GEOGRAPHY. 693 



of the mast important of these is the Vermejo, which, rising 

 in the Andes, near the source of the Amazon, affords a water 

 communication between Bolivia across the whole continent 

 to the Atlantic. These rivers form the boundaries of several 

 states. 



Directly south of the Brazils, between Parana on the east 

 and Paraguay on the west, is the republic of Paraguay, lately 

 ruled over by the two savage dictators, Francia and Lopez. 

 It is a thickly-wooded region, with numerous streams running 

 through it, and a lofty range — the Cordillera de Caaguazu — 

 at the northern end. The inhabitants are mostly a mixed race 

 of Spaniards and Indians. To the west of the Paraguay river 

 is a wide-extended level region, bounded on the north by 

 Bolivia, and interspersed with lakes and marshes known as 

 the Gran Chaco, and inhabited by tribes of still savage 

 Indians. 



The southern boundary of Paraguay is the River Parana, 

 where it runs east and west. To the south of it is the state 

 of Corrientes, a woody but level region between the two 

 livers, Uruguay and Parana. Further south is the state of 

 Entre Rios ; while, to the west, are a collection of confederated 

 towns and villages scattered widely over the Pampas, known 

 as part of the Argentine Confederation ; to which the two last- 

 mentioned, as well as Buenos Ay res, to the south of the La 

 Plata, belong. 



East of the Uruguay, between it and the Atlantic, is the 

 republic of Uruguay. Through the southern portion of the 

 Argentine Republic flow the rivers Colorado, Negro, and 

 Chupat. On the banks of the latter a Welsh colony has 

 been established ; while in various parts of the republic numer- 

 ous other settlements have been formed by Europeans. The 



44 B 



