IS 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [South America. 



RIO DE LA PLATA. — The chief places on this river visited by 

 India ships are Maldonaldo, Monte Video, and Buenos Ayres, 



MALDONALDO, on the N. side of the river, is in latitude 34° 58 

 S., longitude about 54° 45' W. The harbour Li safe, with depth for ships 

 of any size, and partly sheltered from the sea by the island Gorclli. The 

 town is at a short distance, pleasantly situated ; the houses are mean. 



Provisions and Refresuments.— Bullocks are good, plentiful, and 

 cheap. Fruits are abundant. 



< MONTE VIDEO, in latitude 34° 53' S., longitude 56° 1 W., is 

 about 22 leagues W. of Maldonaldo. The harbour where ships moor in 

 2\ and 3 fathoms, is on the E. side of the mount, which gives its name 

 to the town, situated to the E. of the harbour. The houses are good, the 

 streets arc constructed at right angles, and the town is well fortified. The 

 only landing-place is within the harl>our, at a stone pier. 



Trade. — The exports from Monte Video to Great Britain in the year 

 1921 amounted to £25,172, official value, consisting of articles enumerated 

 under Buenos Ayres ; the imports from thence, of foreign and colonial 

 merchandize, amounted to £1 G9, principally spirits; of British and Irish 

 produce, the declared value was X'30,775: — for the articles see Buenos 

 Ayiies. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — The market is excellent, abounding 

 with meat, poultry, and fish. The beef (which is fine) and mutton are 

 reasonable. Vegetables and fruits are cheap, and very abundant 



Coins.— Accounts are kept in pesos of 8 reals, subdivided into 16 parts, 

 and also into 34 maravedis. The gold coins are doubloons of 8 escudos, 

 with halves and quarters. The silver coins are dollars, or pesos, Mcxicanos 

 of 8 reals, with halves and quarters, eighths (or reals), and sixteenths. 



Weights. — The quintal is divided into 4 arobas of 25 lbs. each; the 

 pound into 2 marks, or 16 ounces; the ounce into 8 drams, 16 adarmes, or 

 576 grains. Merchants commonly reckon 100 lbs. equal to 102 lbs. avoir- 

 dupois ; but the exact proportion is 123 to 125. 



Measures. — The Spanish foot is 11| English inches ; it is divided into 

 12 pulgadas, each 12 lines. The fanega is a measure for corn, &c. con- 

 taining 12 celemins ; and 5 fanegas arc equal to one English quarter. 



BUENOS AYRES is on the S. side of the River Plate. To the E. 

 it is bounded by a small river, and to the N. and W. by gardens ami orange 

 groves. The castle or fortress is in the centre of the town. The streets 

 are regular, and the houses lofty. The Plaza del Tauros, for bull-fights, 

 is at the N. W. angle, close to the river, and in the neighbourhood of it are 

 depots for military stores, &c. Various roads and streets lead into the 

 Plaza. The length of Buenos Ayres is nearly two miles ; its breadth about 



