FLORA OF THE CAMP. 293 



evergreen, and here and there with shrubs under ten 

 feet in height ; but there was nothing deserving to be 

 called a tree. The indigenous trees of this region 

 seem to be confined to the banks and islands of the 

 great rivers. Among the bushes were four species of 

 Baccliaris, a Composite genus characteristic of South 

 America, three species of Solatium, a Lrcium, etc. 

 But the commonest bush, which extends from the 

 Tropic of Capricorn to Patagonia, is Duz-aux dependetis, 

 with crooked branches beset with stout thorns, which 

 has no near ally among European plants. I found 

 several plants stiU in flower — ^two or three pretty 

 species of the mallow tribe, a Buddleia, an Oxalis, and 

 a Verhcn-2 {V. phlogifolid), nearly alUed to the orna- 

 mental species of our gardens. 



I returned to the town just in time to have all in 

 readiness for the steamer, which arrived punctually at 

 two o'clock, and, after bidding farewell to Dr. French, 

 embarked with the impression that life in a country 

 town on the Uruguay is %-er\- much like life in a 

 country town an\-where in Europe — somewhat dull, 

 but not devoid of interest to one who is content to 

 feel that he has been of some use to fellow-creature-s. 



The weather had become brighter, and we were 

 spared the annoj-ance of waiting at night for the 

 clearing of the fc^. We held on our course do\vn the 

 stream, and at sunrise were again at anchor opposite 

 to the cit>- of Buenos Ayres, now for the first time 

 become \isible. Seen in the bright morning light, it 

 presented a somewhat imposing aspect, as befits the 

 most populous and important port of the South 

 American continent The advance of the Argentine 



