434 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



here ramifies in irrigation canals over the valley flanked on the east by the Sierra 

 de Ancaste, on the west by the Ambato range. After its foundation in 1680 

 the settlement suffered so much from inundations that it had to be removed a few 

 miles higher up. Catamarca communicates by rail in one direction with La Eioja 

 and Mendoza, in another with Cordoba, Eosario, and Buenos Ayres, the line 

 bifurcating at Chumbicha. By these railways are forwarded the oranges, dried 

 figs, cattle, and other produce of the surrounding provinces. 



Andalgala, so named from a valiant Calchaqui tribe long merged in the 

 general Spanish population, bears also the name of Fiierfe, from a now abandoned 

 " fort." It lies at the foot of Aconquija, on a level plain 3,300 feet above the 

 sea, and owes all its importance to its silver mines, the most productive in 

 Argentina. The richest vein, which was worked by the Calchaquis before the 

 conquest, but the existence of which was concealed by them, was rediscovered in 

 1849 from the revelations of an aged Indian. Standing at an altitude of 10,000 

 feet, it has an average monthly output of 200 tons of ore containing about 35 

 tons of pure metal. Some 3,000 mules are constantly employed conveying the 

 ores to the Pikiaio works, a remarkable establishment furnished with the best 

 English plant. 



The Campo del Pucara. 



The industrious people of Andalgala also work the neighbouring kaolin beds 

 for the manufacture of fire-bricks, cultivate the vine, which yields an excellent 

 wine, export fruits to Tucuman, mules and asses to Chili, hides and guanaco 

 fabrics to Cordoba. The wretched hamlet of Pucara, near the much-frequented 

 pass between the snowy Aconquija on the north and the Manchao heights on the 

 south, represents a real pucara, or " stronghold," which formerly stood here, 

 and the circular ramparts of which may still be traced for a distance of nearly 

 two miles. 



This word pucara, Pelleschi tells, means strength in the Aymara, and red in 

 the Calchaqui language, both appellations being appropriate, the one on account 

 of the pervading colour, the other on account of the fortified works formerly 

 erected in the district. The Campo del Pucara, as this district is called, forms a 

 transition between the grassy ranges on the east and the arid sand-hills of the 

 west. Although itself arid and parched, it affords sustenance to cattle during 

 some months of the year, and was at one time thickly peopled. Extensive remains 

 of Indian habitations, grouped together like so many separate villages, occur not 

 only on the plain, but also along the slopes of the neighbouring heights. 



If the Cumpo was formerly subject to the same climatic conditions as at 

 present, it certainly could not have afi^orded subsistence to such populous com- 

 munities. Yet there is no indication nor any tradition of a change of climate 

 having taken place in the district since its occupation by inan. Hence Pelleschi 

 suggests that perhaps the local conditions may have been modified by the drying 

 up of some extensive reservoir in the neighbourhood, some lacustrine basin, of 



