ARGENTINA 121 



in the town of Mendoza, lying opposite Valparaiso, in Chile, 

 with the Uspallata pass holding open the gate between them. 



" In the broken country that lies directly north of Mendoza 

 are located the best paying mines as yet discovered in the 

 Republic. Gold is in most cases too thinly scattered in the 

 hard rock to admit of profitable working, but there is plenty 

 of copper, silver, and lead. Mining ventures in Argentina have 

 so far met with poor fortune owing to the difficulties of trans- 

 port and the situation of the lodes in places where there is 

 neither water nor fuel within reach. Moreover, there is a 

 general impression in Buenos Aires that a league of alfalfa 

 and a herd of good dairy cows is better than any gold 

 mine. They are right. For mining magnates there are few 

 or none ; but estancieros prosper in the land, and multiply 

 exceedingly. 



" All along where these foothills merge into the great central 

 pampas an increased rainfall permits the growth of coarse 

 grass. Well water here is too far below the surface for even 

 an alfalfa root to reach it, and the scanty herbage only affords 

 grazing for a limited number of poor native stock. Fencing 

 is a heavy item on the scattered, barren ranges, nor is there 

 much inducement for the farmer to settle on them, when the 

 fertile lowlands lie so 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 Argentina. The rider hurrying through 

 the higher scrub of North Cordoba 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 between 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. Owing 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 



