RIO NEGRO. 99 



the river in ox-carts. I regretted extremely that I had not time to 

 spare to send a party to explore them, in order to have ascertained 

 the extent of the staple commodity of this port. 



These salt lakes are known to be numerous throughout the Pampas, 

 and within a few leagues of the town of El Carmen there are four, 

 from two to three leagues in circumference, from which salt has been 

 taken, besides many others of smaller dimensions. From the largest 

 of these, the salt that is exported from the Rio Negro is mostly 

 obtained. In dry weather it is said to form very rapidly, so much so 

 that it may at times be gathered daily, and that it attains the thickness 

 of two inches in twenty-four hours. How far this is true, I will not 

 pretend to vouch. Still more wonderful stories are told of the larger 

 lakes in the interior ; of their being ten leagues in circumference ; and 

 they are described as being covered with a crust of dazzling whiteness, 

 so strong that a horse and rider may pass over it without leaving an 

 impression. In heavy rains these lakes are converted into morasses 

 of black mud, which, as the water evaporates, becomes encrusted with 

 salt. The salt is beautifully white and finely crystallized, and requires 

 no purification before carrying it to market. The specimens were 

 thought to equal in purity those from our own springs. The general 

 belief relative to these salt lakes is, that the salt is disseminated 

 through the soil, no salt in a solid state having yet been found in any 

 part of the country. No satisfactory information could be obtained 

 relative to their having become weaker, as the only person who was 

 able to give this information was Mr. Adams, who, as I mentioned 

 before, was absent. 



It appears that the policy of the present government of Buenos 

 Ayres has been to discourage the raising of cattle and the exportation 

 of hides from this place, in order, it is said, to concentrate the trade 

 at Buenos Ayres. The large herds that were formerly kept in this 

 country are now reduced to comparatively few. 



None of the government officers have received any salaries for the 

 last eighteen months. 



There are about two thousand inhabitants within a circuit of eighty 

 miles, exclusive of a few roving Indians. The population of Carmen 

 is about five hundred. There are five Americans residing here, who 

 state that they enjoy all the protection that the government can give, 

 and that they are well treated. 



The Rio Negro is navigable for boats to the village of Chichula, 

 two hundred miles from its mouth. 



The distance across the country to Buenos Ayres is but five hun- 

 dred miles, yet it requires fifteen days to communicate with it; the 



