470 



BUENOS AYRES. 



laterally by the Andes and the Brazilian mountians, and on the north by the tract of the Chi 



quitos^ leaving towards the southeast the immense opening of the Rio de la Plata, like a wide 

 and magnificent portal, proportioned to the grandeur and extent of the region to which it gives 

 access. Within these limits, some scattered and intermediate ridges excepted, the country is 

 extremely level, the hills generally not exceeding 540 feet of elevation above their bases ; and 

 the whole being a vast extended plain, covered with lakes and innumerable rivers. 



POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Divisions. This country is divided into 14 provinces, which are now independent of onp 

 another. 



Buenos Ayres 

 Entre Rios 

 Corientes 

 Santa Fe 



Cordova 

 Santiago 

 Tacuman 

 Salta 



Catamarca 

 Rioja 

 San Juan 



San Luis 

 Mendoza. 



2. Toivns. Buenos Jlyres^ the capital, stands on the southwest side of the La Plata, 66 

 leagues from its mouth. The situation is agreeable, and the city derives its name, signifying 

 Good Airs, from the salubrity of its climate. The streets are straight and regular, and some 

 of them are paved. The houses are mostly built of brick or chalk, with flat roofs, many of 

 them of 2 stories, though the greater part only of 1. Almost every house is surrounded with 

 a garden. I'he principal square, or parade, which is very spacious, faces the La Plata, and is 

 surrounded with superb buildings. The ])ublic edifices are a palace, a royal chapel, a cathe- 

 dral, a college, and 2 hospitals, 4 monasteries, 2 nunneries, 10 or 15 churches, a public libra- 

 ry of nearly 20,000 volumes, an academy, and 8 public schools. There is no harbor at Buenos 

 Ayres, nor so much as a mole to facilitate the landing of boats. Ships can only come up to 

 Barragaus, within 3 leagues of the town. The population is 80,000. About one fourth of 

 the inhabitants are whites ; and the rest are Indians, negroes, and mixed breeds. 



Corrientes, a small town with about 8,000 inhabitants, situated near the confluence of the 

 Parana and Paraguay, has great natural advantages for inland commerce. Cordova, formerly 

 rendered important by its famous university, which is now sunk into insignificance, enjoys 

 an active internal commerce, and carries on considerable manufactures of woolen and cotton. 

 Population about 12,000. San Juan, in the State of the same name, produces large quanti- 

 ties of wine and brandy, and has an extensive traffic. Mendoza, on the eastern declivity of 

 the Andes, has also an active trade in wine and fruits. These towns have each about 16,000 

 inhabitants. Upsallata, a little town in the State of Mendoza, is celebrated for its rich silver 

 mine. Salta and Tucuman, with 10,000 inhabitants each, and Santa Fe, with 5,000, are the 

 other principal towns. 



3. Agriculture. As almost every variety of soil and climate is to be found within the limits 

 of this country, so every vegetable production would grow by proper cultivation. I\laize, 

 cocoa, olives, sugar-cane, grapes, oranges, lemons, citrons, and figs, attain great perfection. 

 Wheat is cultivated with success, and apples, pears, plums, cherries, and other fruits are plen- 

 tiful. Abundance of tobacco is produced in some parts. 



4. Commerce and JVIanufactures. The internal commerce of Buenos Ayres is considera- 

 ble. Of this traffic, the herb of Paraguay forms the most important branch ; 2,500,000 lbs. 

 of it pass annually into Peru, and 1,000,000 lbs. into Chili. The greater part of the Euro- 

 pean commodities, consumed in Chili, is drawn from Buenos Ayres. The principal exports 

 are, hides, tallow, beef, gold, and silver. Manufactures have not advanced very prosperously 

 in this country. 



5. Army and JVavy. The military force of the republic is estimated at 28,000 men ; and 

 the naval force amounts to 15 small vessels, carrying from 7 to 14 guns. 



6. Revenue. The revenues of the province of Buenos Ayres in 1829 amounted to 8,000,000 

 dollars, in a paper currency so depreciated, that 8 dollars were only equal to 1 silver dollar. 

 The expenses of the year were 10,000,000 dollars ; the public debt is 20,000,000 dollars. 



7. Population. The population of this coviitry is computed to be about 800,000. They 

 consist of descendants of Spaniards, Indians, negroes, and mulattoes. 



8. Govermnent. Buenos Ayres has at present an organized republican government, with a 

 Governor, and Captain-general, and a House of Representatives. This prov'nce was lately 



