TOPOGRAPHY OF URUGUAY. 



837 



military post to cut out the Portuguese, who were threatening to seize the east 

 bank of the estuary. The first colonists arrived from Galicia and the Canaries 

 in 1726, and grouped themselves round the little fort. Then the abolition of the 

 commercial monopoly of Cadiz, in 1778, followed by the opening of the port of 

 Monte Video to free trade, at once attracted numerous settlers, and at the end of 

 the century the new seaport already took the first place amongst the maritime 

 cities of South America. At that time its exchanges were valued at £1,400,000. 



Fig. 140. — Montevideo 

 Scale 1 : ]00,œo. 



56*I5' 



West or breenwtch 



56'i0' 



0to6 

 Feet. 



Depths. 



6 to IS 

 Feet. 



16 Feet 

 and upwards. 



2i Miles. 



Then followed the turbulent days of the Revolution and Independence, in 

 which Monte Video suffered more than any other place in Plate regions. For 

 nine years (1842-51), the Colorados or " Reds," with Garibaldi's Italians and the 

 French Basques, valiantly defended this " New Troy," against Rosas' lieutenant, 

 Oribe. After the disaster of Monte Caseros, the Plateaus were compelled to 

 raise the siege and proclaim the free navigation of the rivers, for which the 

 capital of Uruguay was contending against Buenos Ayres. 



Since this triumph Monte Video has continued to expand, and is now believed 



