BUENOS AYRES. 



51 



I'roviuce 

 of Buenos 

 Ajm. 



Pnrviuce 

 f Para, 

 guay. 



This province, whose name implies the salubrity 

 of its climate, enjoys nearly the same temperature 

 throughout the year. The rains, however, arc some- 

 times of long continuance, and thunder storms are 

 not uncommon. The pamperos, too, which w have 

 alie.idy mentioned, are very disagreeable, and even 

 at times dangerous from their fury. The soil in tin- 

 vicinity of the town, and also on the north side of 

 the river, is, in general, rich and productive, requi- 

 ring very little labour, and no manure, to yield abun- 

 dance of wheat and maize ; also, most kinds of Eu- 

 ropean fruits, as grapes, melons, figs, apples, peers, 

 peaches, and cherries ; and even the productions of 

 warmer climates, as pimento, oranges, ananas, &c. 

 Between Buenos Ayres and the river Saladillo is one 

 complete plain, without a tree or rising ground, till 

 near the banks of the river, which is about 60 miles 

 from the Spanish settlements. On the south of the 

 river, and extending far to the north-west, are the 

 immense plains of Pampas, which present a sea of 

 waving grass for 900 miles, with very few interrup- 

 tions of wood and eminences. Their luxuriant and 

 nutritive herbage affords pasture to innumerable herds 

 of cattle, that rove unowned and unvalued, and whose 

 hides and tallow alone are sought after by the Spa- 

 niards, and form a principal article of the trade of 

 Buenos Ayres. They are also the abode of im- 

 mense troops of wild horses and deer, ostriches, ar- 

 madilloes, partridges, wild geese, ducks, and other 

 game ; and towards the frontiers of Chili, guanacoes 

 and vicunnas are met with in considerable numbers. 

 Over these plains lies the only route between Buenos 

 Ayres and Chili. The Spaniards generally perform 

 this journey in companies, as the plains are infested 

 by tribes of savage Indians, who go there for the 

 purpose of hunting wild horses, and to rob such tra- 

 vellers as they can surprise and overpower. Through 

 this extensive flat, there are no landmarks or traces 

 by which the road can be discovered for many hun- 

 dred miles, so that they are obliged to pursue their 

 route by the compass. They generally travel in co- 

 vered caravans, drawn by oxen, and are accompanied 

 with baggage-horses and mules. These caravans are 

 made almost as commodious as a house. They have 

 doors to shut, and windows on each side ; and the 

 ioor is covered with a mattrass, on which the passen- 

 gers sleep for the greatest part of the journey. Tra- 

 vellers, however, are sometimes reduced to great dis- 

 tress, both from the intense heats, which prevail du- 

 ring the middle of the day, and the scarcity of wa- 

 ter, which is often not to be met with for several 

 days journey. The road leading from Buenos Ayres 

 to Peru is very different. Post-nouses are erected at 

 regular stages, where relays of horses and carriages 

 are provided for travellers ; and as no wild and un- 

 subdued Indians lie on that tract, they arc under no 

 apprehension of any sudden surprise. 



The province of Paraguay, though rich in none 

 of the precious metals, ib one of the most opulent in 

 the new viceroyalty, from its vegetable productions. 

 The climate is, in general, temperate and agreeable ; 

 the trees are clothed in perennial verdure ; and the ex- 

 tensive plains, -which are covered with the richest 

 pasture, arc enlivened with prodigious herdi of hor- 



"' 



ses, mules, cattle, and sheep. The herb of Para- 

 guay, a species of tea, grows here in great abun- 

 dance, and forms a considerable article ottraffic with 

 the other provinces. They carry on also a considcr- 

 ah! trad.- in wax and honey. Numerous missions, 

 lis!i-:d by the Jesuits, are scattered over the pro- 

 vince, which are now converted into presidencies, 

 and governed in the same manner as the other Spa- 

 nish settlements. These presidencies have greatly de- 

 clined since the fall of the Jesuits ; and it was with 

 difficulty that the Franciscan and Pominican fath- rs, 

 who succeeded the Jesuits, could prevent their total 

 abandonment by the converted Indians. Their uni- 

 ted population is now estimated at from 30,000 to 

 4-0,000 families. 



Tucuman is a rich inland province, producing all 

 kinds of grain and fruits, and abundant pasturage, 

 but of a warm and rather humid temperature. It is 

 watered with many beautiful rivers ; and there are 

 carriage roads through the greatest part of the pro- 

 vince. The woods afford wax and honey, and plen- 

 ty of game ; but are infested with the American ty- 

 ger, and other beasts of prey. Cotton is cultivated 

 in the neighbourhood of San Jago del Estero, and a 

 small quantity of cochineal is occasionally collected ; 

 but indigo, which was formerly here a great commo- 

 dity, is now, through the neglect of the inhabitants, 

 entirely lost. The Tucuman mules are famous over 

 all the viceroyalty for strength and docility ; and, 

 according to Estalla, there is no person in this pro- 

 vince so poor, that does not kill a cow or a heifer 

 every day for the support of his family. 



The province of Los Charcas contains some im- Province 

 mense deserts and impenetrable forests ; b\ also of Los 

 some extensive and fertile plains, intercepted by the 

 stupendaous heights of the Cordilleras. The air is 

 in general mild, and varies very little throughout the 

 year, except on the mountains. In the district of 

 Potosi, it is extremely cold and dry, and the coun- 

 try remarkably barren, producing neither grain, fruits, 

 nor vegetables ; while at Tomma, about 120 miles 

 east from the city of Potosi, the air is hot and sul- 

 try, and the soil is covered with vineyards and sugar 

 plantations. The delightful vales of Tarija are wa- 

 tered by abundant streams, and are celebrated as sur- 

 passing every other part of America, in the salubrity 

 of their climate and the fertility of their soil. Wheat, 

 maize, cocoa, grapes, flax, Paraguay tea, &c. are 

 produced almost spontaneously ; and its annual ex- 

 portation of cattle is computed at 10,000 head, each 

 valued at from eight to ten dollars. The higher re- 

 gions of this province abound in vicunnas, pacoe, 

 guanacos, and lamas, which indeed are common to 

 all those tracts, where the elevation renders the air 

 continually cold. Los Charcas is of immense extent 

 towards the north, reaching from the borders of Pe- 

 ru to the confines of Brazil, and comprehending the 

 extensive countries of Chaco, and of the Chiquitos, 

 Moxos, and Chiriguanos Indians. 



Cuyo borders on the Andes of Chili, and with Proviuce 

 that country presents the same phenomenon wluch 

 is observable in the peninsula of India, where the 

 Ghauts, and the Table-land of Mysore, separate the 

 coasts of Coromandel and Malabar. The seasons in 



