710 MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 



the native indigo. They manufacture cigars ; and cultivate 

 the sugar-cane in a rude manner, producing from its root a vile 

 beverage called carta, most injurious to the health. 



MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 



In the Cordillera, where Masterman describes the scenery 

 as most beautiful, the cacti grow, bristling with spines, and 

 loaded with delicate white flowers ; as also the wild pine- 

 apple, which covers the ground, — its serrated leaves, of a 

 bright scarlet in the centre, and barred, all straggling from 

 the root. Its fibre is used by the natives for making fishing- 

 nets and lines, and a coarse strong cloth. Paper also has 

 been manufactured from it ; and as it can be produced in 

 great quantities, it may become of much commercial import- 

 ance. 



Game abounds throughout the territory. Herds of deer roam 

 in the open glades ; droves of pigs are found in the forest some- 

 what similar to those of England ; and a bird, the ynambii 

 guazu, as large as a pheasant ; while quails are seen in flocks 

 in the esteros, — with snipe, wild pigeons, and other birds. 



High up the River Parana is found the magnificent water- 

 fall, El Salto de Guira, rivalling in splendour Niagara itself. 

 Other fine waterfalls are found on different rivers. 



Here, too, the ant-eater reaches an enormous size. The capy- 

 bara is also found. It is obliged to triturate its food — grass, 

 and herbaceous plants — for a long time, in consequence of the 

 contracted size of the esophagus, which will hardly admit a 

 goose-quill, although the animal is sometimes so large that 

 it weighs more than two hundred pounds. Its destiny 

 seems to be to feed jaguars, for they live principally on the 

 creatures. 



