690 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



1819. There are a few settlements in the district, the principal 

 ones being Yastato and Los Ojomas, who are peaceable, and others, 

 apart from many tribes which are yet to be converted. In this city 

 and its district they make quantities of cotton stockings, canopies, 

 bedspreads, and other elaborate and highly esteemed products ; there 

 are many herons from which they get fine aigrettes. They gather 

 much wax and honey ; although the country is flat, there is much 

 woods and forests ; they get quantities of algarroba, from which 

 the Indians get their vintage of wine, which is an agreeable drink. 



Chapter XLV [35] 



Continuing with the District of the Diocese and State, as far as 

 Santa Fe. 



1820. Returning from Rio Bermejo to Siete Corrientes, it is a 

 journey of 120 leagues to Santa Fe through a wilderness, although 

 there are a few Indian parishes ; but the natives do not render service, 

 and for that reason, since most of the Indians are usually in revolt 

 and on the warpath, the ordinary route to Santa Fe is down the 

 Rio de la Plata, which is 2 or 3 leagues wide at Siete Corrientes, 

 and so are the bluffs ; and as for the marshes and overflowed land, 

 they are 15, 20, or 30 leagues across. It is wooded and cool along 

 the banks of this mighty river, and the forests are a very delightful 

 and cheering sight. 



1821. Along the banks there are settlements of warlike Guarani 

 Indians, and a few that are peaceable. On the Tucuman side as one 

 travels to Buenos Ayres, there are vast plains they call pampas, on 

 which there are occasionally patches of trees, but very few. The 

 plains are inhabited by Baguales Indians, a naked tribe, for the 

 climate allows of everything ; at the most they wear a deerskin. 

 These go on the warpath and at other times live peaceably, as best 

 suits them; they are apportioned for service (encomendados) in 

 Buenos Ayres, but they are no good. 



1822. Over these pampas rove countless numbers of cattle, mares, 

 and horses, for the most part cimarron (stray) or wild; ostriches, 

 which cover the earth ; if an industry could be created in their plumes 

 and trade be built up in them, great quantities could be exported to 

 Spain, for they are excellent and of many colors, and many people 

 would prosper in the trade. There are herds of deer covering the 

 earth, and all sorts of game, for a distance of 70 leagues between 

 Las Corrientes and Santa Fe. Along the banks of the river there 

 are many other tribes living there, such as the Carcaranas, Quirondas, 



