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SOUTH A 
Uraguay. It is said that he here received orders from the 
Dictator not to advance, as he had heard that, Frenchman¬ 
like, he had dabbled in the politics of Buenos Ayres: be then 
proceeded into the country of the missions, to the west of 
Gorrientes, where he made large collections in every branch 
of natural history. He subsequently returned to the Entre Rios, 
and there, finding the tea tree, he, in conjunction with a 
Scotchman, entered into the manufacture of this commodity, 
and at once set up an opposition to the Dictator of Pa¬ 
raguay. 
This manufacture did not go on long before Francia sent 
a party down the river to seize the offenders 5 the more wary 
Scotchman escaped, but unfortunately M. Bonpland was 
taken. Whether the details of the capture are quite correct, 
is not with accuracy known; but it is certain that the bo¬ 
tanist was taken, and is still a prisoner at large, and per¬ 
mitted to make researches in the country. 
To the south of and around Paraguay, are situated the 
United Provinces of La Plata, and according to some au¬ 
thors the United Provinces include Paraguay; but we depart 
from this arrangement, because it is obvious that the Director 
holds no strong federation with the republicans. If we include 
Paraguay in these parts, the United Provinces stretch from 
12° and 45° south latitude, and 51° 10' and 69° 55' west 
longitude. They are bounded on the north by Peru and 
Brazil, east by Brazil, south by the straits of Magellan, and 
the Atlantic Ocean, and west by Chili, the Pacific Ocean 
and Peru. Their area includes about 1,440,000 square 
miles. 
The province of Buenos Ayres is bounded on the east by 
the river Parana, and its continuation the Riode la Plata; 
on the north the small stream of Arroyo de en Medio divides 
it from the province of Santa Fe; and on the south and 
west, the Salado, which empties itself into ’ the bay of Som- 
borombon, may be considered as its limit in that direction. 
Latterly, however, some attempts have been made to extend 
the boundaries farther to the southward, and in fact, at 
different periods, the grazing grounds of the Europeans have 
stretched as far as 37° south latitude. 
Nothing can exceed the fineness of the climate; the gene¬ 
ral range of the thermometer during the summer is from 
75° to 84° of Faht. On the 21st February, 1821, the 
mercury stood for many hours at 91° in the shade. The 
mean temperature of the three summer months of 1822, was 
71° 9'. 
The Spaniards have at all times considered this country 
to be healthy in a singular degree, and the various instances 
of longevity given in the monthly obituary afford excellent 
proof of the general correctness of the remark. The more 
usual diseases are consumption, produced, it is imagined, 
by the sudden chills before spoken of, and bowel complaints, 
caused by drinking the water of the Rio de la Plata. It 
must be understood that these remarks are confined to the 
city and its immediate neighbourhood; for at a short dis¬ 
tance, the Gaudios, or country people* seem perfectly free 
from disease of any kind. 
The upper soil round Buenos Ayres is chiefly of a light 
nature, approaching to marl, and covering a stiff clay sub¬ 
soil, called by the inhabitants, tosca. As far as modern 
observations go, this appearance does not extend many miles 
from the city. 
The birds of this district are in proportion more numer¬ 
ous than the quadrupeds. The swan of the Rio de la Plata 
is a most elegant bird ; the body is perfectly white, and the 
head and a portion of the neck black. 
The South American ostrich (nandu) is met with in con¬ 
siderable numbers in the Pampas. It is about half the size 
of the African species, and the plumage is of little use. It 
is said that several females lay eggs of a yellowish colour 
in one nest, and that they are hatched by the male. There 
are two kinds of partridges in the Pampas; the one small, 
and similar to the quail of Europe, and the other consider¬ 
ably larger. On the banks of the rivers great variety 
of water-fowl subsist on the fish, which are most abundant. 
MERIC a. 
The mosquito is common m the city, but not so trouble¬ 
some as at Rio de Janeiro. Fleas abound; and they ap¬ 
pear to live in the grass, for on lying down in some places, 
the body becomes covered with them. Reptiles are by no 
means common. 
The only dependancy that Buenos Ayres can be said to 
possess, is that of Patagonia. See Patagonia. 
The grain which flourishes best is wheat; and enough is 
raised, not only to supply the country, but to send con¬ 
siderable quantities to Brazil and up the Parana ; formerly 
it derived a large portion from Chili. The wheat is small 
grained, bearded, and contains much flour. 
The large farms are almost entirely taken up with th© 
breeding of cattle. The numbers of horned cattle, and 
the consequent cheapness of meat, is an object of as¬ 
tonishment to all travellers. It is scarcely possible to say 
what a pound of meat is worth, when the whole ox, with 
the skin, tallow and horns, the only valuable parts, may 
be purchased for five or six dollars, and that considered a 
high price. 
There are no manufactures of moment carried on in 
Buenos Ayres. The Indians bring in a few trifling articles, 
made from hides and ostrich feathers; and a few manufac¬ 
tured goods, such as ponchos and coarse woollen cloths, are 
brought in from the interior. It is not unlikely, that, in a 
few years, an English manufacture will supersede the use of 
the poncho; although, up to this time, we have not been 
able to fabricate any thing equal to it. 
The trade between England and Buenos Ayres has be¬ 
come of much importance to both countries. In the year 
ending the 5th January, 1827, we shipped to Buenos Ayres, 
goods to the value of 388,487/.; while in the year ending 
5th January, 1823, their value was 1,164,745/., shewing an 
unprecedented increase. During the year 1822, one hun- 
dred and sixty-seven English vessels sailed from various 
porls for Buenos Ayres, carrying thither every description of 
manufactured goods, beer, &c. 
The chief exports are hides, tallow, horns, hair, jerked 
beef, wool, Vicuna wool, (used for hat making), Chinchilli 
and Neutre skins, brought from the upper provinces. Of 
horse and cow hides, the number of 957,600 arrived in 
England in the year 1822; and when those which have 
gone direct to Antwerp and other continental ports are added 
to the account, some idea may be formed of the immense 
quantity produced in this part of tie world. 
In the year 1821, three hundred and twenty-two vessels 
were cleared outwards at Buenos Ayres, of which one: 
hundred and fourteen were British ; and in 1822, three 
hundred and four vessels, of which one hundred and sixty- 
seven were British. 
This trade is chiefly carried on by an exchange of pro¬ 
ductions, very little coin having been sent of late years from 
the Rio de la Plata, perhaps not 100,000 dollars during the 
last five years. The other foreign trade carried on, appears, 
of small amount after that of the British. The North. 
Americans participate in it, as well as the Brazilians, who 
bring their sugars and spirits to exchange them for com and 
jerked beef. Some trade is carried on with France, chiefly 
in oil made from horses and mules. A few mules are ex¬ 
ported to the Isle of France. 
The inhabitants are very much attached to social hap¬ 
piness. The theatre is a favourite resort; and latterly a new 
one has been built, to which particular privileges have been 
granted. 
The bull fights were for some time totally abolished ; but 
it would appear that the government has now reserved to 
itself the right of permitting them; but an express license 
must be procured for every exhibition, and the bull must be 
previously deprived of its horns. It seems rather an anomaly 
that this should be the case, when it is seen in what 
way these animals are usually treated by the country- 
people. 
Every family of respectability has its tertu/ia, or evening 
party, which includes a certain number of persons in the 
habit 
