The Delta of the Parana 181 



upon the tracks and the ordure of a herd, which had 

 evidently been at work in the vegetable patch of our 

 Italian acquaintance during the night. 



But the whistle of the steam-yacht blew, a signal 

 that the time for leaving had come. We returned to 

 the landing, and in exchange for the red roses which the 

 pretty black-eyed children of our Italian friend brought 

 us, gave them a box of bon-bons, at sight of which 

 their eyes fairly sparkled. With many an "Adios" we 

 parted company, and the swift little craft swung out 

 into the stream and turning began to head back again 

 through the channels toward Buenos Aires. 



The day was still young when we got under way and 

 we were informed that we would have a chance to loiter 

 on our return and that we would make several stops. 

 Our first place of call was a landing where the captain 

 had an acquaintance with whom he wished to speak. 

 His friend was evidently possessed of floricultural 

 tastes. The house stood on piles only about ten feet 

 from the edge of the stream. Back of the house there 

 appeared to be an almost impenetrable growth of jungle, 

 and in the narrow open strip between the water and the 

 house was a curiously commingled growth of all sorts 

 of flowering plants and shrubs. Pansies and migno- 

 nette, verbenas and calla-lillies, roses and heliotropes, 

 geraniums, fuchsias, and almond bushes were all 

 blossoming together. On the stumps of two or three 

 half-decayed trees orchids had been fastened and seemed 

 to be thriving. Petunias and sweet alyssum were 

 growing in boxes. The little garden, raised by only a 

 foot or two above the river, the slime of which must 

 often invade the spot, looked bright against the back- 

 ground of the dreary uncultivated waste in which the 

 building is located. The owner was a store-keeper like 



