282 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



fine climate, sufficiently fertile soil, ready access by 

 water to a vast region of the continent, along with a 

 favourable position for intercourse with Europe. But 

 these privileges are made almost valueless by human 

 perversity. The military element, which has been 

 allowed to dominate in the republic, is the constant 

 source of social and political disorder. A stable 

 administration is unknown, for each successful general 

 who reaches the presidential chair must fail to satisfy 

 all the greedy partisans who demand a share of the 

 loaves and fishes. After a short time it becomes the 

 turn of a rival, who, with loud promises of reform, and 

 flights of patriotic rhetoric, raises the standard of 

 revolt. If he can succeed in getting enough of the 

 troops to join him, the revolution is made, and 

 Uruguay has a new president, whose history will be a 

 repetition of that of his predecessors. If the pretender 

 should fail, he is summarily shot, unless he be fortu- 

 nate enough to make his escape into the adjoining 

 territories of Brazil or Argentaria. 



On the day after my arrival the news of a rising 

 headed by a popular colonel reached the capital, and 

 troops were sent off in some haste to suppress the 

 revolt. In each case the existence of the Government 

 depends on the uncertain contingency whether the 

 troops will remain faithful or will hearken to the fair 

 promises of the new candidate for power. 



It is obvious that a country in a chronic condition 

 of disorder is a very inconvenient neighbour, and 

 Uruguay would long have ceased to exist as a 

 separate government, if it were not for the jealousy 

 of the two powerful adjoining states. Brazil and 



