The Delta of the Parana 167 



of interest. We boarded our train, and passing Palermo, 

 the Hippodrome, and Belgrano with its pretty villas 

 perched upon the slightly rising river-terrace, we came 

 in less than an hour to San Fernando, a village tenanted 

 by fishermen, longshoremen, and sailors. The popula- 

 tion gains a livelihood from the waters, or, as boatmen, 

 by serving the throngs of people who frequent El Tigre, 

 the adjacent summer resort, which is to Buenos Aires 

 what Coney Island is to New York. We alighted and 

 were quickly driven to the dock, where a steam-yacht, 

 which had been put at our disposal by the authorities, 

 was lying at the landing. The captain was awaiting 

 our coming, the steward kindly took charge of our 

 luggage, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the 

 screw was in motion and we were backing out into the 

 stream. The vessel was provided with a cabin capable of 

 furnishing comfortable accommodations for the party, 

 and the larder was well stocked. The crew consisted 

 of six men, including the captain, who was a Scandina- 

 vian. Dr. Roth informed us that our objective point was 

 a gas-well which had been reported to him as having 

 been recently discovered, and which he wished to see. 

 The channel in which we found ourselves was narrow , 

 the water was muddy, the banks were lined with willows 

 and small poplars, shading a very miscellaneous col- 

 lection of boat-houses and shanties, having a rather 

 dilapidated and tumble-down appearance. We soon 

 left them behind us and began to thread our passage 

 through the maze of waterways, which are the only 

 roads in the delta. The day was bright and sunny, the 

 breeze which was created as we swiftly went along 

 blew refreshingly in our faces. Seated on the deck 

 just before the wheel-house, we asked questions of the 

 captain and received his replies. 



