144 



WHAT MR. DARWIN SAW. 



LA PLATA. 



afford the main supply of 

 firewood to the city of Bue- 

 nos Ayres. Extremely lev- 

 el countries, such as the 

 Pampas, seldom appear fa- 

 vorable to the growth of 

 trees. 



RIVER PARANA. 



THE Parana is full of isl- 

 ands, which undergo a con- 

 stant round of decay and 

 renovation. In the memory 

 of the master of our balandra 

 (one -masted vessel) several 

 large ones had disappeared, 

 and others again had been 

 formed and protected by 

 vegetation. They are com- 

 posed of muddy sand, with- 

 out even the smallest peb- 

 ble, and were then about 

 four feet above the level of 

 the river ; but during the 

 periodical floods they are 

 overflowed. They all have 

 one character: numerous 

 willow and a few other trees 



