NOTES ON THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, 
7 
Cadena, or first chain, with the valleys formed by the Cordon de 
Tontal, Sierra de Zonda, and other smaller parallel ranges, receive 
more rain or snow than the lower country to the east. This 
is accounted for by the partiality of summer thunder-storms 
for the higher ridges and more contracted valleys. One of 
the most noticeable features of the high ground of the prc 
vince of San Juan is the clearness of the geological sections, 
suggesting sudden and severe storms, carrying detritus to great 
distances ; this is further confirmed by the hardy character of 
the vegetation. 
The province of San Juan is situated almost wholly within 
the outlying spurs of the Andes, and is geologically and 
socially interesting. The province contains about 60,000 people, 
a hardy mountain race, who live mainly by farming, wine- 
growing, and mining. The town of San Juan, the capital, is 
built on the site of the old river of that name, and has been 
often flooded by its waters during the melting of the snows. 
The houses are built of adobe ; but some of the public buildings, 
commercial houses, and private dwellings, are of burnt red 
brick. Two distinct methods of making these adobe houses 
are employed. In the first gravel, alluvium, and sand de- 
posited by the river are mixed with water, hammered into a 
strong wooden framework, held by twisted ropes, about four 
to six feet long, two to three feet wide, and three feet deep. As 
soon as one block is finished, the framework is moved on far enough 
to join the block just completed, one end of the finished block 
forming one end of the box or frame within which the material is 
pressed. When one tier has been thus completed the frame- 
work is raised, the previous tier forming the bottom ; a little 
moistening of the lower tier secures adherence of the one to the 
other. On these rough walls two kinds of plaster are laid, one 
of alluvium and dry mule dung or cut straw, the other of lime 
plaster or stucco, and on the plaster is laid lime- wash, some- 
times coloured blue and buff, with other ornament, according to 
the means of the occupant. The tops of the houses have a thick 
layer of alluvium and mule- dung laid on them, and are slightly 
inclined to carry off rain. And it is surprising how well they 
keep out the wet. The thick walls further act as a protection 
against the heat of summer. In the other form of adobe wall, 
the mixture of gravel and alluvium is made into blocks about 
eighteen inches long, twelve inches wide, and from six to nine 
inches thick; these are built up after drying with some of the same 
mud as mortar. These houses, by the assistance of stucco and 
the washes of Italian masons, are made much more pleasing in 
appearance than the roughness of the principal materials 
would suggest. The domes and towers of churches are covered 
with blue and white tiles, or are elaborately plastered. 
