a lovely crop springs up, 

 consisting of Oxalis, red, yellow, and rose-coloured, mingled 



