1 70 To the River Plate and Back 



which guava-jelly is put up, is one of the staple sweet- 

 meats which is sold in great quantities in the markets 

 and grocery shops of Buenos Aires. The value of these 

 lands has appreciated, and men of wealth have pur- 

 chased large holdings in the delta, and from the sale 

 of firewood and fruits are receiving handsome returns 

 upon their investments. Some of the wealthier owners 

 have built for themselves summer homes on the islands, 

 about which they have planted groves of eucalyptus 

 and other ornamental trees. 



After leaving San Fernando our course led us for a 

 short time through narrow canals, and we then reached 

 the great southern arm of the river, which we crossed. 

 Looking north and looking south the water seemed to 

 meet the sky. On either side the low banks of this 

 channel are clothed with tall reeds and rushes (Scirpus) 

 forming prairie-like expanses of blue-green marshland, 

 back of which, on the slightly higher ground, were low 

 fringes of taller and darker green growths. A number 

 of large ocean-going vessels were in sight, either going 

 up toward Rosario, or coming down. We made our 

 way diagonally across the river to the entrance of 

 another canal, through which we passed, reaching at 

 length a larger stream on the banks of which was the 

 station of the island-police, where we took on board a 

 soldier in uniform. It seems that in this interminable 

 tangle of islands and waterways travel is not always 

 safe. River- thieves and desperadoes have found hiding- 

 places, where they watch for opportunities to rob the 

 unwary, and although our yacht was a government 

 vessel, the additional precaution was taken of having 

 on board a man clothed with authority to make arrests 

 and handle a gun should occasion arise. 



I was happy in the company of Dr. Haumann-Merck, 



