250 



MENDOZA. 



certain distance, pass through avenues of the 

 favourite poplar ; which make the ride through 

 them shady and agreeable even in the heat of 

 day. The province of Mendoza is considerably 

 in advance of Buenos Ayres in agriculture. 

 The export of hides is not so great as in the 

 states further removed from the mountains ; but 

 they manufacture soap, and grow wine, tobacco, 

 maize, and wheat, in abundance ; for which last 

 they have lately begun to use the water-mill. 

 A great deal of their produce finds its way to 

 the Plata, in carts and on the backs of mules. 



The inhabitants are more simple in their 

 manners, from being less in communication 

 with the Old World, but are not less intelligent 

 than those of Buenos Ayres, and the gauchos 

 certainly are better bred. They possess a great 

 deal of natural shrewdness. I never observed any 

 where, in the same class of life, so much interest 



