WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 69I 



Camis, Quivalsas, Calchines, Mecoretas, Mepenes, Canas, and other 

 tribes, all naked and savage in their customs and their reasoning; 

 they wear skins and live by hunting and fishing. 



Chapter XLVI 



Of the City of Santa Fe and Its District. 



1823. The city of Santa Fe is built on a high blufif on the Tucuman 

 bank of the Rio de la Plata ; the city has a marvelous location. It 

 will have 150 Spanish residents ; the Governor of Buenos Ayres keeps 

 a deputy here. It has a parish church and Dominican and Franciscan 

 convents. In its district they raise abundance of wheat, corn, and 

 other cereals, with all kinds of Spanish, and some native, fruit. There 

 are many vineyards, from which they make quantities of wine ranking 

 among the best in that country ; it is A'ery delicious, abundant, and 

 cheap. 



1824. Opposite the city there is an island in the river 3 leagues 

 long, on which the residents keep the mules and horses for their 

 service, with other possessions of importance. There is much cattle 

 in the district, from which the residents make quantities of hides 

 which they export to Spain, and much is taken to the city of Cordoba 

 in Tucuman, which is 60 leagues away, and to Potosi ; a cow is 

 usually worth 2 reals in this country, and if one buys a lot, it costs 

 less. There are large mule ranches. 



1825. Near the city there are a few Indian parishes for its service, 

 and the tribe of the Calchaquies, who are a warlike people, and go 

 naked ; they keep those plains and the river banks covered with their 

 cabins (habitaciones) and overflow and spread over all of it. Next 

 them come the Baguales tribe and others. 



1826. That whole country is covered with wild cattle, ostriches, 

 and capybaras, which are like water hogs ; they have them only in 

 those parts of the Indies. They always live in the water, but come 

 out also on land to feed and to sleep ; the females menstruate. There 

 are large numbers of seals. Almost all this country is bare pampa, 

 although there are patches of woods. Near Santa Fe are the Provinces 

 of Uruguay, Tape, and Viaza, people who wear clothing, and who are 

 all farmers and good people ; Don Francisco de Cespedes, Governor 

 of Buenos Ayres, tried to subdue them. 



1827. The journey from Santa Fe to Buenos Ayres is 85 leagues 

 and is made by river. The farther side of the river is occupied by 

 Guaranies, with a few peaceable parishes. The journey is also made 

 overland in large carts (carros) or long, narrow carts (carretas) 



