422 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



successively replaced by orchards, and by vineyards which yield a coarse wine 

 infinitely preferable to the horrible concoctions sold in Argentina as "claret." 

 Poultry farming also succeeds well in the San José settlement. 



Vessels drawing over 20 feet stop below Colon at the landing-stage of Concep- 

 cioii del Uruguay, former capital of the province, which stands on a lateral creek 

 communicating by rail with the main stream. Caaeros, west of Concepcion, is one 

 of the most flourishing oiîshoots of San José. 



Gualeguaijchu, on the right bank of the shallow river of like name, is visited 

 by numerous vessels of light draught, which here ship cattle, provisions, hides, 

 and other farm produce. Founded at the close of the eighteenth century, Guale- 

 guaychu has become the third port of the Republic, and the largest and wealthiest 

 city in the province of Entre-Rios. It has far outstripped its former rival, Guale- 

 guay, which lies some 60 miles farther west on the river Gualeguay. This place 

 is connected by rail with Tala, central station of the province, and with the indus- 

 trious settlement of ViUoguay, where the Belgians are in a majority. A branch 

 line runs through Nogoya and its cattle farms to the port of Victoria on a lateral 

 creek of the Parana. 



On the Parana the Argentine stations above Corrientes are for the most part 

 villages founded by the missionaries. Such are Candelaria, at one time residence 

 of the Jesuit directors, and Posadas, which has displaced Yapeyu as capital of the 

 present administrative division of the Missions. Posadas, which from 1822 to the 

 death of Francia was the only free port of entry for the traffic of Paraguay with 

 Argentina, has continued to flourish despite the loss of its monopoly. 



Nearly all the stations which follow as far as the Paraguay confluence recall 

 some events in the local wars and predatory expeditions. The tronquera 

 (" trench ") of San Miguel, and lower down that of Loreto, were dug to protect 

 the territory of the Jesuits against the incursions of the Corrientinos, and on the 

 former Francia erected a fort in 1822. Itaii, near the Paraguay confluence, dating 

 from the beginning of the seventeenth century, lies near the defensive works so 

 stubbornly defended by the Paraguayans against the allies. The inhabitants of 

 Itati are of nearly pure Guarani stock, although they have become half assimilated 

 to the Hispano- Americans in speech. They still practise the traditional industries 

 of weaving and potterj', for which the Guarani people were always famous. 



Towns of Corriextes and Chaco. 



Corrientes, capital of the province of like name, and the most important place 

 between Buenos Ayres and Asuncion, may be regarded geographically as the city 

 of the fluvial confluence, although founded 15 miles below the delta (Très Bocas). 

 It owes its name of Corrientes — San Juan de los Siete Corrientes — to the swirling 

 waters or eddies caused on the left bank by rocky ledges projecting into the 

 stream. Taraguy, its Indian name, is said to mean the " Lizard- ground." It 

 might also be culled " Orangetown," so embowered is the place in groves of the 

 golden fruit. 



