A GENERAL VIEW OF SOUTH AMERICA. 295 



barren region, which occupies the most northern pai't of South 

 America, is called tlie IJanos Altos. A far wider and more 

 level country extends between the base of the Andes and the 

 banks of the Orinoco, at a height of between two hundred 

 and five hundred feet. Not a stone or rock, not even a 

 pebble, is to be seen on these vast plains. So level are they, 

 that the currents of the rivers crossing them are almost im- 

 perceptible, and are frequently sent back towards their sources 

 when met by strong winds. They are covered with grass, 

 which affords pasturage to large herds of wild cattle — the 

 only other species of vegetation being a few bushes gro wing- 

 on the banks of the streams ; while here and thei^e, scattered 

 at considerable distances apart, a few tall palm-trees are seen, 

 reminding the traveller of the deserts of Arabia. 



In the southern part of the continent are the treeless plains 

 of the Pampas, extending fi^om about 20° south latitude for a 

 distance of fully two thousand miles into Patagonia, and aver- 

 ao'inof in width five hundred miles. Stretching^, as do these 

 plains, across a large portion of the South Temperate Zone, 

 they present great varieties of climate. The northern portion 

 is watered by the Kiver La Plata and its tributaries. To the 

 south of Buenos Ayres the rivers are fewer and of less extent. 

 The north-western Pampas consist of slightly undulating and 

 dry plains, though intei*spersed with vast tracts on which lofty 

 thistles rear their heads — useful, however, as fuel to the inhabi- 

 tants. Further on, to the west, is a wide-extending pastoral 

 district ; and yet beyond, reaching to the foot of the Cordil- 

 leras, the soil is well-suited for agriculture. The pastoral region 

 is almost a dead level, with large shallow salt-lakes, — one of 

 them measuring fifty miles in length by twenty in width. 

 Scarcely a tree is to be found throughout this region, and but 



