1833.] THE GREAT CORRAL. &j 



remarked, the increase in numbers of the carrion-vulture, since the 

 introduction of the domestic animals, must have been infinitely great ; 

 and we have given reasons for believing that they have extended their 

 southern range. No doubt many plants, besides the cardoon and 

 fennel, are naturalized ; thus the islands near the mouth of the Parana, 

 are thickly clothed with peach and orange trees, springing from seeds 

 carried there by the waters of the river. 



While changing horses at the Guardia several people questioned us 

 much about the army, I never saw anything like the enthusiasm for 

 Rosas, and for the success of the "most just of all wars, because 

 against barbarians." This expression, it must be confessed, is very 

 natural, for till lately, neither man, woman, nor horse was safe from the 

 attacks of the Indians. We had a long day's ride over the same rich 

 green plain, abounding with various flocks, and with here and there a 

 solitary estancia, and its one ombu tree. In the evening it rained 

 heavily : on arriving at a post-house we were told by the owner that if 

 we had not a regular passport we must pass on, for there were so many 

 robbers he would trust no one. When he read, however, my passport, 

 which began with " El Naturalista Don Carlos," his respect and civility 

 were as unbounded as his suspicions had been before. What a 

 naturalist might be, neither he nor his countrymen, I suspect, had any 

 idea ; but probably my title lost nothing of its value from that cause. 



September zoth. We arrived by the middle of the day at Buenos 

 Ayres. The outskirts of the city looked quite pretty, with the agave 

 hedges, and groves of olive, peach, and willow trees, all just throwing 

 out their fresh green leaves. I rode to the house of Mr. Lumb, an 

 English merchant, to whose kindness and hospitality, during my stay 

 in the country, I was greatly indebted. 



The city of Buenos Ayres is large ; * and I should think one of the 

 most regular in the world. Every street is at right angles to the one 

 it crosses, and the parallel ones being equidistant, the houses are 

 collected into solid squares of equal dimensions, which are called 

 quadras. On the other hand, the houses themselves are hollow 

 squares; all the rooms opening into a neat little courtyard. They 

 are generally only one storey high, with flat roofs, which are fitted with 

 seats, and are much frequented by the inhabitants in summer. In 

 the centre of the town is the Plaza, where the public offices, fortress, 

 cathedral, etc., stand. Here also, the old viceroys, before the revolu- 

 tion, had their palaces. The general assemblage of buildings possesses 

 considerable architectural beauty, although none individually can boast 

 of any. 



The great corral, where the animals are kept for slaughter to supply 

 food to this beef-eating population, is one of the spectacles best worth 

 seeing. The strength of the horse as compared to that of the bullock 

 is quite astonishing; a man on horseback having thrown his lazo 

 round the horns of a beast, can drag it anywhere he chooses. The 

 animal ploughing up the ground with outstretched legs, in vain efforts 



* It is said to contain 60,000 inhabitants. Monte Video, the second town 

 of importance on the banks of the Plata, has 15,000. 



