ARGENTINA 91 



close to hand. Goats abound, however, and this region accounts 

 for the majority of the "poor man's cows," of which there are 

 8,000,000 scattered throughout the length and breadth of Argen- 

 tina. The rider hurrying through the higher scrub of North 

 Cordova is often surprised by a bleat from overhead. A second 

 glance will discover a point of these accommodating animals 

 browsing contentedly amongst the tree-tops, whence they gaze 

 down serenely upon the parched earth. 



■ ' On the road beween Mendoza and Valparaiso lies the famous 

 natural ' Bridge of the Inca. ' This is the highway of the cattle 

 transport to Chili, which is, however, sensibly diminishing. Ow- 

 ing to the rough shale-strewn roads, which it is impossible to 

 avoid when crossing the pass, all cattle are shod before the 

 ascent begins. This difficult task is carried through with the 

 ease of much practice. The animals are lassoed, and thrown 

 on their broad backs. Their hoofs are secured to four separate 

 stakes, and almost before they are aware of it the novel foot- 

 gear is firmly fixed for the week's journey. Every peon who 

 works in the cattle trade in this district is a rough farrier, and 

 carries in his roll the tools of the trade. 



"When we reach latitude 26 deg., abreast of the province of 

 Tucuman, the Andean chain grows yet bolder. On the Pacific 

 slope it preserves a fair parallel to the ocean, but it encroaches 

 steadily on the Argentine side, throwing out fresh spurs 

 constantly, till it reaches its maximum in the Bolivian "massif," 

 which rounds off the N.W. boundary of the Republic. 



"Earthquakes are felt more on the Chilian than on thf 

 Argentine side. The tops of these mountain ranges have frow 

 the date of their volcanic birth been abandoned to the merc\ 

 of fierce air currents and torrential rains. Denudation undei 

 these conditions has gathered at their base, and in the cloven 

 valleys there are pockets of soil of great fertility, covered for the 

 most part with dense forest, and suitable for the growth of sub- 

 tropical and tropical produce. The province of Tucuman 

 called the "Garden of the Republic," is such a pocket, situated 

 at the foot of the Aconquija spur. 



"It would be unfair to conclude our review of the Republic 

 without a glance at Misiones, the smallest of the national 

 territories, Avhich lies huddled between the upper reaches of the 

 Uruguay and Parana, at the point where their waters most nearly 

 approach each other. Connecting the Mesopotamia with the 

 Brazilian highlands, there is no portion of the Republic which 



