2 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



and is bounded to the west, in its whole length, by the 

 Cordillera ; the Ocean, the Eiver Plate, and the magnifi- 

 cent rivers Parana and Uruguay constituting its other 

 boundaries ; the Parana separating two of its provinces 

 Entre-Eios and Corrientes from the rest; the Eiver 

 Uruguay separating the Argentine province of Entre-Eios 

 from the Banda Oriental. These territories comprise a 

 range of temperate climate, from that bordering on cold 

 to the south, to the tropical to the north ; with an exten- 

 sive sea-board, and an internal and arterial system of 

 rivers counted among the finest in the world. 



A very extensive commerce is carried on between these 

 countries and the various nations of Europe, North Ame- 

 rica, and the Brazils ; and a very large and important 

 interior or coasting trade, extending over hundreds of 

 miles of river coast in the La Plata, Parana, and Uruguay, 

 where the great depth of water admits of vessels of consi- 

 derable burthen and draft, the Parana being navigable 

 for over a thousand miles. Numerous vessels course these 

 rivers, carrying passengers and goods ; and their number 

 is constantly augmented by steamers built here or brought 

 from England or the United States. 



The foreign commerce consists in imports of the staple 

 productions of the various countries of Europe and Ame- 

 rica; England, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, 

 Portugal, Italy, United States, Canada, and Brazil ; cotton, 

 woollen and silk goods, hardware, iron, wines, spirits, oils 

 and fruits, lumber, tar, naval stores, sugar, rice, flour, 

 furniture, jewellery, &c. &c. 



The exports are chiefly of animal products, on which, 

 in due course, I propose specially to treat. Minerals and 

 vegetable products are also exported. 



The delicious and salubrious climate, the extreme 

 fertility of the soil, the wide range and capabilities of 



