4G8 



AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



Fig. 183. — PiiODUCTivE Lands of Akgentina. 

 Scale 1 : 32,000,000. 



the free range of these animals became the chief obstacle to husbandry in 

 its initial state. The settlers had constantly to keep guard round about their 

 enclosures, and often failed to drive off the trespassing herds before all their 



crops were hopelessly ruined. 

 Hence constant wranglinws 

 and heartburnings, which were 

 at times followed by armed 

 conflicts between the colonists 

 and the cattle-owners. The 

 former have at last gained the 

 day, and the grazing-grounds 

 have now to be enclosed by 

 wire fences. 



Hecent Settlemexts. 



The first agricultural settle- 

 ments, created under great 

 difficulties, were founded by 

 speculators, who, in return for 

 the concessions, undertook to 

 people their territories within a 

 given time by the aid of certain 

 financial or other advantages. 

 Numerous failures attended 

 the first efforts, caused by the 

 inexperience of the squatters, 

 the hostile attitude of the stock- 

 breeders, and local rivalries ; 

 but the colonists were encour- 

 aged by occasional success, 

 and at present the groups of 

 thriving agricultural com- 

 munes are reckoned by the 

 hundred. New settlemenis 

 are founded daily, and certain 

 great landowners are having 

 their domains surveyed and 

 partly cut up into allotments, 



announced for sale by flaming placards at every railway station and in all the 



towns and villages. 



The rising settlement receives an attractive name, a general store supplies the 



labourers with all their requireinents on credit for the first year, the colonists 



present themselves and undertake to pay off the charge on their holdings by 



annual payments spread over four years. 



