32 



FROM SAN LUIS TO KOSARIO. 



instead of lying liorizontallj^ are inclined to the westward at an angle of about thirty degrees 

 from the horizon, the strata crojiping out above the road. At the distance of five miles there 

 is a o-rove of willows, and near it is the Rio de la Laja, a small stream, about fifteen feet wide 

 and two deej^, running to the southwestward. On reaching the level country, this stream, like 

 most of the others, is lost in the lagunas and marshes. 



After crossin"- the river, our road led over pampa, and, at the distance of twelve miles from 

 Achiras, we passed a rancho or two called Los Barranquitos. Met a drove of some five hundred 

 cattle bound to Chile. 



December 23. — Kain and hail throughout the night, and no shelter. Mosquitos excessively 

 annoying. 



Fourteen miles over pampa brought us to a streamlet of brackish water called Arroyo de 

 la Lagunilla, flowing to the southeastward ; and thence about nineteen miles over the same 

 kind of coimtry to the "Villa del Rio Cuarto," or more properly the "Villa de la Concepcion." 

 We had passed two huts, one at twenty and the other at thirty miles from our camp of last 

 night — the country is diversified by occasional shallow ponds and marshes, around which num- 

 bers of deer and guanaco were seen grazing. 



The Villa de la Concepcion is situated near the west bank of the Rio Cuarto or Fourth River, 

 and, like other towns on the Indian frontier, is fortified by ditch and wall. These fortifications 

 would be of but little avail against soldiers, but are quite sufficient against Indians, whose only 

 arms are the lance and the " bolas," and who always attack on horseback. 



The town is laid off in squares — has its plaza, with a barrack and church on it, as usual, 

 and in almost every respect is like others I have described ; the outskirts consisting of sorry 

 mud-huts, and the centre but little better, except that its houses are whitewashed and of a 

 more regular construction, the best of them having brick floors instead of the bare earth. It 

 has not so large a population as San Luis, but is a much more thriving-looking place. About 

 five hundred soldiers are stationed there, and in several little forts to the southward, to keep a 

 look-out for inroads from the Indians. 



The necessary formality of presenting myself to the official dignitary of the place was more 

 profitable to me here than in any other town through which I had passed on the road. It 

 gave me the opportunity to make the acquaintance of Don Martin Quefion — the dignitary in 

 question — from whom I received many polite attentions, and some information respecting the 

 rivers, and which confirmed what I had learned before. Don Martin also gave me the fol- 

 lowing statistical table, which I have no doubt is perfectly correct : 



Table of the Population, dx., of the several Towns and Villages of the De2)art- 

 ment of the Rio Cuarto, in the Province of Cordova, furnished by Don Mar- 

 tin Quefion, Jefe Politico del Departamento. 









» 













jj. 



IS 









1 







» 







1 



It 









^ 







3 



o 





a . 







a 





- o 



^ 



S 



g 



2 





g* 



'" S 















-a 









S.O 





1 



S 



13 



■5 

 3 



1 



1 



i 



Q. 



c: 





Villa de la Concepcion . . 



1 



217 



1,222 



1,300 



499 



3,500 



37,000 



38,000 



74 



$12,900 



Villa de la Carlota . . . 



] 



85 



230 



255 



92 



1,339 



1,637 



5,966 



21 



850 



Fuerte de la Reduccion . . 



1 



V& 



84 



107 



42 



227 



279 



1,814 



6 





Fueite de las Acliiras . . 



1 



75 



178 



297 



92 



287 



734 



2,374 



14 



1,000 



Fuerte del Rodeo Viejo . . 





45 



114 



128 



94 



438 



890 



3,865 



14 





I was amused at this gentleman's quiet way of getting rid of my landlord — an officious 

 fellow, who pestered me no little during my stay here. I requested Don Pancho — the landlord — 

 to show me the way to the government house, and as he was glad of an opportunity to intrude 



