330 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



rapid progress, for few countries enjoy a more favourable commercial position, 

 combined with all the advantages of a good climate and fertile soil. 



Bounded north by the little Ptio Chuy, the Lagoa Mirim and the Rios 

 Jaguarao and Quaraim, and elsewhere by the Uruguay river, the Plate estuary, and 

 the Atlantic, Uruguay comprises a total area of over 72,000 square miles, with a 

 population (1893) of 750,000. 



Physical Featitrks. 



The heights traversing Uruguay, which nowhere exceed 2,000 feet, belong to 

 the same mountainous system as those of Pio Grande do Sul. The ridges take 

 the same name of cucliillm, or " knives," although presenting no sharp crests, 

 but only long, gently sloping summits. Most of the surface is broken by these 

 undulations, which are decomposed into hundreds of distinct masses between the 

 intervening rivers and rivulets. Campos and irregular plains stretch along the 

 foot of these hills, which seem high only by contrast, and whose bare upper slopes 

 rise above the zone of vegetation. 



Some of the ridges acquire a great development between the river basins. 

 Such are the Cuchilla de Haedo, stretching south-westwards in the direction of 

 Paysandu, and the Cuchilla Grande, which is disposed north and south, gradually 

 diminishing in height, and projecting a few rocky headlands seawards. Between 

 Monte Video and Maldonado the last spur takes the name of Sierra de las 

 Animas. 



In the north the prevailing rocks are granites and gneiss, with erupted matter 

 spread over the other formations. Here occur the auriferous deposits, lead, 

 copper, agates, and amethysts. All the gravels known as piedra china, " China 

 stone," on the banks of the Uruguay, are organic substances transformed to 

 silica, often containing drops of water, and sometimes preserving their primitive 

 colour. Here are also found the so-called cocos de mina, hollow nodules, or clusters, 

 of crystals, which sometimes explode ; then the natives say that these " mineral 

 coconuts " have arrived at maturity. The surface of the plains consists of 

 argillaceous beds, which change to mire in rainy weather, and which abound in 

 the remains of megatheriums and other extinct animals. 



PlVERS. 



The Uruguay, which gives its name to the Republic, is already a copious stream 

 at Salto, where it develops a cascade which arrests the steam navigation exceiJt 

 during heavy floods. 



" Of course the aspect of the falls must vary considerably with the volume of 

 water in this singularly capricious river, but I am inclined to think that the 

 title of Grand Leap [Salto Grande) given them is a piece of Castillan grandilo- 

 quence, and that they are never much more than rapids on a, very great scale, 

 though as such none the less obstructive to navigation. A wilderness of shallow, 



