oe 
694 Retrospect of French Literature—Voyages and Travels. 
the lightning occurs ten times more 
frequently.”’ 
Asto the cold, itis observed,that the 
southern hemisphere is always morein- 
tense, under the same Jatitude, than the 
norchern. Yet, although Buenos Ayres 
and Cadiz. are situate nearly in the 
same alegree of latitude, in the latter 
city, great use is made both of chim- 
neysand braziers; while chimneys are 
ueknown in the former, and braziers 
but seldom recurred to... In respect to 
health,, there.is no country inthe uni- 
verse, we are told, more salubrious 
than Buenos Ayres. Even:the imme- 
diate vicinity of lands that have been 
inundated, or are.generally covered 
with waler, produces.no bad effect, as 
with us. | 
Under the head of, ‘‘ disposition and 
quality of the soil,’ we learn that the 
vast suriace forms nearly one extensive 
plain, the whole bemg a_ horizontal 
level, with the exception of a few ele- 
vations, scarcely exceeding ninety 
.yards above their respective bases. 
One consequence proceeding from this 
is, that many of the rivulets, on de- 
scending from the Curdillieras, remain 
‘in the plain below, without running 
off, and, like the rains, are dissipated 
by evaporation alone. Another effect 
from the same cause, we are told, is 
this, that artificial canals can never be 
employed to walter the country, and 
because there 1s no descent, \wafer- 
nils are of course unknown, 
Another consequence of a very flat 
country, we are told, is an abundance 
of lakes, with an extensive surface and 
a small depth of water; and this ac- 
tually oceurs in all cases without ex- 
ception. The famous lake of Los 
, Narayes.is very large at one period of . 
the year, and spreads ils waters all 
around; but at other times itis en- 
tirély dry, and filled with. aquatic 
_ plants. Even in the times of the in. 
_ ubdations, if is tou shailow to be na- 
vigable. Ls 
As to the soil, the massive rock 
which forms the substratum of these 
countries, 1s covered with a thin layer 
of earth: this consists chiefly of clay, 
which assames a black appearance on 
ihe surface, from the decayed veget- 
ables that accumulate there. | Sand - 
abounds in mauy places, and the little 
“hill, called Cerrito.Colorade, to the 
south of the river La Plata, is eutirely 
forued of a fine species, capable of 
being used in hour-glasses. 
Under the head of ‘* salts and mine- 
‘rals,’’? we learn that towards the north, 
the cattle eat with great avidity, a0 
earth called barrero, which abounds in 
ditches, and is of a very saline taste. 
This is sometimes devoured to such a 
degree, as to eccasion indigestion, and 
sometimes death. In the Brazils too, 
notwithstanding the fine pasturage, it 
is impossible to rear stock without salt, 
and this commodity is so absolutely 
necessary, that it'is brought on pur- 
pose from Europe. There are whole 
nations, however, in those territories, 
to whom salt is stillunknown; but they 
are supposed by onr author, to supply 
‘the want of it, by means of fish and 
wild honey. PHASE 
In a fiat country, minerals never 
abound. At the village of Maldonado, 
a few grains of gold are sometimes 
found im the sand of the rivulet called 
San Francisco: but the quantity is too 
small to pay for the expence of search- 
ing after it. In the plains of Monte 
Video, there were certain appearances 
which seemed to denote the existence 
ofasilver mines; bia on an experiment 
being made, the deception was disco- 
vered. It is considered as probable, 
however, that there are actually mincs 
of gold and precious stones in’ ihe 
chain of mountains called San Fer- 
nando, as well as in those denominated 
the Moxos... he 
‘‘T shall here describe a rare phe- 
nomenon of nature: it consists of a 
singular and unique block: of native 
iron, flexible and malleable, but ex- 
tremely hard. This mass contains a 
large portion of zinc, and on this dc. 
notwithstanding the variations of the 
climate. It is:13 palmos in length, by 
8 in height, and in the whole, contains 
624 cubic palmos. 
explaining the origin of this mass, aud 
1 am inclmed to think that itis as an- 
cient as the world, and has been left 
precisely in its present state by the 
havd of the Creator.” - ‘ 
count remains in high preservaticn,. 
J am incapable of 
There are three considerable rivers* 
enumerated and described in Chap. IV. 
besides innumerable rivulets. and 
* 1. :he Paraguay, anciently venomi- 
nated Payaguay, which rises in the moun- 
tains termed Sierra del Paraguay. 
2. The Parana, the sources of which 
are inthe souniaius termed Goyazes.. , 
Aud, 3. The Uruguay, which has been 
traced to the vicinity of the island of St. 
Catharine. Pin ag 
springs. 
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