Retrospect of French Literature---Voyages and Travels. 695 
springs. The course of these large 
bodies of waters is directed towards the 
south, whence M, D’Azara concludes, 
that the lorrid: zone, or the environs of 
the equator, is more elevated then the 
southern temperate zone, and we are 
told that the course of the river of the 
Amazons proves the same fact. 
As to the vegetable productions, 
they depend a good deal on the tem- 
perature of theclimate. The plains in 
general are observed to exhbit a 
great degree of sameness; but on the 
appearance of hills, a considerable va- 
riety takes place. On those spots sub- 
ject to. occasional inundation, the 
plants grow higher and more luxn- 
riant: in some humid positions wild 
rice is frequently discovered. One ge- 
neral remark is made by all travellers, 
and that is, that in those pasturages 
frequented by herds of cattle, the high 
and luxuriant herbage is soon replaced 
by a fine turf. On the other hand, in 
the spots frequented by man, a variety 
of new plants calculated for human’ 
subsistence, are insensibly introduced. 
We are assured, that on all the way 
from the river La Plata to the Strait 
of Magellan, not a single tree exists ; 
nay, nota bush isto be seen. In some 
parts near the frontiers, a few viznagas, 
or large wild carrots, are to be found; 
anu also some churdons, which are ga- 
thered for the purpose of making firés. 
Such is the deficiency cf fuel, that 
bones and the fat of animals are often 
employed for this purpose. The-wood 
for building houses, constructing car- 
riages, waggous, &c. is brought from 
Paraguay. 
We are assured, however, that the 
wood of this province is less combus- 
fble than that produced in Europe. 
The tree called tartare does not emit 
any flame, and consimes without ap- 
pearing to be on fire; little or no ashes 
are left, and the odour is very disa- 
greeable. The Urunday-Pita, which is 
red, must be worked before it becomes 
dry, as ail iron instruments, on being 
applied to it ina green state immedi- 
ately lose their edge. The espinille, or 
yandubay, like the former, is almost 
incorruptible when laid in the earth ; 
and when first cut produces a strong 
and ardent flame. 
~The medicinal plants found here, 
are the rhubarb, the canchalagua, the 
calaguala, the ceterac (doradilia) ihe 
consouda (suelda consue'da) &c. The 
pila forms an excellent substitute for 
hemp; itis even stronger and better 
adapted for cables, as it never rots in 
water. On the other hand it is not 
so flexible, and therefore not so easily 
managed. 
In Paraguay, corn only yields four- 
fold;, at Monte Video, the increase is 
in the proportion of twelve to one; 
and sixteen at’ Buenos Ayres: this is 
exactly double in respect to the bar- 
vests of Old Spain. The grain, how- 
ever, is but half the size. The vine 
was formerly cultivated in an exten- 
sive manner in the neighbourhood of 
the city of Assumption, and the town 
of Mendoza still furnishes 3,313 bar- 
rels of wine; while that of St. John 
sends 7,942 barrels of brandy to Bue- 
nos Ayres and Monte Vileo. But the 
inhabitants, we are told, are extremely 
lazy, and ‘‘goverament obliges them by 
force to. cut and gather in the harvest. 
In addition to this,” itis added, ‘‘ the 
Spaniards have begun to imitate the 
Negroes, and the Indians, who care 
but little for wine, and prefer bran- 
Arps 
In the provinces of Paraguay, and 
among the misgions of the Jesuits, the 
sugar-cane and cotton are ‘cultivated, 
although both of these commodities 
suffer considerably from the cold. They 
are, however, destitute of machinery, 
and do not 4t present produce sufil- 
cient for the consu uption of the coun. > 
try. The oranges’are excellent, the 
pears are not very good, and the cher- 
ries still more indifferent: The ap- 
ples are admirable at -Monate Video, 
and indifferent at Buenos Ayres, while 
al Paraguay they are unknown. 
As to insects, they are said. to be 
innumerable. Bees of all kinds abound 
here ; they are divided into seven dif- 
ferent species, the greatest of which 
are double in point of size to those of 
Spain, while the sniallest does not 
equai, in point of bulk, one-fourth of 
the common fly, Noné of them sting, 
and all of them manufacture honey 
and.wax. The former of these con- 
sists of a sirup, resembling white 
sugar; the latter is of a deeper yel- 
low, and softer than that produced in 
Europe; the inhabitants are unace : 
guaimied with the art of bleaching it. 
There are no less than twelve dif- 
ferent kinds of wasps; butterflies also 
abound, both by mght and by day; 
ants are numerous, and differ preatly 
from those of Hurope; fleas make 
their appearance in Paraguay, during 
, the 
