OF THE PAMPAS. 



the second region, which extends for four hun- 

 dred and fifty miles, produces long grass ; and the 

 third region, which reaches the base of the Cor- 

 dillera, is a grove of low trees and shrubs. The 

 second and third of these regions have nearly the 

 same appearance throughout the year, for the trees 

 and shrubs are evergreens, and the immense plain 

 of grass only changes its colour from green to 

 brown ; but the first region varies with the four 

 seasons of the year in a most extraordinary man- 

 ner. In winter, the leaves of the thistles are large 

 and luxuriant, and the whole surface of the country 

 has the rough appearance of a turnip-field. The 

 clover in this season is extremely rich and strong ; 

 and the sight of the wild cattle grazing in full 

 liberty on such pasture is very beautiful. In 

 spring, the clover has vanished, the leaves of the 

 thistles have extended along the ground, and the 

 country still looks like a rough crop of turnips. 

 In less than a month the change is most extraordi- 

 nary ; the whole region becomes a luxuriant wood 

 of enormous thistles, which have suddenly shot up 

 to a height of ten or eleven feet, and are all in full 

 bloom. The road or path is hemmed in on both 



B 2 



