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THE ARGENTINE
REPUBLIC
ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES, HISTORY, FAUNA,
FLORA, GEOLOGY, LITERATURE ^ COMMERCE
BY
A. STUART PENNINGTON
AUTHOR OF
" BRITISH ZOOPHYTES," "LA LANGOSTA ARGENTINA," ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAP
XonC»on
STAiNLEY PAUL & GO.
CLIFFORD'S INN
PRINTED BY
HAZELIi. WATSOM AND VINET, LD.,
LONDON AND AYI.EBBUBT.
PREFACE
The object of the present volume is to furnish the
reader with information which cannot be obtained,
except partially, either from the numerous books of
travel deahng with the Argentine or from the various
Handbooks, Year Books, or other volumes of a com-
mercial nature issued with the object of showing the
prospects of the country to the business man.
The information contained in the following pages
is scattered through numbers of volumes, few of which
are even partially in Enghsh and many of which are
inaccesible to the general reader.
A residence of more than twenty years in Argentina
has satisfied me that, although a " bird of passage "
may write a critical and highly coloured account of
the country after a sojourn of a few days, or even
hours — so great is the perspicacity of the globe trotter
— such a feat is beyond the powers of one who really
knows the land and sympathises with the hopes and
aspirations of its sons.
The first personal pronoun is therefore only shghtly
employed, the volume being a collection of facts and
not a mere record of feelings or opinions, as such are
bound to vary with the personal equation and experi-
ences of a writer. I have to thank Mr. R. Rosauer,
of 571 Rivadavia, Buenos Aires, for furnishing me
with most of the illustrations which appear in the
volume.
A. STUART PENNINGTON.
Queen Victoria College, San Fernando,
March, 1910.
Note
The following comparisons between British and
Argentine weights and measures and values of money
are necessary to be borne in mind in reading this
volume.
£1 = S5'04 gold or $11*45 moneda nacional or paper.
(Moneda nacional is usually written m/n to distinguish
the paper money from gold, which is written o/s (oro
sellado).
$lo/8 — $2-27 m/n.
$1 m/n = $0-44 o/s.
To turn gold to paper divide by 0"44. To turn paper
to gold multiply by 0'44.
vara = 34 inches or 0-866 metre,
yard = 09143 metre,
metre = 1-09 yards or 39-3709 inches,
mile = 1609-314 metres,
kilom. = 0-6214 mile.
sq, mile = 259 hectareas or nearly 2^ sq. kilom.
sq. kilom. = nearly 0-4 sq. mile,
hectarea = 10,000 sq. metres = nearly 2| acres,
acre = 4,046 sq. metres or 0-4 hectarea.
kilogram = 2.204 lbs. or 35 J oz.
pound avoirdupois — 0*453 kgs, or 453 grammes,
ton = 1,016-047 kgs.
gallon = 4*54 litres,
litre = 0*22 gallon,
bushel = 36-348 litres,
quarter = 290*761 litres or 2*90781 hectolitres.
CONTENTS
Chapter I
PAGE
Physical Description of the Country . . . . . . 13
Extent and Boundaries — Difference of Longitude and Time —
Greneral Appearance of the Country — The South Orkney
Islands Observatory — The Cordillera — The Central System —
The Mountains of Misiones — The Southern Mountain System
— The Plains : the Chaco, Pampa, Salinas Grandes, Patagonia
— The River Systems : the Rivers Parana and Uruguay and
their Confluents — The River Plate — The Rivers Colorado,
Negro — The River of Patagonia — Lakes — The Iguazu Falls —
Lagunas de Malhoyo and Ibera.
Chapter II
Population, Race, Language, and Religion . . . . 33
Statistics of Population — Origin of the Argentines — Indian Tribes
— Mixed Races — The Gaucho — The Rastreador — The Baqueano
— The Payador — The Domador — Portenos — Criollos — Pun-
tanos — Cuyanos — Chinos — Gringos — Ingleses — The National
Language and its Pronunciation — Differences between Argen-
tine and Spanish — Religion : the Roman Catholic, Anglican,
Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, Other Sects.
Chapter III
Government, Constitution, etc ,. 52
Argentina a Federal Republic — Origin of the Argentine Pro
vinces — The Constitution — The National Government : Execu-
tive, Legislative, Judicial — The Provincial Governments —
Special Powers of the National Government : Intervention,
State of Siege — National Anthem — The National Flag —
National and Provincial Shields and Arms — Diplomatic
Representation .
Chapter IV
History : Discovery and Period of the Adelantados 73
Discovery of the River Plato by Sohs — Cabot's Expedition —
Fate of the Colony Founded by him — The Adelantados —
Mendoza and the First Founding of Buenos Aires — Fate ofr"
the Colony — Irala — The Government in Asuncion — Garay'
and the Second Founding of Buenos Aires — Separation of
Buenos Airee from Asuncion.
CONTENTS
Chapter V
PAGE
History : The Colonial Period . . . . . , 91
The Spanish " Indies," Governors of the La Plata Province —
Commerce during the Colonial Period, its Drawbacks and
its Monopolies — British Buccaneers — The Slave Trade — The
Jesuits and their Missions — The Expulsion of the Jesuits —
Brazilian Claims to Uruguay — La Colonia del Sacramento —
History of its Captures and Restorations — The Falkland
Islands.
Chapter VI
History : The Viceroys 118
Establishment and Jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty — The Viceroys
— Reforms of Vertiz — The Consulado and Manuel Belgrano —
The First Newspapers — The First and Second British Inva-
sions— Treatment of Liniers — Preparations for the Revolution
—The 25th of May, 1810.
Chapter VII
History : The Republic 138
The Primera Junta — Belgrano's Expedition to Paraguay — Fate
of Liniers — Battles in the Interior — Changes of Government
— Arrival of San Martin and Alvear — Services of San Martin —
Alvear offers Argentine to Great Britain — The Directors — The
9th of July — Admiral Brown — Canning — Federales and Uni-
tarios — Rivadavia — Rosas — The Reign of Terror — The Presi-
dents— The Wars with Brazil and Paraguay — Mitre —
Sarmiento — Avellaneda — Roca — Celman — The Revolution of
1890 — Recent events.
Chapter VIII
Fauna 167
Chapter IX
Flora and Forest Wealth 215
Authorities — Botanical Zones — Zones of Cultivation — Principal
Plants in each Botanical Zone — List of Trees with Native
Names — Notes on Chief Forest Trees — Resistance of Principal
Timbers — Fruit Trees.
Chapter X
Geology, Fossils, and Mineralogy 234
The Geological Structure of the Covmtry generally — Separate
Formations and their Character : Fossils, Giant Glyptodons —
The Mylodon, etc. — The Tetraprothomo Argentivus — Mineral
Districts of the Country — Petroleum, etc,
CONTENTS
Chapter XI
PAGE
Industries and Productions . . 246
Agriculture : Cereals, Linseed, Fruits, Cotton, Sugar, Grapes
Alfalfa, etc. — Relative Importance of Argentine Cereal and
Linseed Crops — Exportation — Pastoral Industries — The
Estancia and its Products — Relative Position of Argentine as
a Stock Breeding Country — Importation of Fine Stock and
Effects of Crossing — Census of Live Stock — Exportation :
Wool, Butter, etc. — Mining Industries : Notes of Actual
Operations — General Commerce : Imports and Distribution.
Chapter XII
Literature, Journalism, Politics . . . . . . 267
Independent Character of Argentine Literature — Poetry :
Centenera — The Poets of the Revolution — The " Lira Argen-
tina " — Later Poets — Poets Now Living — Prose Writers :
Historians, Scientific Writers, Medical and Legal Writers,
Novelists. — The " Nacion " Library — Public Speaking — Origin
of the Press — Early Newspapers, 1800-1862 — British Jour-
nalism— Leading Argentine Papers — Politics.
Chapter XIII
The Capital, Provinces, and National Territories.. 290
Chief Towns and Places of Interest.
Chapter XIV
Life in Argentina . . . . . . . . . • • - 321
Feelings of a New-comer — The Weather — Freedom — Absence
of Rank — Salaries — Temptations — Amusements : The Theatre,
Literary Societies, etc.. Sports — Observance of Sunday —
House Rent — Cost of Living — Meals — Politeness — Argentine
Customs — Education — The Professions — Marriage Customs —
Funeral Customs — British Trade — Conclusion.
APPENDICES
A. Extracts from Treaty with Great Britain . . 338
B. Extracts from the Argentine Constitution . . 341
Glossary . . . . . . • • • • • • • 343
Index 346
ILLUSTRATIONS
Courts of Justice, Buenos AraEs (Frontispiece).
1. AvENiDA DE Mayo, Buenos AraEs.
2. Colon Theatre, Buenos Aires.
3. The Cathedral, Buenos Aires.
4. Government House, Buenos Aires.
5. Congress Hall, Buenos Aires,
6. The Museum, La Plata.
7. Statue of Falucho, Buenos Aires.
8. Tomb of General San Martin.
9. Observatory, La Plata.
10. Meteorological Station, South Orkney Islands.
IL Aqueduct, San Lufs.
12. View in Jujuy.
13. Chaco Indians. Father and Sons.
14. Yahgan Indian, Tierra del Fuego.
15. Victoria Falls, Misiones.
16. Lake Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz.
17. Sierra de La Ventana.
18. Rocking Stone, Tandil.
19. Lapataia, Tierra del Fuego.
20. Mount Sarmiento, Tierra del Fuego.
21. RuENs OF Jesuit Monastery, Misiones.
22. Alta Gracia, C6rdoba.
23. Lake Belgrano, Santa Cruz,
24. Lake Lacar, Neuquen.
25. Tehuelche Indians, Patagonia.
26. Gauchos.
27. T^E " Clock Tower." British Memorial of
Argentine Centenary, 1910.
28. Bed of River Horcones at foot of " Aconcagua,'
29. The Beech Tree, Tierra del Fuego.
^0. The Samohu Tree, Corrientes.
CHAPTER I
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY
Extent and Boundaries — Difference of Longitude and Time —
General Appearance of the Country — The South Orkney Islands
Observatory — The Cordillera — The Central System — The
Mountains of Misiones — The Southern Mountain System — The
Plains : the Chaco, Pampa, Salinas Grandes, Patagonia — The
River Systems : the Rivers Parana and Uruguay and their
Confluents — The River Plate — The Rivers Colorado, Negro —
The River of Patagonia — Lakes — The Iguazu Falls — Lagunas
de Malhoyo and Ibera.
The Argentine Republic, or, as it is frequently called,
Argentina or the Argentine, is situated in the southern
portion of South America, and occupies an area of
2,952,551 square kilometres or 1,135,840 square miles.
It is separated from Chile on the west by the Cordillera
of the Andes, and is bounded on the north by the
Repubhcs of Bolivia and Paraguay, and on the east
by the Republics of Brazil and Uruguay and by the
Atlantic Ocean. The River Uruguay separates Argen-
tina from both Brazil and Uruguay on the eastern
frontier. The Atlantic seaboard has an extent of
about 1,650 miles.
Broadly speaking, the country lies between 21° 30'
and 54° 52' South Latitude, and 62° and 74° West
Longitude.
The difference in longitude implies a difference of
from four to five hours in time between Great Britain
18
14 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
and Argentina ; but, as by Government decree the official
time in all parts of the Republic is that of the meridian
of Cordoba, the actual difference between the time of
Greenwich and that of Argentina is 4 hours and 17
minutes. The difference between Argentine and French
time is 4 hours 26 minutes. Argentine time is 51 minutes
in advance of that of New York, the longitude of which
city is 74° West.
The fact that Argentina is so many hours behind
Europe is a great advantage from a journahstic point
of view, as whatever happens in the Old World is
known in Buenos Aires the same day. An event, for
instance, which takes place in London at six o'clock
in the afternoon, is cabled to Buenos Aires and known
there about two o'clock of the same day. There is
the same advantage with respect to commercial cables
from England to Buenos Aires, although there is neces-
sarily a corresponding disadvantage with respect to
cables from Argentina to Europe, as such cables sent
off on the afternoon at Buenos Aires are usually not
available till the following morning in London.
The fact that Argentina is in southern latitudes
causes the seasons to be the exact opposite of those
in the northern hemisphere, the Argentine summer
corresponding with the northern winter and the Argen-
tine spring with the northern autumn and vice versa.
The longest day in Buenos Aires is December 21st,
and the shortest day June 22nd.
The general aspect of the country varies from the
majestic peaks of the Andes to the level plains of the
Pampas and the Chaco. The immense ranges which
are included in the term Cordillera de los Andes stretch
along the whole of the western frontier, from the extreme
north to 46° S.L. Here the main range turns westward
and is continued in Chile in the islands which extend
along the Pacific coast. South of 46° S.L., the mountains
which are found in Argentina are unimportant and
isolated. To the east of the Cordillera, Argentina is
divided into three great plains, each with its distin-
guishing features. In the north the Gran Chaco,
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 15
Gualemba extends southwards to the River Salado
or Juramento. The Chaco is covered with forests
which exhibit a wealth of timber of all kinds, which
product has only been utilised during recent years.
Amongst these forests roam the wild animals which
still constitute the most striking examples of the
Argentine fauna. South of the Chaco extends the
level plain of the Pampa with its fertile soil, once
regarded as an ungrateful treeless expanse, but which
is now the scene of the greater part of the pastoral
and agricultural industries of the country.
Beyond the Rio Colorado is that part of the country
which has somehow been better known to Europeans
by the name of Patagonia. This title is httle used
in the country itself, as the territory is geographically
known as Rio Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz. Along
the western side of Patagonia is to be found a chain of
lakes showing some resemblance to those of the Riff
Valley in Africa. Separated from the mainland by
the Straits of Magellan is the island of Tierra del Fuego,
divided along the Une of the meridian 68° 34' West
Lon. between Argentina and Chile. Separated from
Tierra del Fuego by the Strait of Le Maire is the island
of Los Estados or, as it is curiously called in Enghsh
maps, Staten Island, which is chiefly used as a penal
settlement and as a place to send refractory revolu-
tionists until their ardour has evaporated under the
coohng influences of the chmate.
All Argentine geographies claim the Falkland Islands,
or Islas Malvinas, as Argentine territory, and the
government periodically reclaims the possession of
these islands from the British and avoids doing any-
thing whatever to even admit by imphcation any
recognition of Great Britain's rights over this archi-
pelago.
The " ultima Thule " of Argentina is found in the
South Orkneys, where the celebrated Scotch explorer
Dr. Bruce, during the voyage of the Scotia, estabUshed
a meteorological station (see illustration No. 10), which
he handed over to the Argentine Government, which
16 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
has continued and extended the observations initiated
by that expedition. The South Orkneys still, however,
remain British so far as ownership is concerned. The
Mountain Systems of the country are the ' Andine
ranges, the Central System, the Moxmtains of Misiones
and the Southern System. The Cordillera de los Andes
is a continuation of the great range which forms the
backbone of the American continent. Commencing
in Argentina at the extreme north it divides into a
number of parallel ranges which continually throw off
connecting ranges. In the neighbourhood of Latitude 30°
there are at least seven of these chains, but generally
speaking, there are three recognised ranges known as
the Eastern or Pre-Cordillera, the Central Cordillera,
and the Western Cordillera. The last is the highest
and the most continuous and the only one which extends
to the extreme south of the country. In the northern
provinces the Andes are immense mountains and the
western chain forms an unbroken wall from the 27th
to the 40th degrees of S. Lat. Down to lat. 31°, all
the passes are at a height of more than 12,000 feet ;
but, as the range descends to the South, these passes
are found at lower altitudes.
The general aspect of the Andes north of 37° is
sterile and awe inspiring ; but, south of this degree,
the hills are clothed with vegetation. In the Territory
of Neuquen the scenery is enhvened by the presence
of lakes of various sizes, all reflecting in their waters
the snowclad peaks surrounding them. The best known
of these smaller lakes is Lake Lacar (see illustration
No. 24), near which is the mihtary Colony of San Martin
de Los Andes. At the southern corner of Neuquen
is the great Lake Nahuel Huapi, 50 miles in length
and studded with beautiful islands, the principal of
which is named Victoria. South of the Territory of
Neuquen are many other lakes of large size which will
be named when treating of the river systems of the
country.
In the Western Cordillera are found many mountain
peaks which are famous for their altitude. The chief
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 17
of these are, Aconcagua the highest pomt of the
American continent (7,100 metres), Mercedario (6,700
metres), Juncal (6,000 metres), and Maipii (5,300
metres). There are no active volcanoes on the Argentine
side of the Cordillera, although there is abundant
evidence all over the Andine region that many craters
of the Andes have been recently in comparative
activity. At the extreme south of the Territory of
Santa Cruz the Cordillera turns eastward and follows
the boundary of Argentina along the north of the
Straits of Magellan. Here are the Mountains Aymont
and Dinero. In Tierra del Fuego are mountains
attributed to the Andean system, one range to the
north of the Beagle Channel being named after the
gi'eat naturahst Darwin. The centre of the mountain
systems of the island is Mount Sarmiento (2,056 metres),
covered with snow to its base (see illustration No. 20).
Returning to the other branches of the Cordillera
we find in the north, in the provinces of Salta and
Jujuy, the ranges of Acay and Cachi, Humahuaca,
near the famous pass of that name, Santa Victoria,
Zenta, CaUilegua, Santa Barbara, Maiz Gordo and
Lumbreras. Southward from these are, the high range
of Aconquija (5,000 metres), the connecting range of
Ambato, the metalhferous range of Famatina (6,000
metres), and Velasco. There are also numerous other
ranges in the Andine provinces of Catamarca, La
Rioja, San Juan, and Mendoza, all of which are included
in the Cordillera.
The Central System is formed of the mountains in
the Central provinces of Santiago del Estero, Cordoba,
and San Luis with a few isolated peaks in La Rioja.
The chief ranges in the Central System are found in
Cordoba, where they form three parallel chains named,
Del Campo in the east, Achala in the centre and Pocho
in the west. The mountains of the Central System
are separated from the Andine ranges by the low
lying district of the " Salinas Grandes," the remains,
according to geologists, of a vast inland sea which
extended as far south as the lake Bebedero. These
18 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
three chains of mountains are divided into several
ranges which change their names as they are crossed
by the rivers Primero, Segmido, Tercero, and Cuarto.
The highest peak is Champaqui, which attains a height
of 2,880 metres.
The Mountains of Misiones take the form of a
Y and are made up of the three ranges : The Sierra de
Misiones, or Factura, which is now outside the hmits
of Argentina, and is a continuation of the Sierra do
Mar in Brazil ; the Central range, running from east
to west ; the Victoria, which runs between the Uruguay
and Iguazii rivers in the north-east of the Territory.
The highest peak in the Misiones mountains rises 400
metres.
The Southern Mountain System of Argentine
geographers consists of two groups in the province of
Buenos Aires, one commencing at Cape Corrientes,
near Mar del Plata, and running in a north-westerly
direction to Quillalauquen, and the other situated to
the north of Bahia Blanca. The first mentioned group
contains the ranges. Padres, Volcan (or Vulcan), Tandil,
Tinta, Azul, Tabalquen and Quillalauquen. The highest
peak is in the Tandil hills, 340 metres.
In this latter range is the world-famed Rocking
stone (see illustration No. 18), an enormous rock of
granite containing 130 cubic metres. This stone is
in the form of a paraboloid, 4 metres high and 5 metres
in diameter at the base. The stone rocks upon a knob
of the underlying rock which fits into a hollow in the
stone itself. Within a distance of a few miles from
the Rocking stone, there are several other interesting
rocks, and in the Sierras Barbosa and Tinta are caves
which have been well searched — and not ineffectually —
for remains of the Pampas Indians.
The second group of the Southern System consists
of the sierras of La Ventana (1,250 metres), Curru-
malal (or Curamalan) and Pillahuinco. The Sierra de
La Ventana (see illustration No. 17) derives its name
" ventana " (or window) from an opening in the summit
which measures 4 metres in width and 10 in height
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 19
and is surmounted with a dome of 12 metres in thick-
ness. The opening is 20 metres in length.
In Patagonia there are numbers of isolated low-
ranges and hills to which the general name Mahuida,
the aboriginal name for mountain, has been given.
In many parts of Patagonia the ground is covered by
immense layers of boulders and fragments of rock and
pebbles of granite, porphyry and basalt, about which
Darwin has much to say in his " Naturahst's
Voyage.'*
After this brief glance at the mountain systems of
Argentina we pass to
The Plains.
For thousands of square leagues the land of Argen-
tina stretches in an almost unbroken plain, but as
different names have been given to separate districts,
and these names are constantly in use, they are employed
in the following descriptions.
The Gran Chaco, in Argentina, is the southern part
of a vast extent of flat land which reaches far into the
surrounding countries of BoUvia, Paraguay and Brazil.
In Argentina itseH, the Chaco is bounded by the Pil-
comayo, the Parana and the River Salado or Jura-
mento. The aspect of the Chaco is very varied. In
some parts there are immense virgin forests, in which
scores of different kinds of timber trees will be found
within a few acres. In other parts there are vast
pahn groves and, again, in others the ground is swampy
and unapproachable. The plain of the Chaco is divided
pohtically amongst the Territories of Formosa and the
Chaco and parts of the provinces of Santiago del Estero
and Santa Fe. The details of the forest wealth of
this district will be given in a later chapter.
The Pampa is a vast, ahnost treeless, plain extending
from the Chaco southwards to the River Colorado.
There is not a hill or even a heap of stones to break the
monotony of this " ocean of land," as it has been
called. Its immense extent of unvaried landscape has
B
20 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
been tke theine of many writers who have described
how its solitude and unbroken monotony have affected
the ■ habits and even the speech of the Gauchos, who
have been reared within its hmits. Says one writer : —
" The Argentine Pampa is one of the most notable
regions in our continent. It is the kingdom of silence
in which Nature hes sad, taciturn, motionless, exhausted.
There the birds never sing, but complain or groan or
whistle with their sadness. The vizcachas, which
abound, grunt hke pigs and, during summer, insects
hum and the cicada molests. The sinuous viper and
the loathsome iguana creep on the ground in silence.
In vain one looks for a tree, a rock, a stone, however
small. There even man does not laugh, and seems
neither to feel nor to think. His very speech is harsh
and his song monotonous and sad." The progress of
agricultural and pastoral industry has, however, changed
the face of this great plain into smihng cornfields and
luxurious fields of alfalfa, and herds of cattle and sheep
have altogether taken from the Pampa its old character.
Estancia houses, surrounded by woods, have risen up
on all sides, and the iron horse has made what was a
scene of desolation to blossom as the rose. The Pampa
is to-day the scene of the greatest wealth producing
industries of the country.
There is one tree which was, and is, a mark of
the Pampa. That is the Ombii {Phytolacca Dioica L.),
This tree is found in sohtary grandeur hfting its stout
trunk and leafy dome hke a hghthouse in the land
ocean. Argentine poets have sung its praises, but,
except as a striking figure in the landscape, the Ombu
is a tree of httle or no value. The natural grass of
the Pampa is hard and, although flesh forming, the
cattle which feed upon it never fatten. By degrees,
however, the " pastos duros,'" or hard grasses, are
being driven farther and farther away from the Atlantic
coast until now there is an ever widening zone of tender
grass, extending inwards and already permanent to
the east of a hne drawn through Junin, Bragado,
Tapalque, Azul, Ayacucho and Mar Chiquita. These
No. 1. AvKNiuA i)t: M.wo, Buenos Aiki:;-
^y*^^^j;;r^^'^^
^t U
No. 2. Colon Thkatkk. Huenos Aires.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 23
tender grasses, at first introduced by the Spanish
conquerors and encouraged during the intervening
centuries of occupation, have caused the fattening of
cattle to be a profitable business.
The Provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes form
the Argentine Mesopotamia. This district is abundantly-
watered and is rich in vegetation. It is unequalled
for either cattle raising or agriculture. Though
generally the surface of the land is flat, there are,
especially in the central zone, undulations of the ground
called " cuchillas," which impart a distinctive feature
to the Mesopotamian landscape.
The desert or Pampa of the great salt marshes,
or Sahnas Grandes, called also Pipanaco in Catamarca,
is an irregular extension of land on the borders of
the provinces of Santiago del Estero, Cordoba, Cata-
marca, La Rioja and San Luis. It is beheved — and
with good reason — that the whole of this desert once
formed an inland sea now represented by the Salinas
Grandes. The whole area of this sea originally extended
as far south as Lake Bebedero and was drained by
the Desaguadero, which issues from Lake Guanacache
in San Juan and discharges its waters into the Colorado.
The " sahna " which occupies the centre of this desert
has a covering of salt, several milhmetres in thickness,
and when the ground is dry it is as white as a snow
field. The vegetation in this district is of rapid growth
and the predominating species are indiscriminately
called Jume and belong to the family of the Sahcorniae
and Quenopodiaciae. The ashes of these, when the
plants are burnt, yield large quantities of salts of
soda and potash which are used in the manufacture
of soap and carbonates.
The Plain of the interior is constituted by the
valleys of Catamarca, the greatest part of La Rioja
and San Luis and the East of San Juan and Mendoza.
There is nothing special to remark about this district
except that it is very dry and, consequently, the vege-
tation is stunted.
It is not quite correct to call Patagonia a plain.
24 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
It is rather a series of table-lands gradually extending
in height westwards. Its features have already been
referred to.
The River Systems and Lakes.
On taking a map of Argentina and drawing a hne
from the Plain of Catamarca to the Ensenada of San
Borombon, in the province of Buenos Aires, we divide
the country into two parts and then find that the
whole of the part north of the hne falls within the
basin of the River Parana — or, it would be more correct
to say, of the Rio de La Plata, or River Plate as it
is called on Enghsh maps. This River, which has
given its name to the country, (Plata means silver
and is therefore the same as Argentine), is one of the
great rivers of the world.
The River Plate is formed by the union of the
Uruguay and the Parana. The Uruguay rises in the
Sierra do Mar in Brazil and enters Argentine territory
at the boundary of Misiones with Brazil, running
southwards until it unites with the Parana. Its total
length is 1,300 kilometres, or more than 800 miles.
It is navigable as far as Concordia, where the rapids
and rocks impede the ascent of the river except during
the time of a flood. Frequently, also, in order to reach
Concordia, it is necessary to tranship the passengers
and cargo on account of similar impediments to navi-
gation. These rapids are called saltos. There is a
regular line of steamers to Concordia with sailings
two or three times a week. The Uruguay receives
many tributaries on its passage along the east of Entre
Rios and Corrientes, the principal being the Guale-
guaychu. The River Parana is formed at its com-
mencement of two rivers, both rising in the Sierra del
Espinazo in Brazil. Running in a south-easterly
direction, it forms, on arriving at Latitude 24 J °,
the celebrated cataract of La Guayra. Here the
river, 3,000 metres wide, pours over a waterfall of 17
metres with a terrific noise said to be heard at a dia-
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 25
tance of 30 kilometres, or more than 18 miles. The
width of the river is then decreased to 50 metres.
On entering Argentine territory the Parana receives
the waters of the Iguazii, or Rio Grande de Curitaba,
on which river is the famous cataract of la Victoria
(see illustration No. 15). A few words about this
cataract are necessary. The Victoria Falls are situated
about 18 miles from the confluence of the two rivers.
The Iguazii, about 450 yards wide, suddenly finds its
course intercepted by an archipelago, beyond which
the bed of the river Hes nearly 70 yards below
the level of the upper river. Between these islands
the waters fall in a chain of cascades extending over a
distance of a mile and a half which, as the islands
are covered with a rich vegetation, form a succession
of pictures, each more beautiful than can be conceived
of without a visit, defying all the arts either of the
painter or the narrator to paint or describe. Dis-
tinctive names have been given to some of the groups
of cascades. Thus, those nearest the BraziUan shore
are called the Saltos Brasilenos and those at the oppo-
site end and nearest the Argentine shore are called
the Saltos Argentinos. Next to the latter are the
Saltos San Martin, and next to these the Saltos Con-
stant. Nearest the Brazihan falls are the Saltos de
15 de Noviembre arranged in the form of an arc from
which the water pours down Hke an immense curtain.
The Victoria Falls are said by those who have seen
both to be much superior in beauty to the Falls of
Niagara. The falls have been well photographed and
from the prints some shght idea can be obtained of
the majesty and extent of these cascades.
After receiving the waters of the Iguazu, the Parana
continues its course along the boundary of Misiones
and Corrientes. Here are found the Saltos de Jesus
or del Corpus, near the Missionary ruins of that name,
and those of Apipe and Aregua, between the island
of Yaceretd and the shore of Paraguay. This part
of the river's course is reported by all travellers as
being supremely beautiful ; but, as the river continues
26 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
its course along the Argentine provinces, there is
nothing of note to be seen on either bank. At Cor-
rientes, the Parana receives its principal tributary,
the Paraguay, which comes down from the high lands
of Matto Grosso and receives, before meeting the
Parana, two important rivers, the Pilcomayo and the
Bermejo, both rising in BoHvia. The Pilcomayo is a
river with a history. The story of its exploration
is one of death and suffering. The fates of the French
explorer Crevaux, the young Spaniard Ibarreta, the
ItaHan painter Boggiani, and the Argentine naturalist
Ramon Lista, have given a melancholy interest to this
river which in itself is more marked for the irregularity
of its course than for any other feature. The Bermejo
— so called (Bermejo, vermiHon) from the colour of
the mud which it brings dow^n — while rising in Bohvia
drains the upper parts of the provinces of Salta and
Jujuy. It is navigable, though with some difficulty
and not without some element of danger, throughout
its whole course. The Paraguay joins the Parana at
a point called the " Tres Bocas '' (Three mouths)
these being formed by the islands Cerrito or del Atajo
and Humaita. The Paraguay is navigable by ordinary
steamers, such as regularly ascend the river, as far
as Corumba, and by steamers which draw httle water
as far as Cuyuba, 2,000 miles from the River Plate.
The Parana continues its course between the province
of Santa Fe and Corrientes and Entre Rios receiving
as tributaries the River Salado or Juramento, which
comes down from Salta and the Carcarana, which, as
the River Tercero, rises in the Sierra Achala in Cordoba.
It was at the mouth of this latter river that the Enghsh
sailor and explorer Sebastian Cabot, in 1526, founded
the ill-fated colony of Santo Espirito the tragic story
of which is told by one of the earhest Argentine poets,
Labarden, in a lengthy poem entitled " Siropo.''
The lower Parana below the Carcarana is frequently
called the Delta, as the course of the river is broken
up into an ever increasing number of streams, which
anastomose in the most surprising manner and form
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 27
hundreds of islands, in which the cultivation of willows
and poplars for fuel and fruits of all kinds has of late
years become widely extended. The main channel
of the river, or, as it is called, the Parana Guazii, is
at the east, close to the Entre-Riano shore. By this
arm the steamers go to Rosario, but another arm, the
Parana de las Palmas, is also much used for steam
navigation. It is intended shortly to make a canal
crossing the Delta in order to render the communication
between Rosario and the capital shorter and easier.
The width of the Delta at its extremity, where the
rivers meet to form the Rio de la Plata, is 40 kilo-
metres (25 miles).
The River Plate is an immense estuary extending
in an ever widening expanse for a distance of 360
kilometres (225 miles) until its junction with the
Atlantic Ocean, which is considered to be effected at
a Une drawn from Cape Santa Maria in Uruguay to
Cape San Antonio in the province of Buenos Aires.
Here the width of the river is nearly 200 kilometres
(125 miles). The quantity of water discharged by the
River Plate into the Atlantic is reckoned at 960 milhons
of cubic feet per day. In its course it bears down
with it immense quantities of mud brought down by
the various rivers already mentioned from the interior,
and, as it is anything but rapid in its flow, its com'se
is impeded by bars and banks which are deposited
all over the estuary and make it only navigable in
certain channels. The principal banks formed are
the Placer de las Palmas, from the Delta to Buenos
Aires, the Banco Ortiz, which occupies the centre of
the river and divides it into two channels, and the
Banco Ingles to the S.E. of Montevideo, which is a very
dangerous obstacle to shipping and has been the scene
of many wrecks. The River Plate is generally very
shallow, its utmost depth being 6 metres — in fact, in
many parts, the depth does not exceed a yard, and it
would be possible to cross on foot from the Argentine
to the Uruguayan shore except for the channels of the
Parana de las Palmas and the Guazu. The islands
28 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
on the eastern or left side of the river belong to Uruguay,
with the exception of Martin Garcia, which was the
Argentine quarantine station in the old days when
every vessel which had called at a Brazihan port had
to undergo that operation for fear of the dreaded
yellow fever. The tides of the River Plate depend
largely on the wind, a south-east wind bringing the
waters up and flooding large extensions of the coast,
especially in the neighbourhood of the Delta. A
Pampero or south-west wind drives the water down.
Occasionally, when the tributary streams are much
swoUen, the moon is favourable to the tides, and a
strong south-east wind prevails, the " mareas," as
they are called, do considerable damage.
The River Parana is navigable as far as Rosario
for vessels drawing 20 feet, as far as Parana, the capital
of Entre Rios, for vessels drawing 17 feet, as far as
Corrientes for vessels drawing 11 feet, and thence as
far as the Iguazii Falls for small boats. There is a
regular hne of steamers with sailings two or three
times per week for the ports on the rivers Parana
and Paraguay. At the extreme south of the Province
of Buenos Aires two large rivers fall into the Atlantic.
These are the Colorado and the Negro. The Colorado
is formed by two streams, the Grande and the Bar-
rancas, which rise in the Eastern Cordillera and flow,
after uniting, in a broad stream in a south-easterly
direction. It is navigable for small vessels from the
union of the two streams mentioned as far as Pichi
Mahuida in the Pampa. The River Negro is formed
by the union of the Neuquen and the Limay, two rivers
which, with numerous tributaries, rise in the slopes
of the Andes and in the numerous lakes which are
prominent features in the landscape of the Territory
of Neuquen. The Limay rises in the lake Nahuel
Huapi and is navigable throughout its entire course.
The Neuquen is navigable for vessels drawing three
feet. About half way in its course the Negro divides
and forms the island Choele-Choel. It runs almost
parallel to the Colorado and is navigable throughout
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 29
its whole course. The National Territory of Chubut
is watered by the River Chubut, which rises at the
south of Nahuel Huapi, receiving as its main tributary
the river Chico, or Senguer. The Senguer rises in the
Andean lake Fontana and runs in a curve to lake
Musters, named after the brave EngHsh traveller
who first crossed Patagonia from north to south, from
Punta i^jenas to the River Negro, and who, after
a residence amongst the Tehuelche Indians, died in
1872 from the effects of his arduous explorations.
The Lake Musters is connected with a twin lake Colhue
from which the waters of the Senguer flow, under the
name of the river Chico, to join the main stream of the
Chubut in the Alsina Valley. The Chubut falls into
the Atlantic near the capital Rawson, and is only
navigable for a very short distance and then only at
high tide.
In the Territory of Santa Cruz are the Rivers
Deseado, Chico, Santa Cruz, Coile, Belgrano and
Gallegos. All these rivers rise in the Cordillera and
run in an easterly direction to the Atlantic. The
Deseado rises near Lake Buenos Aires (see illustration
No. 16), and after a course of some 250 miles falls into
the Atlantic at Port Deseado. The River Chico rises
as the River Belgrano in the neighbourhood of the
lake of that name (see illustration No. 23) and receives
as its main tributary the Shehuen, rising in or near
Lake San Martin. The united Rivers fall into the
estuary of the Bay of Santa Cruz, into which also fall
the waters of the river of that name which rises in
Lake Argentino. The Santa Cruz is a wide river with
a strong current which makes navigation difficult.
The Coile rises at the north of Mount Stokes and
falls into the Atlantic at the caleta or small port bearing
the name of the river. The River Gallegos, which
runs through a fertile valley to the Port of the same
name, rises in the swamps known as the plains of
Diana. The navigation of this river is only possible
at certain seasons and with strongly built boats. In
the interior of the country are a number of rivers
30 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
which do not fulfil their destiny of falhng into the
ocean. In the province of Cordoba are the rivers
Primero and Segundo, which rise in the Achala range
and fall into Lake Mar Chiquita. The river Tercero,
as before stated, becomes the Carcaraiia and, with this
name, falls into the Parana, occasionally carrying with
it the waters of the Rio Cuarto. The river Quinto
rises in the province of San Luis and loses itself in
Lake Amargo. The most important of these inland
rivers are those known generally as the Dulce and
the Bermejo. The former river rises in Salta and
enters Tucuman with the name of Sali. In this pro-
vince it receives a large number of tributaries, which
come down from the slopes of the Aconquica range.
Passing to the province of Santiago del Estero it takes
first the name of Hondo and afterwards that of Dulce,
finally disappearing in the swampy Laguna de Los
Porongos. This River is often referred to and marked
on the maps as the Saladillo or Salado. This is due
to the fact that it has frequently changed its course
and when it runs through the salinas its waters become
salt. There are at least six different beds recognisable
between Loreto and Salavino. The River Dulce is
described as the " Providence of Santiago del Estero,"
as nearly all the agriculture of the province depends
upon its waters.
The Bermejo-Desaguadero system waters the Andine
provinces of La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza. Rising
in the Sierra del Bonete in Catamarca with the name
of Jaguel, a river, which then takes the name of Vin-
china, crosses the province of La Rioja, where it
receives a tributary, the Guandacol. The united rivers
form the Bermejo, into which the river Jachal, or
Zanjon, falls. The Bermejo, along with the San
Juan, formed by the Patos and Castaiios, falls into
Lake Guanacache. Into this lake also fall the waters
of the River Mendoza which comes down from the
Andes near Aconcagua. The Lake named sends the
overflow of its waters into the Desaguadero, which runs
south between the provinces of San Luis and Men-
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 31
doza receiving as tributaries the Bebedero, Tunujam,
Diamante and Atuel. The united rivers form the
Chadi-Leo-fu in the Pampa and fall into a lake, Urre-
Lauquen. Here they are usually lost ; but, in times
of great excess of water, this reaches the River Colorado
by a stream called the Cm'oco.
There are many other rivers in Argentina, either
discharging in the ocean or losing themselves in lagunas
or swamps, but all of real importance have been men-
tioned.
In addition to the lakes and lagunas already referred
to, there are two in the province of Corrientes, Malhoyo
and Ibera, which are of considerable extent. Malhoyo
is formed by a series of swamps and marshes which
discharges into the Parana by the rivers Empedrado
and San Lorenzo. Lake Ibera is the magic lake of
Argentina. Although so near the capital of the pro-
vince and other important centres, it still remains
practically unknown and, according to the untutored
mind of the Indian, is the abode of spirits and the
seat of enchantment. Covering an extension of 22
kilometres, Ibera has all the characters of a great lake.
After heavy rains it increases vastly in area, and the
same fact is observed whenever the River Parana is
in flood. Hence it has been supposed that there is a
subterraneous connection between the two as there is
no such communication on the surface. The numbers
of mosquitoes and other noxious insects make any
attempt at exploration extremely difficult, whilst the
presence of caymans and boa constrictors add to the
danger. "It is said that the name Iherci arises from
the fact that the Guarani Indians saw frequently
during the night changing hghts which appeared to
them to open up fantastic visions : it is certain that
these swamps are peopled by an infinitude of insects
which illuminate the scene with their brilliant phos-
phorescent light. The Indians were also convinced
that in the numerous islands in the centre were to be
found races of supernatural beings and savage beasts
and at night they could hear the bellowing of cattle.
32 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Even at the present day men tell how they hear groans
and howlings as of dogs proceeding from the interior
of the lake '' (Morel). There are stories of disappearing
islands and other strange phenomena current in Cor-
rientes, and the lake is regarded as the home of mystery
by all dwellers in its neighbom*hood. It is said that
one daring spirit proposed to explore the laguna, but
soon returned saying that he cursed the hour when he
conceived the idea of exploration. The mosquitoes
alone were sufficient to drive him back, not to mention
other insects which regard themselves as the lawful
denizens of the spot. A prosaic explanation has
recently been given of the strange sounds which have
been described as being heard in the lake. Dr. Guide
Bennati, who explored the lake to some extent in
1874, says that an Argentine Colonel during the Para-
guayan War concealed his stock on an island in the
lake. Dr. Bennati says that in the middle of the
lake are the ruins of a hospital erected by the Jesuits
during their missions. An intended expedition on
behalf of the Argentine Scientific Society will soon,
it is expected, clear up the mysteries of the Enchanted
Lake.
CHAPTER II
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE AND RELIGION
Statistics of Population — Origin of the Argentines — Indian
Tribes — Mixed Races — Tlie Gaucho — The Rastreador — The
Baqueano — The Payador — The Domador — Portenos — CrioUos —
Puntanos — Cuyanos — Chinos — Gringos — Ingleses — The National
Language and its Pronunciation — Differences between Argentine
and Spanish — Religion : the Roman Catholic, AngUcan, Pres-
byterian and Methodist Churclies, Other Sects.
The population of the Argentine Republic is now
reckoned at 6,210,000, which, taking the area of the
country at 3 milUons of square kilometres, gives a
density of population of two persons per square kilo-
metre or 5' 18 per square mile. This proportion is,
however, seen to require considerable modification if
we take into consideration the facts that the popu-
lation of the city of Buenos Aires alone is, according
to the estimate on 31st December, 1909, 1,232,492 and
the province of Buenos Aires alone, according to the
estimate for 1908, was 1,269,665. We may take the
united populations of the city and province of Buenos
Aires at two and a half milUons and, as the area of
the city and province are 305,307 square kilometres,
we are faced by the fact that a population of 3,710,000
is distributed over an area of 2,700,000 square kilo-
metres, which reduces the density of the population
outside the city and province of Buenos Aires to 0*74
per square kilometre, equal to 189 per square mile.
It will be seen, on looking at the following table, that
even this method of calculating the density of popu-
lation does not give any really satisfactory result, as
it will be noticed that in the immense territories which
he outside the provinces the proportion of inhabitants
to area is infinitesimal.
88
34 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
This table shows the official statistics of population
as on the 31st December, 1908 :
Area in
sq. km. Population.
Province of Buenos Aires and
Capital 305,307 2,427,628
— Santa Fe 131,906 772,410
— Cordoba 161,036 477,680
— Entre Rios 74,571 399,333
— Corrientes 84,402 317,247
— Tucuman 23,124 280,311
— Santiago del Estero 103,016 192,639
— Mendoza 146,378 174,019
— Salta 161,099 141,610
— Catamarea 123,138 103,680
— San Juan 87,345 105,684
— San Luis 73,923 103,367
— La Rioja 89,498 86,352
— Jujuy 49,162 56,945
Territory La Pampa 145,907 51,673
— Misiones 22,229 38,748
— Neuquen 109,703 18,020
— Rio Negro 196,695 15,961
— Chaco 136,635 13,838
— Formosa 107,258 6,309
— Chubut 242,039 5,244
— Santa Cruz 282,750 1,742
— Los Andes 64,900 1,245
— TierradelFuego.. 21,499 1,122
Totals 2,950,520 5,792,807
Of this population rather more than three-quarters
are accounted Argentines, under which term is in-
cluded not only those whose ancestors are of that
nationality but all those, of whatever parentage,
who are born in the country and are, therefore, hijos
del "pais, that is, sons of the soil. The foreign element
of the population is made up of Itahans about half
a milhon, Spaniards 200,000, French about 100,000,
British say 25,000, Germans 18,000, Swiss 15,000, and
Austrians 13,000. The remaining foreigners belong to
all peoples and nations and languages. The United
States, which has recently discovered Argentina as a
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 35
field for commerce and diplomatic activity, is repre-
sented by some 1,500 souls.
Whilst in the httoral provinces and also in those
parts settled by Europeans, the inhabitants are of
Caucasian race, in the interior there are to be found
large numbers of people of mixed blood. The original
inhabitants of the country were Indians, and many
thousands of their descendants are still to be found
and the introduction of negro slaves from Africa during
the period from 1702 to 1825 caused a large number
of blacks to become part and parcel of the Argentine
race.
The Indians who Hved in the neighbourhood of
Buenos Aires were an indomitable race and were
soon destroyed ; but, in the interior, there was con-
siderable intermixing of races and this has tended
to produce a certain type to which the name of Argen-
tine may fairly be given. The true Argentine is of
Spanish descent ; but in his veins flows very frequently
a stream of non-Caucasian blood which has helped
to modify — and perhaps not disadvantageously — the
character of the race. Messrs. Uriem and Colombo,
the authors of one of the most exact and compendious
geographies of the country, say on this subject : —
" Descended from the white race of Europe, the blacks
of Africa and the Indians of America, the Argentines,
in common with the other Spanish Americans, are
endowed with all the vital forces which these elements
make for, because in them are united the distinctive
quahties of the three races. They have the intelhgence
of the whites, the indomitable spirit of resistance of
the Indian, and the passion and natural tenderness
of the negro, which, more than anything else, has
contributed to fuse into one the three races during
four centuries of development. These South American
Republics, which are unceasingly cited as examples
of discord, are on the contrary, the States most prone
to tranquihty and peace. Their divisions only arise
from the differences of local interests, and better means
of communication will do more in the way of con-
36 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
cilia tion than sanguinary wars. The Spanish Americans
are brothers by blood, by habits and customs and by
pohtical creed. In South America there are no Alps
nor Pyrenees. The inhabitants of both sides of the
Andes are to-day friends. When the Old World,
overpopulated, sends its sons by thousands to people
the solitudes of South America, there will be accom-
phshed the final reconcihation of all races of different
origin and the advent to humanity of an era of peace
and plenty."
Almost all readers of such books as the present
are interested in the ethnography of a country and,
although the aboriginal inhabitants of Argentina have
to a large extent passed away, there are still sufficient
Indians in the country to justify a short account of
their origin and tribes. The principal Indians, who
inhabited Argentine territory at the time of the con-
quest by the Spaniards, were the Guaranies and Charruas,
in the East, the Quichuas and their alhed tribes, the
Calchaquies, in the North and centre, and the Araucanos
and Tehuelches in the South. The Minuanes were
found in Entre Rios. Numerous tribes of Guaranies
peopled the actual province of Corrientes and the
territory of Misiones. In the Chaco, at the South
of the Bermejo, Hved the Abipones, the Mocovies
and the Tobas, whilst the Mataguagos, the Matacos,
the Chiriguanis and alhed tribes inhabited the district
between the Pilcomayo and the Bermejo. Frequently,
these latter tribes were referred to by the generic
name of the Guaycuriies, but incorrectly, as this name
really belonged to the most warhke and energetic
tribe in the Chaco. On the right bank of the Parana
and the Plate, in what are now the provinces of Buenos
Aires and Santa Fe, hved the Mbeguas, Chanaes,
Timbues and, in the neighbourhood of Buenos Aires,
the Querandies. In the valleys of the Andes at the
North-west were found the Calchaquies and, more
to the East, the Quichuas. The Quichua language
is still preserved in the province of Santiago del Estero.
Amongst the Calchaquies, the most courageous were
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 37
the Quilmes, and this tribe was " reduced," that is,
bodily removed in 1670 to the neighbourhood of
Buenos Aires and set down in the place now known
by the same name, Quilmes, on the Southern Railway.
In the Pampa Hved the Ranqueles and Puelches and.
South of the Rio Negro, the Tehuelches.
The few tribes of Indians now wandering in ever
diminishing numbers in Patagonia are all of Tehuelche
origin (see illustration No. 25), with, may be, a shght
admixture of the Puelches. The Puelches were of the
Araucanian race and entered Argentine territory from
the Chilean side of the Andes, possibly by way of the
river Bio-Bio. The Tehuelches are of entirely different
origin from the Puelches and are said by some authorities
to have descended from the gigantic Bororos of the
BraziHan state of Matto Grosso. The Tehuelches are
the Patagonian Indians about which so much has been
written. They were regarded as men of giant stature
and some authors derive the name Patagonia from the
name Patagon (big feet), said to have been given them
by the early Spaniards. The most authentic informa-
tion as to the customs of the Tehuelches we owe to
Capt. Musters who, as stated in Chapter I., was, for
long, a resident in their midst. Although not generally
justifying the designation of giants, the Tehuelches
were a well developed race with, according to Musters,
an average height of 5 ft. 10 in.
Strange to say, the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego,
who have been regarded as dwarfs by scores of waiters,
belong to the same race, the Tehuelches. The Indians
of this island are now very few in number and will
soon have been civilized off the face of the earth.
There are three tribes, the Onas, the Yahgans and the
Alacalufs (see illustration No. 14). But for the efforts
of the missionaries both the Onas and the Yahgans
would have been already extinct. The Alacalufs, who
live in the interior of the island, have not been " civi-
lized " ; but they are few in number, and it will not
be many years before the Patagonian " giants " and
the Tiena del Fuegian " dwarfs " will have only a
c
38 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
legendary interest. There was a time when the Indians
were the terror of the settlers even in the province of
Buenos Aires ; but the mihtary expeditions of Rosas
and Roca drove them further and further South and,
in the process of driving, reduced their numbers, until
now all that one hears about them is an occasional
visit of a " cacique '' to Buenos Aires to see the govern-
ment officials about a grant of land : and, on such
occasions, he is regarded as a rara avis in terris and
photographed and interviewed as if he were a visitor
from another planet. In the north of the Republic,
however, the Indian is still to be found and supplies
no inconsiderable portion of the labour required in
the sugar and other plantations and in the woodcutting
industries. In the province of San Juan, at the time
of the conquest, the population was composed of the
Huarpes, whose descendants, of mixed Indian and
European blood, form the majority of the actual
inhabitants of the province. A few Indians of pure
blood, whom the provincials call " laguneros," are still
found near the Desaguadero. In La Rioja also, the
population is, for the most part, of mixed descent,
the Spaniards having alhed themselves with the Guan-
dacoles, Famatinas and other tribes, whose names
still remain as topographical designations all over the
province. The same may be said of the province of
Catamarca, where there are also still found descendants
of the Calchaquies. In this province are to be found
most interesting remains of the time of the Calchaqui
supremacy and the objects which have been collected
show that this race attained a high degree of civiHzation
altogether independent of the Incas to which the
Calchaquies were alhed by race. In the valley of
Andalgala and in other parts of the province have been
found axes, discs, bells, rings, needles, and countless
other objects of bronze as well as examples of pottery
perfectly made and adorned with figure in alto-rehef,
as well as painted with hvely colours. Sr. Lafone
Quevedo and other archaeologists have written exten-
sively about the rehcs of the Calchaqui race. Of
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 39
Calchaqui origin also are the inhabitants of the northern
province of Salta and in the remote valleys may still
be fomid Indians of pur sang. The Salteiios have,
however, dropped completely the warUke habits of
their ancestors, who, for more than a hundred years,
defied the Spanish invaders, and have become a race
of hard working, docile agriculturists, although prone
to a nomadic hie and fond of varying the scene of their
labours. In Tucuman the population is almost entirely
composed of mixed descendants of Spaniards and
Calchaquies and, in the time of the gathering of the
sugar cane, more than 6,000 Catamarquenos and
Santiaguenos, with their wives and famihes, of more
or less pure Indian descent, gather in Tucuman for
the four months' labour. In many parts of the pro-
vince are still to be found groups of pure Indians,
the valley of Santa Maria having been the last bulwark
of the Indians at the time of the conquest. It is in
Santiago del Estero, however, that the persistence
of the Indian is to be seen to greatest advantage.
In this province Quichua is still a spoken language,
the Santiaguenos being for the most part descendants
of the great Quichua or Inca race. The aboriginal
language is ahnost as well known in this province as
is Guarani in Paraguay.
In the Puna, to the West of Jujuy, and in Jujuy
itself, the Quichua blood is the predominating element
in the population : indeed in the Puna or Territory
of Los Andes the native is a pure Indian as in the
days of the conquest. The only difierence is that he
has a veneer of Christianity which has somewhat
tended to confuse his theological or mythological
behefs. The Indian of the Puna goes by the varying
names of Puneno, Colla or Coya. His great delight
is to chew the leaves of the coca and he will accept
no work unless a supply of coca leaves be included
in his rations.
On the East of the Repubhc, in the province of
Corrientes, there are to be found thousands of de-
scendants of the Guarani race, more or less mixed
40 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
with Spanish blood. In this province is spoken a
dialect which corresponds with the inhabitants, being
a mixture of Guarani and Spanish.
The native inhabitants of the Chaco are, as is well
known, tribes of Indians which, although at the present
time differing considerably in language, are, in all
probability, descended from the original Guarani race,
which was the dominant race in the Eastern part of
Central South America. In Corrientes and some other
parts, the Indians generally are called Guaycurues
and there is Httle doubt that the Guaycurues were once
an important tribe ; but, at the present time, the only
Indians which respond to this name as a special desig-
nation are those found near the Guaycuru river in the
Chaco Austral.
The chief tribes now found in the Argentine Chaco
are the Matacos and the Tobas (see illustration No. 13),
the former occupying the Northern, and the latter
the Southern parts of the territory. In the extreme
north of Formosa and in the Paraguayan Chaco are
to be found the Chiriguanos, the only tribe whose
language still retains the form of the true Guarani.
Of all the Indian tribes, the Chiriguanos are the least
nomadic, estabhshing themselves in villages and sowing
maize, mandioca, sugar cane, tobacco and other plants,
and having domestic animals. The women, who are
said to be the least ugly or most passable of the race,
are devoted to the breeding of dogs and the raising
of poultry. They excel in weaving and in making
pottery. The character of the Chiriguanos is docile
and they are more inclined to social and civihzed life
than the other tribes whom they regard as inferior
to themselves. They have rude musical instruments,
the tom-tom or tambora, and the flute, made of the
thigh bone of the ostrich or of some other large bird.
Their weapons are the macana, a kind of club, the
lance, and the arrow. They are distinguished by
wearing in the under hp the " tembeta," or disc of
wood or metal. They value this distinction very
highly and say, in contempt of Indians of other tribes,
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC, 41
" Quymbay-Cherembeta iko " (I wear the tembeta
and am a man).
The Matacos are found along the shores of the
Pilcomayo and in the neighbourhood of the province
of Salta. They are not friendly with either the Chiri-
guanos in the North or the Tobas in the South, in fact
they are afraid rather than otherwise of the latter.
Sr. Luis Jorge Fontana, in his interesting description
of the Gran Chaco, describes an interview between a
Mataco Cacique named Mulate and a Toba Cacique
named Canagachi.
Although near neighbours, neither could understand
the other and the difference of character of the two
races was shown by the bold, haughty carriage of the
Toba and the nervous, excitable manner of the Mataco,
who sipped his drink a little at a time while the Toba
" bebia con conciencia " half a glass at a draught.
The Matacos, though a more settled tribe than the
Tobas, are gradually diminishing in numbers, partly
owing to the ever changing circumstances introduced
by advancing civihzation, partly owing to tribal wars
of extermination and also owing to the savage treatment
which they have received at the hands of the so-called
Christians, who have not hesitated to destroy them
wholesale in revenge for attacks, which they have
themselves brought about by the deceitful manner
in which they have treated the natural inhabitants
of the woods. The Tobas are the most numerous of
the existing tribes in the Chaco and furnish the greater
part of the workers in the sugar plantations and
" obrajes." They also furnish the principal element
amongst the marauders who so frequently attack
the settlements of the white men on the banks of the
rivers. Scattered through the territory occupied by
the Tobas were the Lenguas and the Machicuys, both
now extinct, and the Payaguas, of which tribe there
are few hving representatives. The Tobas are a tall
race of Indians, averaging from r79 to r65 metres
in height. They walk erect and have a firm step,
Vmlike the Matacos who frequently walk with the heels
42 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
together and the feet at right angles to the body, so
that it is difficult to tell from the footprints the direction
in which a Mataco has been walking. Those Tobas
who live far in the interior wear discs in the ears from
whence they are called orejudos.
The women are notoriously ugly and increase their
natural want of beauty by tattooing the face so that,
as Knight in his " Voyage of the Falcon '' remarks,
the wives appear "as if they had received from their
lords the present of two lovely black eyes." Frequently,
however, the tattooing takes the form of symmetrical
figures of blue and red. The women are the beasts of
burden of the tribes. Fontana says that an Indian man
does not know what love is, but, on the other hand,
the women become deliriously affected with the tender
passion.
Other races of Indians of less importance are the
Chunupies on the coast of the Parana and the Mocovies
who are to be found on the borders of Santa Fe.
The Tobas and the tribes just mentioned are nomadic
in their habits. This fact is taken advantage of by
the colonists of the Chaco who use them in their
various employments during certain seasons, at the end
of which they go off to the interior or to other work
without forming settled villages.
It is impossible to speak of the inhabitants present
or past of the Argentine Republic without referring
to the Gaucho, the typical Argentine of the camp (see
illustration No. 26). Although the true Gaucho is
gradually disappearing, especially in the littoral pro-
vinces, and giving place to the feon, the part played
by this veritable Centaur of the plains in Argentine
history cannot be too highly appreciated. Of mixed
blood, combining the natural instincts of the Spanish
conquering race with the native instincts of the Indian,
the Gaucho, whether the tireless horseman of the Pampa
or the Gaucho pastor -of the North, has played an im-
portant part in the social and poHtical development
of the country. As much a product of the boundless
terrestrial ocean of the Pampas as the Swiss moun-
No. S. i'nK L'atkedkal, Buenos Aikes.
.No. ♦. ( ,1 1\ i,i:\ \i I N|- tlmsi;, |',r|.;N(is AlKl'.
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 45
taineer of his native hills, the Gaucho, both in mind
and body, came to reflect the natm*e which he saw
aromid him. As inseparable from his horse as the
Arab, with whom in many respects he might be com-
pared, he lived a free, untrammelled hfe. His dress
was typical. The Poncho was to him coat, waistcoat
and great-coat by day and blanket and sheet by night.
The very saddle, called recado, on which he rode was so
constructed that it served for a pillow. His lower
limbs were wrapped in the chiripd which took the
place of trousers and drawers. His boots were made
from the foot of the potro (horse) and were frequently
armed with spurs of mahgnant length. The bit with
which he guided his horse was capable of being used
as an instrument of extreme torture, so that the horse
came to dread its employment and to answer to the
shghtest impression of the reins on its neck. His
idea of adormnent was to wear a belt studded with
silver and to put as much silver as possible in the
trappings of his horse. The lasso and boleadoras,
thrown with unerring aim, were the weapons which he
employed to procure his food and a long knife or facan
served as his weapon against his fellow men. His
strange customs have been described by many writers ;
but there are a few special types that may be men-
tioned, for even amongst this product of the Pampas,
^there were men who possessed attributes which dis-
tinguished them from their fellows, although their
special endowments were to some extent inherent in
every Gaucho of the plains. There was the Rastreador
or tracker, always grave and taciturn, whose powers of
tracking a criminal were accepted without question in
the lower tribunals. Had a robbery been committed
in the night, the Rastreador would follow the steps of
the culprit over the plains, through the streets of the
towns and across the streams, until he marked his
man, when his single accusation " Thou art the man "
was taken at once as unanswerable conviction. In
1902, the Government of La Rioja employed ten Ras-
treadores to put a stop to the ravages of the cuatrerQ
46 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
or cattle thieves in that province. The Baqueano was
another type who knew every inch of ground over
thousands of square leagues. In the darkness of the
night, he would get down from his horse, smell and
taste the grass or the soil and know at once his where-
abouts. It is said that Rosas, who before his ascent
to the government of his country was a typical Gaucho,
knew by taste the grass on every estancia in the South
of Buenos Aires. The Cantor or Pay odor was the
wandering minstrel of the plains who travelled from
"pago to fago (district) singing songs which he impro-
vised to the plaintive music of the guitar. Often these
songs told of the deeds of some Gaucho hero, who, a
fugitive from justice, performed deeds of wild heroism
which thrilled the blood of his hearers. The deeds of
Quiroga or Ranch, Moreira or Guemes served as his
theme and at times he himself would claim to have been
the hero of the deeds which he sang. At other times,
his songs were of a personal or natm'al character serving
to flatter his hearers. The Do?nador or horse tamer,
though not a distinct type, as all Gauchos were dotna-
dores, still had its champions before whose lasso the
wildest horse was laid low, and whose very touch
reduced to tameness the most indomitable scourer of
the plains. When a Gaucho had committed a crime
and become as an Ishmael to his fellows, he was referred
to as a Gaucho malo or matrero ; and innumerable
are the tales told in the camps of the deeds of these
men, whose hand was against every man and every
man's hand against them.
The wild horse still roams the plains and the lasso
is still used to throw the animal which is destined to
domestication or death ; but the Gaucho race is slowly
dying out. Railways and wire fences and the intro-
duction of Europeans and European methods have
changed the face of the country. The times have
changed and the race is changing with them, and the
Gaucho will erelong be only a legend in the heroic
history of the country.
There are a few terms of constant use in the country
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 47
whose signification it is necessary to explain. A
person born in Buenos Aires is called a Porteno, from
the fact that Buenos Aires is the Puerto or Port of
Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, this name being
given to it by Mendoza in 1535, in honour of the Virgin,
at whose shrine in Seville his expedition had worshipped
before setting sail. The name Griollo is used to desig-
nate a descendant of the Spanish colonists and is
really equivalent to " hijo del pais." It is now fre-
quently used as a synonym with Argentine ; but in
the colonial epoch it served to distinguish the Ameri-
can born from the original Spanish settler or the new-
comer.
A Puntano is a resident in the province of San
Luis, so named from the hills in the vicinity of the
Capital. The three provinces of San Juan, San Luis
and Mendoza are still styled ecclesiastically, as they
were formerly styled politically, the Cuyo provinces.
They were originally colonized and governed by Chileans.
Hence the Chileans apply to Argentines the name of
Cmjanos. Descendants of mixed races, especially when
employed in domestic service, are frequently referred
to as Chinos or Chinas (in the north cholos or cholas).
The name Indio is still used to distinguish the aborigines
and, when an attack is made by Indians on a settle-
ment, it is described as a nmlon.
Argentines who hve to the West of the httoral
provinces are sometimes referred to as Arribefios, this
word signifying " to the west " or " fi*om up above."
A foreigner, except of Spanish race, and especially
if he cannot speak Spanish, is called a Gringo. This
word has been much discussed. It has been said that
it is a phonetic modification of the British colonial
term Greenhorn with which it has some similarity
in meaning. Another story is that it is derived from
the fact that Scottish settlers used to sing " Green
grow the rushes oh ! " and that their hearers caught
the two first syllables and apphed them to the singers.
But the origin of the expression is most probably the
word griego or Greek. We have preserved in English
48 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the same idea in the expression used of something we
cannot understand, " It's all Greek to me." So a
foreigner who does not use the language of the country
and cannot be understood is a Greek or Gringo.
Spaniards are not called Gringos. An Argentine who
wishes to reproach a Spaniard calls him a Gallego.
It is very annoying to a foreigner to be called a gringo,
with possibly an uncomphmentary adjective, as a
quahfying term, and General Fotheringham, an EngHsh
Argentine General, in his recently pubHshed " Vida de
un Soldado," has some amusing and very pertinent
remarks on the employment of the — as he regards
it — insulting term.
The word Ingles is used very widely, especially
in the interior of the country, to signify any European
of Anglo-Saxon, Teutonic or Scandinavian race ; but
as these races are becoming better known, this wider
use of the term is dying out. There are two phrases
used in the country which show how English habits
and customs have been appreciated. One is distinctly
uncomplimentary. The term Borracho ingles (drunken
Enghshman) is, alas ! evidence of the imwelcome fact
that a vice practically unknown in the country was
evidence by too many of the British immigrants.
Fortunately, the other expression in coromon use
somewhat redeems the character of the Enghshman.
Palahra de ingles (on the word of an Enghshman)
imphes a promise which will not be broken or an en-
gagement that will be fulfilled at all cost.
The language spoken in Argentina is what in Enghsh
is called Spanish ; but, as there is really no Spanish
language, it is more correctly named Castihan, as the
dialect spoken in Castille became the official language
of Spain and is the language of her colonies. In Argen-
tina, however, as in North America, new words, not
in the original language, have been coined or taken
with or without adaptations from the aboriginal tongues.
The language of the country is officially known as
the " Idioma nacional." There are a number of
differences in pronunciation which are accepted in
POPULATION, KACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 49
Spanish America generally and others which are almost
pecuhar to Argentina. The letters B and V are con-
founded in Argentina almost as much as in Spain,
and words containing these letters stand a better
chance of bemg correctly spelled by a foreigner than
by the average Argentine. The sounds of C (soft),
S and Z are assimilated to that of S, and in such a
word as cerveza the C and the Z have both the sound
of S.
There is great confusion in the pronunciation of
the double letter LL and the Y. Most educated men
give these letters their due sound LL, like 1-y and Y
as in Enghsh. Others give both letters the sound
of a soft J like the J in French. Others again pro-
nounce the Y like an Enghsh J.
In the use of the letters J and G (guttural) Argen-
tines follow the rule of the Academy, and use G only
in words which had that letter m the Latin root. In
Chile there is a tendency to spell all words, in which
the sound of G is guttural, with J. A common practice
in Argentina is to soften the termination ADO into
AO. It is doubtless due to the fact that the earher
settlers from Spain were mostly from the Southern
provinces that many of these pecuharities which pre-
vailed there have been perpetuated and exaggerated
in Argentina. There are a number of words which
are found in Spanish grammars and are in current
and universal use in Spain itself, but which are " taboo "
in Argentina. Anyone who has learnt Spanish as used
in Spain, or from a grammar, should enquire from a
friend and obtain a hst of words which are considered
improper to use in Argentina, before venturing to
speak, especially in the presence of ladies.
A word in common use in Argentina is CHE. The
use of this word is strictly hmited to friends and amongst
relatives. It is said to be the Indian word Man and
is seen in the names of Indian Tribes as Tehuel-che
Puel-che, etc. When an Argentine says Che, Juan!
corno te vas ? it is as if he had said famiharly in Eng-
lish, " John, old man, how are you ? "
50 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Religion.
By the Argentine Constitution, every inhabitant
of the Repubhc has full freedom in the matter of
rehgious belief and public worship ; and it may be
stated as an absolute fact that this right is respected
both by the authorities and by the inhabitants generally.
British subjects have also definite rights of public
worship and burial as will be seen from the extract
from the Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and
Argentina, signed in 1825, which will be found in a
later chapter. At the same time, the State, by the
Constitution, sustains and pays the cost of the Roman
Catholic Church which is thus the estabhshed Church
of the country. The Minister for Foreign Affairs
exercises also the duties of Minister of Public Worship.
The country is divided into an Archbishopric — that
of Buenos Aires — and seven Bishoprics, namely Salta,
Cordoba, Cuyo, Parana, Tucuman, La Plata and Santa
Fe. Nominally, the vast majority of Argentines are
Roman Catholics ; but, amongst the Argentine men,
there is a practical current of agnosticism which causes
them to hmit their attendance at the church to pubhc
functions, or to the usual private functions of baptism,
marriage, funerals and masses for the dead. An
Argentine is an Argentine first and a Catholic a bad
second. Before an Archbishop or Bishop can be
installed in his diocese he must attend the Congress
and swear fidehty to the Argentine Constitution and
Nation. Marriage is a civil ceremony, which it is
perfectly optional to ratify by a rehgious ceremony
or not, but so far there is no divorce law in operation.
The interests of the British and Irish Roman Cathohcs
are mainly cared for by the Passionist Fathers, the Pro-
vincial of which Order is the Very Rev. John Mory, C.P.
The Anghcan Church is well represented amongst
the British community. There are churches in Buenos
Aires, Belgrano and Flores in the Federal Capital and
also in several of the towns in the interior. The Anghcan
churches in Argentina were, until recently, in the see
POPULATION, RACE, LANGUAGE, ETC. 51
of the Bishop of the Falkland Islands, whose diocese
included the whole of South America except British
Guiana. Efforts were lately made to divide this
extended jurisdiction, with the result that " Argentina
and Eastern South America " were separated from the
original see and converted into a new diocese. The
Bishop of Argentina and Eastern South America is the
Rt. Rev. E. F. Every, D.D.
The Presbyterians of Scotland are also well repre-
sented. The parent Church is in Buenos Aires ; but
there are branches in various towns and there is a
regular minister employed for work over the camp.
The Presbyterian Church in Argentina is not directly
affihated with either of the great Presbyterian bodies
and it is within the power of the authorities to select
their ministers from either the National Church of
Scotland or the United Presbyterian Church. A
minister might even be chosen from the " Wee Frees "
without any breach of the regulations. The actual
minister of the parent church in Buenos Aires is the
Rev. J. AV. Fleming, D.D.
The Methodist Church in Argentina is the Methodist
Episcopal Church of America. The head church is in
Buenos Aires, but there are numbers of churches both
in the town and suburbs as well as in the outside camps
which are all under the same Conference. There is a
Bishop resident in Buenos Aires who, however, is
frequently changed. The Pastor of the First Methodist
Church is the Rev. W. P. McLaughhn, D.D.
The Baptists, Plymouth Brethren and other sects
have their own places of worship and can show a con-
siderable number of adherents.
The Salvation Army has for years been working in
the country and its labours are highly appreciated
both by the Government and the Community. Its
shelter work is regularly recorded in municipal statistics.
The latest rehgious invaders are the Christian Scien-
tists, who have established themselves with a " Come to
stay " air under the leadership of Mr. Frank Kingsley,
C.S.B., and have an increasing number of adherents.
CHAPTER III
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC.
Argentina a Federal Republic — Origin of the Argentine
Provinces — The Constitution — The National Government :
Executive, Legislative, Judicial — The Provincial Governments —
Special Powers of the National Government : Intervention,
State of Siege — National Anthem — The National Flag — National
and Provincial Shields and Arms — Diplomatic Representation.
Argentina is a Federal Republic ; that is to say,
the Provinces have autonomy, and are governed by
their own constituted authorities and their own laws,
except in such matters as are of a national character
which are strictly defined by the Constitution.
The Repubhc is divided into fourteen Provinces
and ten Gobernaciones, or National Territories, the
Federal Capital and seat of the National Government
being Buenos Aires.
The fourteen provinces are divided into four
Littoral, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Rios and
Corrientes ; four Central, Cordoba, San Luis, Tucuman
and Santiago del Estero ; four Andine, Catamarca,
La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza, and two Northern,
Salta and Jujuy.
The ten National Territories, which are under the
immediate control and legislation of the National
Government, are four in the north, Los Andes, Formosa,
the Chaco and Misiones, and six in the south, La Pampa,
Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra
del Fuego.
By the Constitution, when the population of a
National territory exceeds 50,000, it has a right to
be declared a Province. At present, the only National
Territory approaching this condition is La Pampa,
and there is at times serious talk of converting the
52
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 53
Pampa with a portion of the province of Buenos Aires
into a separate province with its capital at Bahia
Blanca.
Origin of the Provinces.
The union of the fourteen provinces which form
the Argentine Nation has not been accomphshed without
overcoming very great difficulties and jealousies. These
difficulties and jealousies, although at present kept in
abeyance and under control by the stern arguments
of facts, are by no means obsolete. On the contrary,
the inner Provinces are constantly showing their
resentment at the supremacy of Buenos Aires and
kick more or less vigorously against the pricks, in a
vain effort to show that they are as good any day as
the City of Buenos Aires and the surrounding province,
although nature, by building up the giant Cordillera
to the West, and history, by arranging the surrounding
countries, have made Buenos Aires the essential dis-
tributing centre for the vastly greater part of the
Argentina. The various provinces have for the most
part derived their existence from separate and widely-
dLstant towns which were built by the Spanish settlers
more out of regard to their possible use as stages in
journeys to and from the mines and the sea than from
any idea that they would be the nuclei of distinct
Governments and the elements of a great nation. It
is essential to bear in mind the entirely different origin
of the several parts of the Repubhc, in order to under-
stand much of the internecine struggles and jealousies
which foim so large a part of Argentine history. Buenos
Aires was founded in 1580, having been preceded by
seven years by Santa Fe. Both these cities owe their
origin to that indefatigable Basque, Don Juan de
Garay, who died at the hands of the Indians in 1583.
Corrientes was founded in 1588 by Alonso de Vera, a
nephew of the then governing Adelantado Vera y
Aiagon. The city's full name is San Juan de Vera de
las Siete Corrientes. All these cities were, at the time
54 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
of their foundation, subject to Asuncion, then the
residence and seat of Government of the Adelantados.
After these potentates ceased their rule, the Government
fell into the hands of Hernandarias de Saavedra, who
found those hands too full and begged the King to
divide his province into two. He had previously
allowed the Jesuits to establish missions in the territory
now known as Misiones. By a Real Cedula, dated
16th November, 1617, the Adelantazgo of the Rio de la
Plata was divided into two provinces named Paraguay
and Rio de la Plata. To the latter province was given
the cities of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Corrientes and the
territories of the Parana and Uruguay, so that this
original Province of the Rio de la Plata included the
present httoral provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Rios,
Santa Fe and Corrientes as well as Misiones and the
Banda Oriental. This province continued to be
governed directly from Spain, and colonized from that
country till the time of the Viceroys in 1776. The
greater part of the interior of the present repubhc
had an entirely different and independent origin and was
governed directly from Peru, from which country its
colonisation was directed. When Pizarro and Almagro
divided between them the Empire of the Incas, the
latter determined to explore the country south of
Cuzco, to which the name Tucuman was given from the
Quichua words Tuccu-Uman (Tuccu meaning the dark
country and Uman government or authority). Almagro
in person advanced into Salta ; but was so badly dealt
with by the Indians that he dare not advance further,
and turned aside to the district of Atacama. The
contests between Almagro and Pizarro, which cost them
their lives, compelled Charles V to interfere, and he sent
Vaca de Castro as his Licenciado to put things in order.
He was ably served by one Diego de Rojas, whom he
named Adelantado of Tucuman and sent to explore
his seat of Government. Entering Jujuy by the
Valley of Humahuaca, Rojas advanced as far as Cata-
marca, where he met with his death at the hands of
the Indians. Some of his followers returned to Perti,
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 55
but others, headed by Francisco de Mendoza and
Nicolas Heredia, continued their journey southwards,
crossing the rivers of Cordoba which they named in the
numerical order of crossing from north to south, Primero,
Segundo, Tercero. They appear to have followed the
river Tercero to its union with the Parana. There they
found that they were out of their jurisdiction and had
nothing better to do than fight among themselves as
to their future hue of action. Heredia killed Mendoza
and with the survivors of his party returned to Peru
by the way of Tarija. In the meantime, the Captain-
General of Chile had not been idle. He had sent Pedro
de Valdivia to take possession of the eastern side of
the Andes and to explore the territory. Whilst Val-
divia was exploring, the President of Peru, La Gasca,
sent Nunez del Prado on a third exploring expedition
to the Adelantazgo of Tucuman. Del Prado met the
Chilean explorers and there was a fight in which Del
Prado won ; but he had only a short rest ere he was
again attacked by forces from Chile under Francisco
de Aguirre, who captured Prado and sent him prisoner
to Santiago. Del Prado had had time to found a city
called Barco, which was occupied by Aguirre in the
name of Chile. The Indians, however, attacked and
destroyed Barco, and Aguirre removed to the banks
of the Rio Dulce where he founded the city of Santiago
del Estero. In 1558 Juan Perez de Zurita was made
governor of this city and the Viceroy of Peru declared
Tucuman to be a province independent of Chile. The
Captain-General of Chile protested and sent Castaiieda
to arrest and supersede Zurita. In the end the dispute
as to whether Peru or Chile should govern Tucuman
was decided by the Spanish Govermnent in favour of
Peru, and by a decree dated 20th August, 1563, it was
declared that all the territory east of the Cordillera
should form the Province of Tucuman and be entirely
independent of Chile.
Whilst the disputes were pending between the
Viceroy of Peru and the Captain-General of Chile as
to the real jurisdiction over the Province of Tucuman,
D
56 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
the latter took time by the forelock and, deeming
possession nine parts of the law, sent Captain Pedro
del Castillo to found the cities of San Juan and Mendoza
in 1561 and 1563 respectively. Mendoza owes its
name to that of the then Captain-General of Chile,
Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza ; San Juan was called San
Juan de la Frontera. The territories governed from
these cities extended over the present provinces of
San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza. They were then
referred to as the Province of Cuyo, the former Quichua
name of the territory. In spite of the Royal Decree,
Chile kept possession of this Province and governed
it until the period of the Viceroys began in 1776. The
cities were too far both from Peru and Buenos Aires
to be of much interest to the authorities there, and
Chile was permitted to retain possession of Cuyo, in
spite of the manifest illegahty of her action. In this
way it is seen that in the sixteenth century the present
Argentine territory was divided into the three provinces
of the Rio de la Plata, Tucuman and Cuyo, all nominally
under the Viceroy of Peru, but entirely independent
from each other in interests, government, and current
of colonization. Santiago del Estero was the earhest
city of the interior, and was for long the capital of the
province of Tucuman, which extended from Salta to the
Straits of Magellan, and included the whole of the
present Argentine territory, except the Httoral pro-
vinces and Misiones and the Chilean province of Cuyo,
and even this was legally within its jurisdiction. The
City of San Miguel de Tucuman was founded by Diego
de Villaroel in 1565 but, owing to inundations of the
Rio Dulce, its original site was changed to the present
one. In 1572 the Viceroy of Peru named as Governor
of Tucuman Don Luis Geronimo de Cabrera and, on
the 6th of July, 1573, this unfortimate personage founded
the city of Cordoba la Liana. Shortly afterwards
Cabrera was superseded by a villain named Abrego, who
had for years been envious of Cabrera's talents and
success. Abrego arrested Cabrera, put him to the
most painful tortm^es and then decapitated him. It
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 57
is satisfactory to learn that the lex talionis operated in
the case of Abrego and he was shortly afterwards
tortured to death in his turn. Salta, or San Fehpe
de Lerma as it was called, was founded by Hernando
de Lerma in April 1582 to serve as a stopping place
between Peru and the province ahajena (lower down).
Catamarca was founded in 1684 by the removal thereto
of the city of San Juan de la Ribera, in its turn founded
in 1607 to receive the inhabitants of Londres and Canete.
San Fernando de Catamarca was founded by Mete de
Luna. La Rioja or Todos Los Santos de Rioja was
founded in 1591 to keep an eye on the province of
Cuyo and prevent its extension. Jujuy was originally
founded in 1561 with the name of Ciudad de Nieva:
but, having been destroyed during a gi'eat insurrection
of the Indians, it was re-peopled in 1593 under the name
of San Salvador de Jujuy. In 1776, the Viceroyalty
of the Rio de la Plata was separated from that of
Peru. The extent of this Viceroyalty was vastly in
excess of that of the present Argentine Republic, as
it included the present countries of Paraguay and
Bohvia, the latter then called Alto Peru. The present
territory of the RepubUc was then divided into three
Intendencias, Cordoba, Salta and Buenos Aires, the
latter including the Banda Oriental. From these three
Intendencias have been derived the present provinces
of Argentina. In 1810, at the time of the Revolution,
the Intendencia of Cordoba included the territories
of La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza and San Luis, and
that of Salta included Jujuy, Catamarca, Tucumdn
and Santiago. In 1814, when Posadas was Director,
Santa Fe was included in Buenos Aires, but in 1820
it revolted and was declared a separate provmce. San
Juan and San Luis separated from Mendoza as one
separate province, Jujuy separated from Salta, Santiago
and Catamarca from Tucuman and La Rioja from
Cordoba, so that in 1820 there were 14 provinces as
now, the only difference being that the Banda Oriental
was then counted as a province and San Juan and
San Luis were united. Later, thes« separated and
58 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
finally the ^ Banda Oriental became an independent
country ; so that the number and arrangement of
the provinces became estabhshed as we now find them.
There have been amusing instances of provincial aberra-
tions, such as occurred in 1821, when a caudillo, Bernabe
Araoz, declared Tucuman an independent RepubHc
of which he was the self-elected President. This
ambitious project was of short duration. At one time
also, in 1853, the province of Buenos Aires separated
itself from the rest of the RepubHc, a state of things
which was brought to an end at the battle of Cepeda,
and by the subsequent treaty of San Jose de Flores.
The foregoing brief summary of the origin of the
Argentine provinces throws considerable fight on Argen-
tine history. It is seen that these provinces were
really vast extensions of sparsely-populated territory
extending around small cities with no pretence of real
civifization, each jealous of the others and regarding
all other inhabitants of the country as " mala gente.''
It is no slight triumph for the Argentines to have
formed a more or less homogenous nation of such
unpromising elements ; but what has, more than
anything else, tended to the attainment of this result
has been the spread of railways all over the country
and the consequent narrowing of the fimits of time
and space between the different towns.
The Constitution.
This important document which is the palladium
of Argentine fiberty and which bears date May 1st,
1853, was not the first effort of Argentine statesmanship
to define national rights and privileges. It is not
necessary to more than refer to the previous attempts
to unify the aspirations of the growing State. After
the revolution of May, 1810, had achieved its purpose
in the estabhshment of a government perfectly in-
dependent of Spanish control or influence, a " Regla-
mento *' was drawn up in 1811 which for a time served
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 59
as a Constitution ; but, after amendment in the following
year, was supplemented by the declarations solemnly
made by the General Constituent Assembly in 1813.
In May, 1815, a Provisional Statute was promulgated
which was one of the most extensive of these successive
documents, and was the basis of a subsequent Regla-
mento in 1817. Two years later, another Constitution
was drawn up and sworn on the 25th May, 1819, which
included the principal features of that of 1817. In
1826, a Constitution, which had as its basis a unitarian
system of government, was sanctioned on the 24th
of December. After this attempt at a settlement,
which soon became inoperative on account of the
vehement opposition of the federal party, there was a
period of anarchy which was marked by the tyranny
of Rosas. On the fall of Rosas an arrangement called
the " Acuerdo de San Nicolas " was made, one of the
provisions of which was the convocation of a Con-
stituent Assembly with the object of drawing up a
final Constitution. This Assembly or Congress met at
Santa Fe in 1852 and continued its sittings until it had
finished its work. The Constitution which now exists
as the basis of Argentine government is that drawn
up by this Congress. The Province of Buenos Aires was
not represented in the Assembly and drew up an indepen-
dent Constitution; but, after the battle of Cepeda, this
province accepted the Constitution of 1853, with some
modifications, which were incorporated at a national
Convention at Santa Fe in September 1860. The Con-
stitution of 1853, as so amended, is that which is to-day
the supreme authority and the basis of all civil, pohtical,
reUgious and other rights. By this Constitution, the
Federal system of Government was adopted and the
national and provincial interests of the nation are
provided for. As a declaration of rights the Constitution
of the Argentine Repubhc is well worthy of study.
It figures as one of the compulsory subjects in all
programmes of education. Unfortunately, as is the
case with all human documents, there are ways and
means of driving the traditional coach and four through
60 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the Constitution of Argentina as through a British
Act of ParHament ; but, taken as it stands, it is a
notable foundation for the hfe of a nation.
National Government.
The Government of the nation is entrusted to
three Powers, the Executive, the Legislative and the
Judicial.
Executive.
The Executive power referred to usually by the
abbreviation P.E. (Poder Ejecutivo) is exercised by
the President who is elected for a term of six years
and camiot be re-elected until after an interval of
another six. He must be an Argentiue by birth, a
professed Roman Catholic and above 30 years of
age. He has the sole appointment of most of the
pubHc officers except diplomatic Ministers and Judges,
for whose appointment the assent of Congress is neces-
sary. He has the power of commuting sentences and
even pardoning criminals. He is assisted by his
ministers, who are considered as Secretaries and who
may not be either Senators or Deputies and who,
although they may speak in Congress, have no right
to vote. The signature of a Minister is necessary to
the vahdity of all documents issued by the President.
The Ministers have the following portfoHos : — the
Interior (corresponding to the British Home Secretary),
Foreign Affairs and Pubhc Worship, Hacienda (Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer), Justice and Education, War,
Mariae, Agriculture and Pubhc Works.
The Legislative Power is vested in the Congress
which consists of two Chambers, the Senate and the
Deputies. The Senate is composed of 30 members
elected at the rate of two to each province and two
for the Federal Capital. A Senator holds his post
or nine years and may be re-elected indefinitely.
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 61
One third of the Chamber is renewed every three years.
A seat in the Senate is usually the reward of a Governor-
ship of a Province. The Vice-President of the E-epubhc
is the President of the Senate and where the elected
Vice-President is called to occupy the Presidency,
the Senate chooses its own President, who becomes
ex-ofpcio Vice-President of the Repubhc. This is
actually the case at the date of writing (1910). The
Chamber of Deputies consists of 120 members elected
by the Federal Capital and the Provinces at the rate
of one Deputy for each 33,000 inhabitants. A Deputy
is elected for four years and may be re-elected. Half
the Chamber is renewed every two years. In con-
sequence of this, the Province of Buenos Aires has
28 Deputies, the Capital 20, Santa Fe 12, Cordoba 11,
Entre Rios 9, Corrientes and Tucuman 7 each, Santiago
5, Mendoza and Salta 4, San Luis, San Juan and
Catamarca 3 each, and Jujuy and La Rioja 2 each.
A Senator must be 30 years of age and have been
an Argentine citizen for six years before election,
and a Deputy must be 25 years of age and have
been an Argentine citizen for four years and, in
each case, if not a native of the province which he
represents, must have Hved there for two years before
election.
* Both Senators and Deputies receive large salaries
for their labours, being paid respectively $1,500 and
$1,000 per month. The Chambers sit from May 1st
to Sept. 30th, but the sessions may be prolonged and
extraordinary sessions convened by the President.
Either Chamber may initiate a project of law (except
in questions of finance or recruiting troops, in both
of which cases the initiative is confined to the Deputies).
In each Chamber there are permanent Commissions,
corresponding to Parhamentary Committees, appointed,
which discuss each measure and report on it to the
Chamber, which then votes on the report.
In case of a conflict between the two Chambers
very dehcate provisions have been made so as to insure
the practical equahty of the Chambers. The Chamber
62 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
which introduces a project is called the initiating
Chamber, the other being the revising Chamber. If the
revising Chamber reject a project altogether, it cannot
be reintroduced during the current year. If the revising
Chamber amend a measure and its amendments are
accepted by the initiating chamber such project at once
passes to the Executive for promulgation.
If the initiatory Chamber rejects the amendments
of the revisory Chamber, the project returns to the
latter Chamber which cannot force its amendments
except by a two- thirds majority. If the revisory
Chamber insist by this majority on its amendments,
the project again returns to the initiating Chamber
which in its turn requires a two- thirds majority to
finally reject the amendments.
After a law is passed by both Chambers, the Presi-
dent has a right to veto it in whole or in part, in which
case it returns to the Camaras for reconsideration,
and if in both Chambers there is an absolute two-
thirds majority in favour of the law the presidential
veto is inoperative.
It should be stated that the powers of the National
Congress are clearly defined by the Constitution and
are limited to such matters as are truly national and
do not infringe upon the autonomy of the Provinces.
Of course in the Federal Capital and the National
Territories the legislative power of the Congress is
absolute.
With respect to the National Territories, the ad-
ministration of these depends directly upon the National
Government, their civil and poHtical administration
being under the control of the Minister of the Interior
and their judicial and educational administration being
in the control of the Minister of Justice and Pubhc
Instruction. The Governor of a national Territory is
appointed by the President with the consent of the
Senate. He is appointed for three years and may be
re-appointed. It is the province of the Governor of a
Territory to appoint the magistrates in towns of more
than a thousand inhabitants.
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 63
Provincial Governments.
The fourteen Argentine provinces are, as entities
in a federal State, so many independent States each
with its Governor and Legislative Chambers. For
example, in the Province of Buenos Aires the Governor
and Vice-Governor are elected for a term of four years
and cannot be re-elected. The Chamber of Deputies
consists of one member for each 10,000 inhabitants
elected for three years, but not to number more than
100. The Senators are elected for four years at the
rate of one for each 20,000 inhabitants, but not to
exceed 50.
The powers of the Provincial Governments are such
as are consistent with autonomy in a Federation.
It is unnecessary to state the conditions and number
of components of the provincial authorities in each
province as these vary both in number and duration
of authority.
The Judicial Power
is exercised by the Federal Courts and the Provincial
Courts. The Federal Courts are the Supreme Court
of Justice, the Appeal Courts and the Inferior Courts,
or Courts of First Instance. Below these are the
Justices of the Peace and, for matters of shght im-
portance, the Alcaldes. The Provincial Courts are
modelled on the same Hues as the Federal Courts.
Apart from their special jurisdiction in the Federal
Capital and the National Territories, where there are
special " Jueces Letrados," the Federal Courts have,
by the Constitution, the power to decide cases in which
there are questions in litigation between the natives
or residents in different provinces and also in which
the parties to the lawsuit are on the one side Argentines
and on the other side foreigners. This clause of the
Constitution is very important as, in any lawsuit
64 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
between a foreigner and an Argentine, the former has
the right to have the case decided by the corresponding
Federal Court to the exclusion of any other. This
privilege is of great value especially in districts where
the local Juez de Paz is, as is by no means infrequent,
a mere tool in the hands of the " caudillo " or " boss "
of the community.
Intervention.
Whilst treating of the government of the country,
two matters require special mention as they are fre-
quently— unfortunately too frequently — forced upon
pubhc attention. One is the right of Intervention in
the Provinces by the Federal Government and the
other is the right to declare the whole or a part of
the country under a State of Siege.
Although each province of the RepubHc is a separate
and autonomous State, this fact does not altogether
make it independent of the National Government, as,
by the Constitution, this Government has the right
to iQtervene in any province iu representation of the
national sovereignty, with any one of the following
four objects, to guarantee the repubhcan form of
government : to repress foreign invasion, to sustain the
constituted authorities and to replace them if they
have been deposed by sedition or by the invasion of
another province. The first two objects justify inter-
vention at the will of the Executive ; but, before
intervention can take place for the third and fourth
objects, the National Government has to be requested
to intervene by the constituted authorities.
What happens in case of an iatervention is the
following. The National Government sends to the
province an Interventor with his secretary and other
personnel requisite and, according to the circum-
stances, accompanied or not by national troops of
soldiery. On arrival at the province, the Interventor
becomes the supreme authority and it is his duty to
No. 5. Congress Hall, Buenos Aikes.
No. r». Till: MisinM, I, a I'i.ata.
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 67
carry out the objects of his intervention with the least
possible delay. He enquires into the circumstances
which have made his intervention necessary and then
takes steps to re-estabhsh the repubhcan form of govern-
ment, that is to say, he sees that the authorities pro-
vided by the Constitution are legally constituted.
Sometimes, in case of what is called a revolution, his
duty is limited to replacing the deposed Government
in power. If, however, he finds that the revolution
is justified by the actions of the local government,
he declares these authorities deposed and calls for
fresh elections. The power of intervention is a most
serious one and, practically, places the provincial
governments in a state of dependence on the National
Government, as it will be readily seen that, if a pro-
vincial governor does not fall in with the views of the
National Executive, there is nothing easier than to
take advantage of any local emeute, which is easily got
up, and intervene " motu proprio " to restore the
republican form of government. A sympathetic inter-
ventor can be rehed on to do the rest.
State of Siege.
Unfortunately this measure has had to be resorted
to with much greater frequency than the compilers
of the Constitution ever contemplated. The declara-
tion of a State of Siege in Argentina is not, however,
a declaration of martial law. It is practically the
same thing as is, in Great Britain, a suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act. Its apphcation is strictly limited
to the National Government and cannot be usurped
by the provincial authorities. By article 23 of the
Constitution, the Congress or the President, in case
Congress be not in session, may declare";^ a state of
siege and a suspension of constitutional ' guaranties
in any part of the Republic where there|is internal
disturbance or any foreign attack which imperils the
68 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Constitution. The declaration of a State of Siege does
not give any punitive powers to the Executive. The
President can neither condemn nor impose punish-
ment. He can arrest any person and convey him to
another part of the Repubhc. In actual practice,
when a state of siege is declared, the Press is warned
not to do or pubUsh anything which may in any way
diminish the effects of the measure. Any journal
daring to disobey this order is summarily closed either
for a few days imtil repentant or for the whole period
of the suspension of guaranties. Foreigners, who may
be deemed detrimentals, are sent out of the country
by the authority of a special law which does not require
a state of siege for its application. Argentine citizens
are sent away from the district where they have in-
fluence. Frequently they are retained on board a
man-of-war or, in extreme cases, they may be sent
down to the cool regions of Tierra del Fuego or Staten
Island. The declaration of a State of Siege in no
way puts an end to personal rights, except as imme-
diately affected by the causes which have been the
ground of the dictation of the measure. In other
respects, the constitutional privileges of every inhabi-
tant of the country suffer no interruption. This fact
was very remarkably shown during the state of siege
declared in consequence of the assassination of the
Buenos Aires Chief of Police. The National Govern-
ment declared a state of siege over the whole country
with the object of dealing with anarchists and anarchy.
Several provincial governors took advantage of the
measure to put in prison persons whose actions were
politically displeasing to them. These governors had
their knuckles sharply rapped by the National Execu-
tive and were ordered, not only to release the persons
whom they had imprisoned, but also to take no steps
against anyone without first obtaining the authority
of the Minister of the Interior. A State of Siege must
therefore not be confounded with martial law, with
which extreme step it has practically nothing in
common.
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 69
The National Anthem.
The Argentine Himno Nacional was composed by
Don Vicente Lopez and formally adopted as the " Marcha
Patriotica " by the Assembly of 1813. The original
music to which the hymn is sung was composed by a
Catalan, Jose Bias Parera, whose name is usually
printed on copies of the musical score, but he did not
compose the introduction. This was the work of
Juan Pablo Esnaola who also introduced alterations
into the original composition of Parera. As composed
by Lopez, the Himno Nacional contains nine verses
and a chorus ; but, as the theme of the poem is the
degradation of the Spanish lion, lying exhausted at
the feet of Argentina, and a record of the cruelties of
the Spanish rulers while Argentina still groaned under
the yoke, the Spaniards who settled in Argentina
protested against the constant revival of these old
worn out sentiments and, in the end, the Spanish
Minister refused to attend the Opera so long as the
piece was sung in its entirety. The result of this
protest was a decree forbidding the singing of the
hymn on pubhc occasions, except the opening hues
of the first and the closing Hues of the last verse and
the chorus. The National Anthem therefore as sung
reads as follows : —
Oid, niortales, el giito sagrado,
Libertad, Libertad, Libertad,
Oid el ruido de rotas cadenas,
Ved en trono k la noble igualdad,
Ya 8U trono dign(simo alzaron,
Las Provincias unidas del Sud,
Y lo8 libres del niundo responden,
" Al gran pueblo Argentiuo, Salud ! "
Chorus —
Sean eternos los laureles
Que aupinios conseguir,
Coronados de gloria vivamos,
O juremoa con gloria morir.
70 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Translation.
Hear, oh mortals, the sacred cry,
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty,
Hear the sound of broken chains.
See enthroned the noble (principle of) equality.
Already the most worthy throne has
Been set up by the United Southern Provinces,
And the freemen of the world answer,
" Hail to the great Argentine people ! "
Chorus —
May the laurels be eternal
Which we have known how to gather,
Let us live crowned with glory
Or let us swear with glory to die.
The National Flag.
The national flag of Argentina consists of three
horizontal stripes of blue, white and blue with the
addition, when hoisted on a man-of-war or other
Government property, of a sun in the middle of the
white stripe. After considerable discussion it is now
settled that the special shade of colour to be employed
in the upper and lower stripes is celeste, that is, sky-
blue. The origin of these colours is interesting. At
the time of the revolution in May, 1810, the Porteiios
wore ribbons of blue and white as a contrast to the
Spanish colours red and yellow. When selecting the
colours for these ribbons it was found that, to supply
the requisite quantity, there was no alternative but
to use the colours in stock in the city. These happened
to be blue and white, owing to a large quantity of
material having been introduced into Montevideo,
and from thence brought to Buenos Aires, for the
clothing of the British sailors during the British occu-
pation of Montevideo. This material was, therefore,
utihsed in the fabrication of the revolutionary colours
on the historic 25th of May. When General Belgrano
inaugurated the Argentine flag he remembered the
colours used on the occasion named and selected the
GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, ETC. 71
same for the new banner. The blue and white stripes
of the Argentine flag represent therefore not the sky
and clouds, as some have thought, but the blue and
white uniforms of the British sailors. No more
honourable origm could be imagined. May the tradi-
tions of the British navy ever animate the nation which
wears its colom's !
The National Arms,
The diversity with which the national arms was
represented was, until recently, almost a scandal, as,
even on the Government buildings and on official
documents, there was an endless variety of form and
colouring. The attention of the Government was
called to this by Dr. Zeballos and something approaching
uniformity has been secured. The National shield is
elhptical in shape, divided into two halves, the upper
being sky blue and the lower white. At an angle of
40 degrees, are stretched upward two clasped flesh
coloured hands holding a staff which bears a Phrygian
cap tmned down at the top and with a folded lower
border. Around the shield are two laurel branches
interlacing at the top and tied at the bottom with a
knot of blue and white ribbon. Above and from behind
the shield rises the old Inca sun of which 23 alter-
nately straight and undulating rays of equal length
are displayed.
The shield of the C*ity of Buenos Aires has under-
gone many modifications since the foundation of the
city. At present it bears two ships surmounted by a
flying dove.
Each of the Argentine provinces has its own dis-
tinctive shield. The provincial arms are, in almost
all cases, modifications of the National shield just
described, except in the case of C6rdoba, which bears
a tower ; San Luis, which shows a mountain scene
with a llama in the foreground, and Salta, which bears
a sun with eight luminous rays.
72 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Diplomatic Relations.
The Republic maintains diplomatic relations with
Great Britain, the United States and Mexico, France,
Germany, Austria-Hmigary and Russia, Italy and
Switzerland, Spain and Portugal, Japan, the Holy See
(Rome) and almost all the South American Repubhcs.
in Great Britain the Argentine Minister is Sr. Florencio
Dominguez, the British Minister in Buenos Aires
being Mr. Walter Beaupre Townley. Argentina is
also represented in the United Kingdom by Consul
General Dr. S. G. Uriburu, and by consulates at Cardiff,
Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newport and
Southampton, and Vice-Consulates at Aberdeen, Belfast,
Dubhn, Dundee, Edinburgh, Hull, London, Man-
chester, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Swansea, as well as
at Gibraltar and Calcutta. The British Consulates
in Argentina are at Buenos Aires (Consul Mr. A. Car-
negie Ross, C.B.) and Rosario (Consul, Mr. Hugh B.
Mallet). There are also British Vice-Consulates at
Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Campana, Concordia,
Cordoba, La Plata, Parana, Rosario, San Nicolas,
Santa Fe, Villa Constitucion and a Consular agency
at Gallegos. The Argentine Minister in the United
States, for that country and Mexico, is Sr. Epifanio
Portela. There is a Consulate General at New York
and Vice-Consulates at fifteen other towns. The
American Minister in the Argentine is Mr. Charles H.
Sherrill. There are Consulates in Buenos Aires and
Rosario, and Vice-Consulates at Bahia Blanca and
Cdrdoba.
CHAPTER IV
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA
DISCOVERY AND PERIOD OF THE ADELANTADOS
(1515-1617)
Discovery of the River Plate by Soils — Cabot's Expedition
— Fate of the Colony Founded by him — The Adelantados —
Mendoza and the First Founding of Buenos Aires — Fate of the
Colony — Irak — The Government in Asuncion — Gara}'^ and the
Second Founding of Buenos Aires — Separation of Buenos Aires
from Asuncion.
The History of Argentina may be divided naturally
into four periods, the period of Discovery and Con-
quest extending to the year 1617, the Colonial period
between 1617 and 1776, the Period of the Viceroys
from 1776 to 1810 and, lastly, the Repubhc from 1810
to the present date. A chapter will be devoted to
each of these periods. As the main object of this
book is to interest British readers, those events in
which the British took part, either individually or
collectively, will receive fuller treatment than their
importance would, perhaps, otherwise call for.
"In the year 1515, when the Crozier of Saint Peter
was swayed by the most holy Father and conse-
crated shepherd Leo X and the sceptre of Spain was
wielded by the invincible and cathohc king Don Fer-
nando, the great God cast His pitying eyes upon the
iimumerable souls, which, in these provinces, were
perishing under the tyi'anny of the Devil, and, com-
miserating their lost state, resolved, according to the
pious decree of His eternal counsel, to open a door for
their relief, in order that, by the oft repeated entrance
of the true faith and the hght of the Gospel, the people
who walked in darkness might be enlightened and
74 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
might be freed from the dark chaos of error, in which
for so many centm:ies they had been buried, unable to
find the way of salvation on account of the darkness
in which they had been submerged/' With these pious
reflections, the Jesuit Father, Pedro Lozano, com-
mences that part of his history of the conquest of
this country which deals with the discovery of the
River Plate by Solis. Twenty- three years had passed
since Columbus had made his famous journey across
the Atlantic and had added a world to the sceptre of
Castille and Leon.
The discoveries of Columbus had led to great things
in the Northern and Western coasts of South America.
Pope Alexander, for all that he professed to hold the
keys of Heaven and Hell, to say nothing of Purgatory,
had proved, by his celebrated division of the world
between Spain and Portugal, that he knew very httle
of terrestrial geography ; and, so far, no European
had seen or thought of the mighty river which poured
its waters into the Atlantic and which the Indians
called the Parana Guazu. It is said that Vicente
Yanez Pinzon had, in 1508, sailed past its mouth to
the 40th degree of South Latitude without being aware
of the presence of the mighty stream, and that he had,
on board his ship, a famous pilot named Juan Diaz de
SoHs.' Columbus had discovered America in its most
tantahsing part. The after discoveries of Balboa in
the Isthmus of Panama had shown that there was an
immense ocean on the other side of the newly found
world but, although the Isthmus was so narrow, no
means of access by water could be found to this great
and unknown ocean. Many are the names of the
venturous seamen who hugged the coast for hundreds
of miles north and south in the fond hope of finding
some strait which should lead into the mighty waste
of waters which washed the western shores of the new
world ; but all in vain : and one after another returned
to Spain with the same story of failure in their search.
The most catholic King determined therefore to send
two ships to the south, well provided for a long voyage,
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 75
and in command of the before named Solis, who had
now the reputation of being the most skilled navigator
of his age. Accordingly, on the 8th of October, 1515,
Sohs sailed away from the coast of Spain, leaving the
port of Lepe with the full object of discovering the
strait leading into the Pacific Ocean, as it was after-
wards called. Sailing along the eastern coast line of
South America, Solis arrived with his ships at the
33rd degree of South Latitude. Here he found that
the water was sweet, which astonished him very much,
as, from the great width of the mouth of the estuary
of the River Plate, no land was visible. He had
previously passed a cape to which he had given the
name of Santa Maria and a few slands, evidently
those now called Lobos and Flores, and he had observed
on the maiuland a conical hill which should in after
years give its name to Montevideo ; but he had lost
sight of land again and was, accordingly, somewhat
puzzled when he found that he was sailing in fresh water.
However, he decided to explore this strange and
apparently shoreless river. He ascended the river in
a small sloop, and, while doing so, his dispenser, Martin
Garcia, died. On arriving at the island that now bears
his name the body of the dead man was taken on shore
and buried there. On returning to the ship and recon-
noitring the shores, Solis and his companions observed
a number of Indians on the banks near a large wood.
These Indians made signs to the travellers to disembark.
Believing that the Indians were friendly from the
nature of their signs, half a dozen men, including Soils,
went on land ; but they had barely landed when they
were saluted by a flight of arrows which laid them
dead on the shore. Their companions on the sloop
were horror stricken at the sight, especially as they
saw the Indians seize the bodies of their unfortunate
comrades and apparently prepare to roast and eat
them. They made off with all speed to the mouth of
the river where they had left the ships and told the
sad news to the rest of the crew. All were overwhelmed
with dismay at the horrible story and it was at once
76 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
decided to return to Spain with all possible speed. For
a brief period of about a dozen years the fateful river
bore the name of Soils. The story that the Indians
ate the bodies of the seamen is contradicted by those
who have studied the habits of the Charriias, as the
tribe was called to whose arrows Soils and his com-
panions fell victims.
After the departure of Soils the next European to
visit the Plate was Sebastian Cabot, or, as he is called
by Ai'gentine historians, Gaboto.
Sebastian Cabot was one of the most striking figures
in the history of geographical discovery. No dangers
terrified him, and regions unknown had a special
attraction for his adventurous spirit. His name figures
in the stories both of the North-West and the North-
East passages. The whole coast of America, from the
St. Lawrence to the Plate, was surveyed by him in
one or other of his many voyages. To him all parts
of the compass were equally welcome ; and he served
at one time or another the different Sovereigns who,
in the sixteenth century, were anxious to add to their
dominions the far off territories across the oceans.
He was the son of John Cabot or Gaboto, another of
the rovers of the deep, and was born, according to
the best authorities, at Bristol, in England. After
having, as a youth of twenty- three, sailed with his
father on his voyage of discovery to Newfoundland
and Labrador, he, fortunately for himself, gave his
attention to map making and so saved himself from
accompanying his father in 1498 upon the ill-fated
expedition of which nothing further was heard. After
servmg the King of England for some years, he entered
the service of the King of Spain in 1521 with the title
of " Piloto Mayor," and in this capacity undertook
the voyage which brought him in contact with Argen-
tina, and resulted in the foundation of the ill-fated
Colony of Sancti Spiritus. The Emperor Carlos V,
who was also King of Spain, conferred upon Gaboto,
as he is called in the Spanish histories, the additional
title of Captain-General and ordered him to follow
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 77
the route of Magallanes and, passing through the
Straits named after that navigator, to discover the
ancient and famous cities of Tharsis and Ophir, the
Isles of the Malucas and the land of Cathay. A large
order indeed, as we should say to-day. On board the
four ships that formed Gaboto's fleet were many persons
of rank, some of whom were secretly opposed to their
leader and did all in their power to minify his success
Gaboto sailed from Seville at the beginning of April,
1526, and, after no httle trouble, arrived at the mouth
of the River Plate, then called the Rio de Soils, after
its unfortunate discoverer.
He found it necessary to get rid of some of the more
troublesome of his passengers and landed three of them
on one of the islands near the mouth of the river. He
ascended some distance up the estuary and despatched
a number of his crew in small boats up the river Uruguay.
They were attacked by the Indians and had to return
with their numbers greatly reduced. Gaboto then
crossed the Estuary to the Parana de las Palmas and
continued his journey northwards until he arrived at
the mouth of the River called Carcarana. Here he
determined to found a colony and a fortress, to which
he gave the name of Espirito Santo. The name of the
River was that of a famous Timbu Chief. Having left
a number of his soldiers and attendants to guard the
fortress, Gaboto continued his journey northwards,
passing the confluence of the Paraguay and Parana
and following the course of the latter river as far as
the Laguna Santa Ana, a few leagues north of the
present town of Itali in Corrientes. Returning to the
confluence of the rivers, he ascended the Paraguay
where he was attacked by Indians, and according to
some historians, a battle was fought, which was no
small affair, as 25 Spanish soldiers were killed. Going
further up the river, Gaboto arrived at a place some-
what to the north of the present city of Asuncion.
Here he found a number of Indians who were friendly
and open to trade. They gave a number of silver
objects in exchange for such things the Spaniards chose
78 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
to offer them and told stories of the wealth of the
interior of the country, which made Gaboto and his
companions sure that if they had not found an El
Dorado, they had, at any rate, found a " Plateado/'
Hence the name of the River Solis was changed to
that of the Rio de la Plata. Alas that even that
name should be a deception to so many who after
residence in this country find it neither " Dorado "
nor " Plateado " but only " Empapelado ! " The fore-
going is the origin, however, of the well-known name of
the River and of the subsequent designation of the
country known as the " Argentine " RepubHc. De-
lighted with what he deemed his glorious discovery
of riches, Gaboto determined to return to Sancti
Spiritus and thence send messengers to the Spanish
King to persuade the latter to imdertake the conquest
of the silver land. He accordingly sent off some of
his faithful officers to Spain with presents of silver
for the King and a few Indians as specimens of the
country. The messenger arrived safely and the King,
pleased with the presents, endeavoured to persuade
the Seville citizens to send a fleet to aid Gaboto. The
Sevillians, however, refused to do so, and the King
was deterred from taking any such measures on his
own account by the fear of a naval war with England
and France. Gaboto, finding that no help came, left
the colony in charge of Don Nuno de Lara and returned
to Spain in 1530. Gaboto, on arriving in Spain, gave
glowing accounts of the lands on the shores of the
Silver River and endeavoured to obtain a further
commission from the King to return and complete the
work of conquest and colonisation which he had begun ;
but there was no money in the imperial treasury for
such adventures and, in the end, Gaboto yielded to
the inevitable and turned his thoughts in other direc-
tions, continuing, however, to act as Piloto Mayor till
1547, when he returned to England. Here he became
Governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers
which began to trade with Russia. He ended his
adventurous life in 1557 at the advanced age of 83.
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 79
The fate of the Colony of Sancti Spiritus has been
frequently told both in prose and in verse. Nimo de
Lara did all in his power to cultivate friendly relations
with the Indians in the neighbourhood, who were
Timbues and had two chiefs, Mangore and Siropo.
In the colony was a woman named Lucia Mirando,
the wife of a soldier, Sebastian Hurtado, to whom
she was deeply attached. The cacique or chief Mangore
fell in love with this woman and tried by all means
to get her to return his affection, but in vain. Having
failed in his object by open means and even by strategy,
Mangore determined to attack the colony and, in the
confusion, carry off Lucia. He obtained the assistance
of his brother Siropo and having waited for a favourable
opportunity when a number of the soldiers had gone
off foraging for provisions, he attacked the colony
in the most treacherous manner and a terrible fight
ensued. Mangore himself fell in the combat, but his
brother Siropo survived and carried off the coveted
prize, Lucia, to his tent, where she resisted all the
persuasions and offers of her capturer. Her husband,
who had been one of the foraging party and therefore
absent from the fort at the time of the attack, returned
to find the tragedy accomphshed and his wife carried
off. With the rest of the foragers he escaped to the
woods but was shortly afterwards captured and carried
as a prisoner to Siropo, who would have killed him at
once but for the intercession of Lucia. The husband's
life was spared but upon conditions which implied a
divorce, as he had to promise to see his wife no more.
The power of love was stronger, however, than the
fear of death, and shortly afterwards husband and wife
were surprised together. They were taken to Siropo,
who, mad with rage and jealousy, ordered their imme-
diate execution. The wife, Lucia, was tied to a stake
and burnt to death and the husband was set up as a
target for the arrows of the Indians and speedily rejoined
his wife in the next world (1532).
Three years afterwards the first definite attempt
at conquest was made by Don Pedro de Mendoza,
80 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
who is known in Argentine History as the first '' Adelan-
tado." The title of " Adelantado/' which carried with
it ahnost imhmited authority was originally conferred,
during the Moorish possession of Spain, on any Spaniard
who should drive back the line of Moorish invasion
and so " Adelantar " or advance the power of the
Spanish Kings. When the survivors of SoHs' Ex-
pedition, and afterwards Cabot returned to Spain
with wonderful stories of the lands they had discovered,
the idea of advancing the dominions of the King and
the rule of the Church in the regions of the Plate
appealed to the Spanish Government and it was agreed
that anyone who should, at his own expense, fit out an
expedition to explore and colonize the newly-discovered
lands, should have the title of Adelantado and the
rights appertaining thereto. The first to avail himself
of this privilege was Pedro de Mendoza, a wealthy man
and a hard fighter, who had taken part in the wars
in Italy and obtained no inconsiderable sum as booty
in Rome and elsewhere. On the 21st May, 1534, the
" capitulations," or conditions imder which the ex-
pedition should be reahsed, were agreed to. Some of
these were of importance. The Adelantado had to
open up communications between the River Plate
territories and Peru, to take with him one hundred
horses and mares, the original ancestors of the horses
which now roam over the Argentine plains, to take
out eight priests to convert the souls of the Indians,
as well as a doctor and a druggist to heal the bodies
of the explorers and colonisers. The territory over
which the Adelantado was to have jurisdiction was to
extend for two hundred leagues from the River Plate
down the Atlantic coast towards the straits of Magellan.
A formidable array of grandees was told off to accom-
pany Mendoza. There is some doubt as to the nimaber
of men who went with Mendoza on his journey ; but
it was between 1,500 and 2,000. There were a number
of Germans, amongst them, Ukich Schmidt or Schmidel,
whose name, latinized into Ulrico Fabro, is that of
the first historian of the expedition. There were also
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 81
three Englishmen : John Rutter of London, Nicholas
Coleman of Hampton, and Richard Limon of Plymouth-
The adventures of these three Enghshmen are narrated
by Sr. Enrique Pena in an interesting article, written
for the recent British Argentine Exhibition, 1905, and
pubUshed in the pamphlet deahng with British Com-
merce, under the title, " Los Ingleses en la conquista
del Rio de la Plata." These three Enghshmen appear
to have finally settled in Paraguay, and their names
several times appear in the documents recording the
events which passed there during the period of the
second Adelantado.
Amongst the priests who accompanied the expedi-
tion was one, about whom is told a legend, which
might find a fit place in the " Leyenda de Oro." He
was taken prisoner by the Agaces and set up as a
target for their arrows. As he was at the point of
death, a beautiful shining globe came down from heaven
and hovered over his head. The soul of the priest,
transfigured into the form of a beautiful maiden, leaped
forth from his body and on to the globe, upon which,
as a throne, he ascended far above the azure skies.
The Agaces, ashamed of their cruelty, burst into tears
and buried the body of the dead hero. Mendoza's
expedition sailed from Sanlucar on the first of Sep-
tember, 1534, and arrived at the Cape Verde Islands
in ten days, and then took two months to reach land
on the South American coast. A rest was made near
the River Janeiro in Brazil ; where, in consequence
of the cruel treatment of one of the expedition, named
Osorio, by the Adelantado, a number of the party
remained. The majority, however, resumed the journey
with Mendoza and entered the River Plate, remaining
for a few days near the Island of San Gabriel. As
Mendoza did not like the north side of the river, he
crossed over and landed near the present site of Barrucas.
The first man to land was Sancho del Campo, brother-
in-law of the Adelantado, who is reported to have said
" Que buenos aires son los de esta tierra ! " This
remark is said by some to have been the origin of the
82 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
name of the city ; but as its name is not Buenos Aires
but " Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires," it is much more
probable that the name is due to the fact that, before
saiHng, the expedition was placed under the protection
of the Virgin, under her title of " Santa Maria de los
Buenos Aires (6 vientos)."
When Pedro de Mendoza landed on the banks of
the Riachuelo, the whole of the surrounding territory-
was occupied by the Querandies, a warlike tribe of
Indians. At first, these Indians were friendly to the
Spaniards and provided them with food. But it was
soon seen that there was no real friendship possible
between the two races, and the Adelantado did what
he could towards putting his new Colony in a defensive
position. The Indians were desirous of robbing the
horses brought by the Europeans and, as this caused
the latter to be suspicious, in less than three weeks,
the Indians became hostile and ceased to send provisions
to the colony. The Adelantado sent a kind of embassy
to the Indians to try to induce them to be friendly ;
but the Ambassador had no tact and treated the Indians
as if they were dogs, with the result that they were
badly treated and driven off and the hostile preparations
of the Indians were hurried on. Very soon, it became
dangerous for the Colonists to leave the encampment
even to look for firewood. A^Hien, on one occasion,
ten soldiers were killed, Mendoza thought it time to
take active measures. He accordingly sent his brother
Diego to drive away the Indians. Diego de Mendoza
took with him a number of soldiers, both horse and
foot, and, with banners flying and trumpets blowing,
the gallant little army of four hundred suddenly found
themselves, after a few leagues march, in presence of
about four thousand Indians, who were encamped on
the other side of a stream. A question arose as to
whether the attack should be made or not ; but Diego
de Mendoza cut the matter short by calling out, " Cross
to the other side and smash these barbarians." But
the smashing was not so easy. The gallant leader was
slain and many more, and only a very few escaped alive.
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 83
The scene of the battle gave its name to the Pago
de la Matanza, well known to-day as the names of a
River and Partido. One of the horse soldiers who
took part in the fight was named Diego Lujan. Badly
woimded, he escaped from the field of slaughter on
his terror stricken horse, which bore him for several
leagues, until at last he fell from the saddle dead by
the side of a stream, which has ever since borne the
name of the River Lujan. When the news of the
slaughter reached the encampment, there were not
wanting very many who considered that the death of
Osorio had been avenged by Divine Providence, as
amongst the slain were several of those who had taken
part in the murder of the unfortunate " maese de
campo." The historian, Father Lozano, has no doubt
on this head. All hope of peace from the Indians
being at an end, the Colony was in great straits for
want of food. At one time, the daily ration was reduced
to six ounces of flour and that of the worst quality.
Frogs, toads, snakes and vermin of all kinds were
eagerly eaten, when no other food could be obtained,
and even the leather of shoes and saddles was cooked
to yield up any possible nutriment it might retain.
Meanwhile, the Adelantado sent out two expeditions,
one under Gonzalo de Mendoza and the other under
Juan de Ayolas, to see if they could find food in the
direction of Brazil or Paraguay.
After two months, as neither of these returned,
Pedro de Mendoza determined to return home with
half his men and got ready to do so. Suddenly Ayolas
returned, bringing such good news of the country up
the river that the Adelantado decided, instead of going
home, to fix his residence at Sancti Spiritus. On the
point of his departure, Buenos Aires was attacked
and practically destroyed by thousands of Indians,
who sent bundles of blazing grass on to the roofs of
the houses and set them on fire. They were at length
driven off ; but only a few men were left in the en-
campment to protect some of the ships left in the
river. These were under the orders of Francisco Ruiz
84 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
Galan, whose name has been handed down by historians
as that of a cruel and soulless tyrant. While Mendoza
was up the river, things were worse and worse in Buenos
Aires. The difficulty of finding food was such that
even vermin failed and the bodies of the dead in the
Colony were eaten by the survivors. It is recorded
that any excuse was taken by the hard-hearted Governor
to condemn men to death, so that their bodies might
serve as food. The story of Maldonado reveals the
character of this tyrant. Maldonado was a poor
woman who, half dead with hunger, escaped from the
camp, fearing less the arrows and lances of the Indians
than the cruelties of the camp life. Wandering along
the shore, she came to an opening in the " barranca,"
and entered to rest. AVhat was her horror to find
herself in the presence of a lioness which greeted her
appearance with cries. These were cries of anguish,
as the lioness was in the act of giving birth to cubs.
Seeing that she was in no immediate danger, Maldonado
helped the Honess, which proved its gratitude by
furnishing her with food.
After a time, Maldonado was found by some Indians
and taken away to their " tolderia," where one of
the chiefs made her his wife. Her troubles were not
yet ended, for, in a short time, she was recaptured
by the Spaniards and taken to Buenos Aires. The
Governor ordered her to be taken outside and tied to
a tree so that the wild beasts might kill her. The
order was obeyed ; but, as night fell and the wild beasts
were prowling round the tree, Maldonado recognised
amongst them the lioness she had helped. The lioness
kept off all the other animals and, when the Governor
sent next day to see if she were dead, she was found
alive and safe, guarded by the faithful lioness. On
being taken to the camp, the Governor pardoned her
and let her go. Her name survives as one of the local
designations ; but few, who know the name Maldonado,
know the story from whence it arises.
Mendoza did not stay long at Sancti Spiritus. He
set out to return to Spain, but died on the way. He
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF AEGENTINA 85
left his expedition in the control of Ayolas who was
seconded by another active man named Irak. Ayolas
and Irala journeyed north, with the survivors of the
expedition, and, after many adventures and the death
of Ayolas, the Guarani village of Lambare was made
the head of the colony, being in its turn baptized
with the name of Asuncion. Here the period of the
Adelantados was passed, and for many years Asuncion
was the head of the River Plate settlements. Irala
was a strong man, who knew how to govern, and,
under his care, the colony made great headway : friendly
relations were maintained with the Indians, who were
of the mild Guarani race, and not the fierce indomitable
Querandies of the neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. It
is to this fact that the mixed character of the Para-
guayan inhabitants is due, as well as their use of Guarani
as the native speech. Irala, with the same ideas of
colonisation as are said to influence Englishmen when
engaged in the same work, built a church and a town
hall and gave his new colony a very good start.
One of his first actions was to send for the survivors
of the colony of Buenos Aires to transfer them to
Asuncion and to abandon, for the time at all events,
all idea of continuing the colony. Accordingly, Captain
Diego de Abreu was sent with a number of boats to
bring up the colonists. On arriving at Buenos Aires,
Abreu found the people in the greatest misery. What
had made matters worse for them was that their
numbers had been increased by the arrival of the crew
of a ship from Genoa named the "Pochalda," which,
originally destined for Callao, had been driven back
by the winds and waves on arriving at the Straits of
Magellan, and had turned into the estuary of the Plate,
knowing that there was a Spanish colony there. On
arriving at the Riachuelo, the Italian ship came to
grief on a sandbank, and, although for a time the
provisions on board were a help to the colony, when
these were exhausted the additional persons to be fed
increased the distress. There was, therefore, no hesita-
tion in leaving Buenos Aires and embarking for Asuncion,
86 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
where they were received, both Spaniards and Italians,
and incorporated into the Colony which was there
properly established. Here the second and third
Adelantados, Alvar Nunez (Cabeza de Vaca) and Ortiz
de Zarate alternated with Irala in the Government,
and many were the revolutions and revolts which
marked the history of the nascent state ; but these
interest us little.
It was not until 1580, during the Adelantazgo of
Vera y Aragon, that a second attempt was made to
colonize Buenos Aires. The Adelantado Zarate had
tried to change the name of the territory to New Biscay
(Nueva Vizcaya) ; but he could not get rid of the
name Rio de la Plata and his innovation came to
nothing. The right hand man of both Zarate and Vera
y Aragon was Don Juan de Garay, a man whose statue
ought to adorn the most conspicuous position in Buenos
Aires. With wonderful foresight, Garay saw that to
shut up the colony in the interior without making
intermediate ports on the great River Plate would be
to ruin its future and to place its destinies entirely
in the hands of its governors. In pursuance of his
ideas on the subject, he founded the city of Santa
Fe de la Vera Cruz on the 15th of November, 1573,
but this was only an intermediate port. He recognized
that the true port must be situated in the neighbour-
hood of Mendoza's unfortunate colony.
Accordingly, in 1580, having reduced the Indians
to temporary, if not permanent submission, he decided
to re-estabUsh the port of Buenos Aires. Using Santa
Fe as the centre of his operations he despatched by
land some two hundred native families with 1,000
horses, 200 cows, 500 sheep and all requisites for forming
a colony, the whole in charge of Alonso de Vera and
39 soldiers. He himself set off from the Tower of
Gaboto with two brigs, six large Hghters, tliree^ rafts
and the Caravel " San Cristobal.' From the river,
he chose the site of the second Buenos Aires. The site
selected stood out as a promontory or point, on either
side of which was a deep ditch, usually filled with the
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ARGENTINA 89
waters from the " banados " of what is now Flores.
A little below Flores these waters branched off into
the two ditches mentioned, one running down the
present sites of Calles Chile and Independencia and
Mexico. They were called respectively the Zanjon
de Matorras and the Zanjica de los Granados. Between
these two ditches was the second city of Buenos Aires
first enclosed. On the promontory, between these
ditches, Garay staked off two squares (now the Plaza
de Mayo) for the Fort, Cathedral and Cabildo, and then
he staked out 150 squares between the present Calles
Balcarce and 25 de Mayo, on the east, and Libertad
and Salta on the West. Outside the " ejido " of the
city Garay divided the land into " valles " or partidos,
in which he allotted " suertes " of 3,000 varas frontage
and a league and a half depth inland. The frontage
was, wherever possible, on the River Parana.
These lands were divided amongst the sixty soldiers
who accompanied Garay as colonists. The full hst of
these is preserved in the writings of Lozano, in which
the name of Garay himself modestly appears at the end.
Two extra persons received lots ; one a woman named
Ana Diaz, a widow, who had accompanied Garay 's
expedition in order not to be separated from her
daughter, who was married to one of the soldiers, and
the other Cristobal de Altamirano, a poor fellow who had
some time before been captured by the Indians and
managed to escape and join Garay. The Indians who
were sent down from Santa Fe, as well as any others
captured in the neighbourhood, were divided as " en-
comiendas " among the colonists, who thus began their
venture under much better conditions than the unfor-
tunate companions of Mendoza. The new city was
founded on Trinity Sunday, June 11th, 1580. A
proper record of the event was drawn up and the city
received the name of Ciudad de la Santisima Trinidad
y Puerto de Santa Maria de Buenos Aires. Garay sent
a full report of his actions to the King of Spain, who
ap}>roved everything and confirmed the title of City
bestowed on the new foundation. In the edict the
90 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
city is described as " la ciudad de la Trinidad de Buenos
Aires/' In 1620 Buenos Aires was made the head of
an Episcopal See and its cathedral was dedicated to
St. Martin of Tours.
Shortly after the second and definite foundation of
Buenos Aires, Garay was killed by the Indians in
Santa Fe.
After the fourth Adelantado, Vera y Aragon, who
resigned his office and returned to Spain, Asunci6n
continued to be the seat of government until 1617,
when the Governor Hernando Arias de Saavedra,
who was a man of great talent and knowledge, con-
sidered that the territory over which he was supposed
to rule was too extensive and advised the King to
divide it into two provinces, one that of the Rio de la
Plata, with Buenos Aires as its capital, and the other
La Guayra, or Paraguay, with Asuncion as its seat of
government. The King took the advice of Hernando
Arias and by a royal Cedula decreed the formation of
the two provinces.
CHAPTER V
THE COLONIAL PERIOD (1617-1776)
The Spanish " Indies," Governors of the La Plata Province—^
Commerce during the Colonial Period, its Drawbacks and its
Monopolies — British Buccaneers — The Slave Trade — The Jesuits
and their Missions — The Expulsion of the Jesuits — Brazilian
Claims to Uruguay — La Colonia del Sacramento — History of
its Captures and Restorations — The Falkland Islands.
As recorded in the last chapter, the Province of the
Rio de la Plata and Buenos Aires was separated from
that of Paraguay in 1617, although the first Governor
was not sent out till 1620. From that date it was
governed by Governors, ahnost all of whom were sent
to Buenos Aires direct from Spain, and only one of
whom was born in the country. At the same time
that the political separation took place, the ecclesiastical
sees were also divided and the first Bishop of Buenos
Aires was Fray Pedro Carranza. What is called the
Colonial period of Argentine history lasted from 1620
to 1776, at which latter date Buenos Aires was made
the head of a Viceroyalty. Perpetuating the mistake
made by Columbus, who thought that he had dis-
covered India, the American colonies of Spain were
called the Indies, and they were placed under the
control of a Special Advising Council called the Council
of the Indies. This Council collected all information
respecting the colonies, and all decrees signed by the
King for administrative purposes were called " Cedulas
Reales." Ultimately, a special legal code was drawn
up called the " Laws of the Indies." Besides the
Council mentioned, there was a great governmental
department created, with headquarter first at Seville
and later at Cadiz, called the Casa de Contrat-acion,
which had full control over all the shipping between
F 91
92 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the mother country and the colonies, and from being
an adjunct of the Indian Council became ultimately
a Court of Appeal and High Court of Justice for the
Colonies generally. Theoretically, the Province of the
Rio de la Plata was within the jurisdiction of the
Viceroy of Peru ; but, for practical purposes, Peru was
as far away as^Spain and the Governors were more
directly imder the control of the Casa de Contratacion,
although the Audiencia of Charcas also exercised
jurisdiction in questions relative to complaints against
the administration. Local affairs were managed by
the Cabildo or Town Council, which usually consisted
of nine Regidores who divided amongst themselves
the various administrative functions such as Alcaldes,
Juez Visitador, Alguaciles, Juez de Pohcia, etc.
The following is a complete list of the Governors
of the Province of the Rio de la Plata during the Colonial
period : —
Diego de Gorgora (1620-23) ; Alonzo I Perez de
Salazar (1623-24); Francisco de Cespedes (1624-32) ;
Pedro Esteban de Avila (1632-38) ; Mendo de la
Cueva y Benavides (1638-40) ; Ventura Mogica (1640) ;
Pedro de Roxas (1640) ; Andres de Sandoval (1641) ;
Geronimo Luis de Cabrera, the only " crioUo " Governor
(1641-46) ; Jacinto de Larez (1646-53) ; Pedro Ruiz
Baigorri (1653-60) ; Alonso de Mercado y Villacosta
(1660-63) ; Jose Martinez de Salazar (1663-74) ; Andres
de Robles (1674-78) ; Jose de Garro (1678-82) ; Jose
de H. Herrera (1682-91) ; Agustin Robles (1691-1700) ;
Manuel de Prado Maldonado (1700-03) ; Alonso Juan
de Valdes Inclan (1703-08) ; Manuel de Velasco (1708-
12); Alonso de Arce y Soria (1712); Baltasar Garcia
Ros (1712-17) ; Bruno de Zavala, the founder of
Montevideo (1717-34) ; Miguel de Salcedo (1734-42) ;
Domingo Ortiz de Rosas, uncle of the grandfather of
General Rosas (1742-45) ; Jose de Andenaegui (1745-
56) ; Pedro de Ceballos (1756-66) ; Francisco de Paula
Bucarelh (1766-70) ; and finally Juan Jose de Vertiz
(1770-1776).
It is not necessary to enlarge upon the history of
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 93
the two provinces of Cuyo and Tucuman, which, as
akeady described, comprised the interior of the country-
no w known as Argentina. Their story is of very
hmited and local history and their development and
government has been already described in treating of
the formation of the Argentine Provinces. Dmring the
Colonial period the Provmce of the Rio de la Plata
included what are now the Httoral provinces of Buenos
Aires, Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Corrientes, the Northern
territories of Formosa, the Chaco and Misiones and
the Banda Oriental or Uruguay. The chief interest of
the Colonial period centres round the city of Buenos
Aires and, accordingly, I shall proceed to show the
exact position which it occupied as the capital of the
Colony. I have before me as I write a map showing
the trade route of Spanish South America about the
year 1700.
It is useless to talk of the Port of Buenos Aires
at that date, for port there was none. For all that
its maritime position availed it, Buenos Aires might
as well have been on the heights of Jujuy. Indeed,
the latter situation would, at that time, have been
much better for commercial purposes than the banks
of the Rio de la Plata. The map shows the continent
of South America, on which a red line marks the trade
route. On the north side of the isthmus of Panama
is the town of Porto Bello, connected by the Hue men-
tioned with Panama on the South of the isthmus.
The line then follows the ocean route to Arica, with
stoppages at Guayaquil and Callao. Leaving the sea
at Arica, in the extreme North of Chile, the red line
crosses BoHvia by way of Potosi, and, entering Argentine
territory by way of Humahuaca and Jujuy, passes by
Cordoba to Buenos Aires. This accurately shows the
commercial route to and from Buenos Aires dming
the larger period of the Spanish colonization. It is
almost impossible to conceive of such an extreme
instance of self-destroying monopoly and short-sighted
policy as that which shut up from foreign, and even
from home, trade for centuiies one of the iine«t porta
94 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
and most privileged maritime situations in the world,
pm'ely in the interests of selfish and self-seeking mono-
poUsts. No wonder that, in the end, this pohcy of
greed estranged the " hijos del pais " from the parent
country, and made them refer to the Spaniards from
Spain as " godos." No wonder that in the end the
" criollos " revolted and for decades regarded their
ancestral race as their greatest foes. The inhabitants
of the Spanish possessions in America were generally
divided into five classes : (1) The Spaniards proper,
who were always the dominant class and regarded all
the other classes as their inferiors in every respect, and
as solely existing for their use and benefit ; (2) the
Criollos, or descendants of Europeans, who were allowed
to cultivate the land and work mines, but never (or
hardly ever) to take any part in the public life ;
(3) the Indians, who were regarded as an inferior
race incapable of civiHzation and of all progress. The
previous classes took care that the Indians were
never other than servants ; (4) Negroes, who were
slaves and, as such, the property of their owners ;
and (5) Mixed breeds (Mestizos), who seem to have
to the fullest degree justified the well known saying
that such have all the vices and none of the virtues of
the original races, for says Ulloa, in his " Notas Secretas
de America " : " These mestizos consider it a disgrace
to employ themselves in cultivating the ground or in
other similar labour ; and, in consequence, the towns
and cities are full of them, Hving upon what they can
rob or occupied in matters so abominable that we
cannot offend the eye by staining our paper with a
description of them.'' In the River Plate territory,
the negroes were never a very large part of the com-
mimity, as the absence of agricultural developments
prevented their being required as slaves in the same
manner as in some of the Northern possessions of
Spain. In fact, throughout all the history of Spanish
colonization in South America, we find agriculture
and its kindred industry, cattle raising, regarded as
of much less importance than mining. Actual gold,
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 95
or silver, or copper was what the Spaniard wanted,
and he regarded any other industry than that of getting
at this actual metalHc wealth as of minor importance.
In some parts (not in Argentina) a miner was ipso
facto a noble and was in the enjoyment of rights and
privileges such as no noble in any civiHzed country
to-day could dream of aspiring to.
As Argentina did not possess much workable mineral
wealth, especially as compared with Bolivia and some
other countries, its inhabitants had to occupy them-
selves in the relatively despised occupation of raising
cattle : and almost all South America was fed by it.
It provided cattle for food, and horses and mules as
beasts of burden and for war purposes. The only
port in Spain which was allowed to trade with the
colonies was Seville. As early as 1503, the " Casa de
Contrataci6n " annually fixed the amount and nature
of the trade to be done with the respective colonies,
the ships which should be allowed to sail, the duties
to be paid and practically all other questions relating
to colonial trade. From 1503 to 1717, Seville was
the only European port with which the Spanish colonies
were allowed to trade. In 1717 this monopoly was
transferred to Cadiz, which enjoyed it till 1778, when
the ports were opened to liberty of commerce. The
goods allowed to be sent to the colonies were general
stores of food and clothing, furniture, a few agricultural
implements and things of this kind ; but no coins or
gold or silver ornaments or iron, or horseshoes or
pistols were allowed to be sent to any Spanish colony
nor were the morals of the colonists allowed to be
endangered by the introduction of any books of
romance, which treated of profane matters or fables
or fictitious history. Of course, Spain got all it could
out of the colonies without any restriction, and Seville
became proud and wealthy as the result of its monopoly.
Not only was Seville the only port al owed to do
business with the Spanish Colonies, but, as a necessary
corollary to this, such business could only be done by
Spaniards and in Spanish ships. To do business with
96 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the River Plate, the direct permission of the King or
of the Indian Council was requisite. Of course, money
was all powerful in the days of old, as now ; and occa-
sionally a foreigner got special permission to trade.
Contraband trading was not unknown, and the chief
offenders were the Colonial Governors themselves,
whom we find repeatedly accused, on resigning office,
with this offence. The usual mode of trading between
Spain and her Colonies for the best part of three hundred
years was along the trade route just described.
Twice a year, a large fleet of galleons left the port
of Seville, guarded by a squadi'on of warships. Their
destination was to one of the three ports of Puerto
Bello, Cartagena and Vera Cruz, according as their
cargoes were for Peru and New Granada, Venezuela,
or Mexico. At each of these ports a fair was held
twice a year, which lasted forty days. The galleons,
after unloading their cargo, and loading the mineral
wealth and other exports of the Colonies, returned to
the mother country by way of Cuba. These were the
treasure ships, so much sought after by the pirates
and others in time of peace and by the warships in
time of war, on what was then called the Spanish main.
Porto or Puerto Bello, in New Granada, was the port
at which all the business with Peru and BoHvia (or,
as it was then called, Alto Peru) and the other de-
pendencies of the Viceroyalty of Peru was transacted.
The merchandise, consisting of yerba mate or Jesuit's
tea from Paraguay, cascarilla, Peruvian bark, and
indigo from Peru, hides, alpaca and| llama wool, skins
of wild animals, etc., from the Rio de la Plata, mineral
wealth of all kinds from Potosi and other mines, was
all carried on mule back from these several countries,
hundreds and thousands^^of miles to Arica, or Callao,
or Guayaquil, and there J embarked on the ships, which
took this miscellaneous cargo to the port of Panama.
There it was all unloaded and again transported on
mules across the Isthmus to Porto Bello. Here the
" flota " from Spain was already waiting, having
unloaded its cargo, which was collected in a big square
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 97
or plaza, and protected from the weather by the sails
of the ships. Then for forty days went on the great
business of buying and selling.
The commodore of the " flota " represented the
Spanish merchants, whilst the colonists were repre-
sented by the Governor of Panama. Prices were fixed
and all details arranged with the intervention of these
authorities. After the forty days were over, the
" flota " returned via Cuba, and the mules returned
to Panama with the European goods received in ex-
change. For the convenience of La Plata, Paraguay
and BoHvia, there was a fair held at Potosi in the latter
country, where the same process of barter was repeated.
Of course, this roundabout way of sending and receiving
goods, coupled with the fact that very frequently
the sailing of the " flota " had to be suspended or its
voyage was cut short and its cargo confiscated by the
British, Dutch or French warships, caused the price
of European articles in Buenos Aires to be twenty
times, and more, the value of the same goods in Europe.
Unfortunately, also, the authorities were not satisfied
with reasonable expenses and the heavy payments
levied on the ships and their cargoes combined to raise
the value of the latter. The very names of the different
*' impuestos," collected in one way or another is a
formidable list ; " Almojarifazgo " was a customs
duty of seven and a half or five per cent., " averia "
was from 6 to 14 per cent, of the cost of the navy which
accompanied the flota ; " tonelage " was a real and a
half per ton of the cargo ; " almirantazgo " was a small
charge on every article embarked, for the benefit of
the Admiral. The " quinto " was 20 per cent, of the
value of the gold and silver embarked. This went
to the King. " Alcabala " was 4 to 20 per cent, on
furniture, etc. Besides these were " diezmo,"
" primicia," " tributo," " media anata," " mesada,"
" avisos/' etc. So that the art of making money for
the government and its employees out of the hard
work of traders, etc., was not unknown during the
Colonial history of the country. Even intercolonial
98 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
commerce was not allowed till 1774, so that one Colony
could not sell to another.
Naturally, all these prohibitions and taxations
led to the same result as high customs duties do to-day,
namely smuggling, and, although heavy penalties,
even death itself, were imposed in case of detection,
still the silver key, then, as now, was all powerful.
The authorities allowed themselves to be bribed and
the central government itself not infrequently winked
at contraband, provided that the consideration oiTered
in the way of fine was big enough. We read of one
case of seven hundred thousand piastres ! At first
the contraband was in the hands of private individuals ;
but, as Spain was constantly at war with Britain,
Holland or France, contraband with the Spanish
Colonies became a national means of warfare and
retaHation, of which the Colonies were not too patriotic
to reap the advantage. As there was usually a man-
of-war handy to protect the smuggling vessels, they at
length began to carry on their trading with impunity
to the great disaster of the Spanish treasury. At
length, Spain learned wisdom and the Seville and
Cadiz monopoHes were put an end to. In 1778 a law
was promulgated by Carlos III, estabhshing free com-
merce with all Spanish ports and the Colonies. This,
however, did not open the doors to commerce with
other nations and it was not till 1809 that Cisneros,
the last of the Viceroys, opened the port of Buenos
Aires to the ships of all nations.
During the Colonial period, the Governors of Buenos
Aires hved in a state of constant fear of the British
buccaneers, who were ever disputing with Spain for
the dominion of the seas.
We are accustomed to regard the old sea-dogs
of the EKzabethan period of English history as heroes
of the first rank. Very few British hearts that have
not thrilled when reading the stories of Drake and
Frobisher, Cavendish and Raleigh and others to whom
" the deck, it was their field of fame '' and not infre-
quently " the ocean was their grave." As the scene
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 99
of their exploits had not then been recognized as the
special property of Great Britain, but was referred to
as the " Spanish main " and, as the object of almost
all their enterprises was to weaken the power of the
proud nation which claimed to possess one half of the
world by divine authority, it is not to be wondered
at that Spanish historians describe the men whom we
endow with all masculine virtues and abihty as pirates
and buccaneers. We find, on reading the histories
of the different Spanish colonies, that the " mariners
of England " were a constant source of dread to the
authorities and, although Buenos Aires suffered less
from the British corsairs than any of her sister cities
in South America, we see its Governors frequently
scanning the horizon, dreading to behold the cross
of Saint George floating from the masthead of some
approaching vessel. The city of Buenos Aires had
not been definitely founded for three years before its
inhabitants were thrown into consternation by the
hated Enghsh ships. Previously to this, Argentina
was visited by Admiral Drake in his celebrated voyage
round the world. Drake m,ade no stay in the River
Plate, which he reached in April, 1578, but, proceeding
southwards, called at Port Saint JuHan and Cape
Virgin. There was nothing in Argentina to attract
his attention, but when he rounded the Cape he changed
the name of his flagship, the " Pehcan," to the " Golden
Hind," and Valparaiso, Arica and Callao were in turn
sacked by him. Eight of his crew were left behind
at Cape Virgin and travelled all the way to the River
Plate only to be killed by the Indians, with the exception
of one man called Peter Garden, who managed to escape
and ultimately return to his native land in 1580, the
year in which Garay founded, for the second time,
the city of Buenos Aires.
Three years afterguards Edward Fenton or, as
the Spanish historians call him, Eduardo Fontana,
arrived with three ships in the River Plate. One of
the ships was in command of Luke Ward, and another
in that of a youth called John Drake, who is repre-
100 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
sented as having been a nephew of Sir Francis Drake.
This was not the case, but the terror of the renowned
Admiral extended to all of the same surname. The
small fleet of Fenton entered the River Plate and
landed on Martin Garcia. The ships made no attack
on Buenos Aires but went further South. Argentine
histories represent the fact that Fenton did not attack
the city as a glory for the " Porterios," and even Mariano
Moreno refers to the event in the following words : " The
defeat of the Enghsh corsair Eduardo Fontana is a
proof of the loyalty and energy of Buenos Aires, which
was then in the first year of its existence." This
bloodless victory (!) was however not the end of Fenton's
expedition, as his ships were wrecked on the coasts of
Patagonia, and young Drake and two or three other
sailors were captured by the Indians and taken to
Buenos Aires, whence they were sent to Lima to be
dealt with by the Spanish Inquisition. There is httle
doubt that they were burned at the stake. In 1586,
the renowned Sir Thomas Cavendish appeared in the
River Plate with three vessels which so alarmed the
residents of Buenos Aires that all who could left the
city. Cavendish made no attack upon the city, no
doubt thinking it too small to contain anything worth
delaying for. He made the usual round of South
America sacking and burning every place he visited
and returned home by way of the Pacific. A second
expedition by Cavendish, a few years later, visited Port
Desire (Puerto Deseado), but made no other stay in
the country. Some of his ships mutinied and Cavendish
himself died on his journey home. One of the ships
which deserted him was under the command of Captain
John Davis, who on the 12th of August, 1592, dis-
covered the Falkland Islands. Davis remained on
the coast of Patagonia for two years, where he dis-
covered the river Santa Cruz. He ultimately returned
to England with a crew of only 15 men as survivors of
the 76 with which he had left that country. These
had wonderful stories to tell of their sufferings in
Patagonia, whose inhabitants they described as giants.
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 101
There was little to attract the corsairs in Patagonia,
and though many expeditions passed the Straits of
Magellan on their way to the west coast they did no
harm to Buenos Aires or its inhabitants.
The episodes just described took place while Buenos
Aires was still under the Government of Asuncion ;
but in 1669, during the Colonial period, we read of the
visit of Sir John Marbrough, who was despatched by
the British Government to open up friendly relations
with Chile. Amongst his officers was the celebrated
Cloudesley Shovel. Marbrough landed at Port Desire,
where he hoisted the British flag and formally took
possession of the country. He stayed some time in
Patagonia and then proceeded to Chile where some
of his officers were treacherously arrested by the Spanish
Governor.
In 1765, Captain Macnamara made an unsuccessful
attack on Colonia, in the Banda Oriental, the possession
of which was at that time disputed by the Spaniards
and the Portuguese. Unfortunately Macnamara's ship,
the " Lord Chve," took fire and most of the crew
perished, Macnamara himself being drowned. The
survivors were taken into the interior where they
settled and formed families whose descendants are not
unknown in Argentine history. Macnamara's sword
was found in the river by a Colonia fisherman many
years afterwards. Port Desire and Port JuHan were
practically treated during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries and even later as practically British posses-
sions, and were used as ports of call by the munerous
expeditions of all kinds, lawful and unla)\^ul, which
proceeded to the west coast.
As Mr. Herbert Gibson remarked in a lecture on
" Colonial South America," delivered some years ago,
" when the history of the periods we have mentioned
comes to be written the record of the Enghsh will not
be one redolent of the odour of sanctity, as, after the
heroic age had become one of commerce and the hero
travellers had given place to a more mercenary genera-
tion, the English are to be foimd prominent in the
102 THE AEGENTINE EEPUBLIC
slave trade." In recognition of the generous treatment
by England of Spain in the Treaty of Utrecht, England
obtained the right of supplying Spanish America with
negro slaves. This traffic received the name of the
" asiento " ; and for some time the Government sold
the right of " asiento " to a company called the South
Seas Company, which quickly concluded arrangements
with the Governor of Buenos Aires by which a very
considerable amount of contraband business was carried
on at the same time as the slave trade.
A special deposit for slaves was estabhshed in the
space now bounded by Calles Arenales, Suipacha,
Plaza del Retiro and Paseo de Julio. From this deposit
the negroes were extracted in lots by their purchaser
who took them ofi in gangs to the interior. A tax
was levied on the slave traders of 112 pesos per ton.
Ten negroes of an average height of 5 feet 3 inches
(exclusive of defective specimens) were reckoned as
a ton. The negroes were referred to as " piezas,"
and it is not at all unlikely that the expression " una
linda pieza," appHed even now colloquially to human
beings in Buenos Aires, is a relic of those bad old days.
From a historical point of view it is not very long
since this infamous traffic ceased. A house in the
neighbourhood of Lanus has been pointed out to the
writer as having been used as a depot, and the arrange-
ments for confining and chaining up the gangs of
slaves were quite distinct. According to Mr. Gibson,
General Las Heras, whose remains were brought back
in triumph to Buenos Aires not very long ago, accom-
panied the last slave team over the Andes. It is an
honour to Argentina that, although the practical
cessation of the slave trade was not an immediate
result of the Great Revolution of 1810, the leaders
of that emancipatory movement placed that humani-
tarian project as one of the prominent objects of their
endeavours, thereby showing a marked advance on
the actions of their forefathers who, from the time of
Irak, had regarded the negroes and Indians as slaves
and beasts of burden.
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 103
It is quite unnecessary in such a historical outhne
as the present to give details of the successive Governors
who exercised the supreme power in Buenos Aires
during the Colonial period. There are, however, two
or three events which are of interest. Such are the
foundation and extinction of the Jesuit Missions in
the Argentine territory of Misiones and the long struggle
between Spam and Portugal for the possession of the
Banda Oriental or Eastern bank of the River Plate, a
struggle which was the cause of serious questions
between the two nations and which even now has not
ceased to exist, although, so far, of late years, the
field of action has been diplomacy and not an open
resort to arms. Still, in order to understand the
diplomatic rivalry between Brazil and Argentina for
the supreme influence ia Uruguayan affairs, it is neces-
sary to go back to Colonial times and learn of the
struggle for the possession of the Colonia del Sacra-
mento.
It is not necessary to be a Roman Cathohc to
appreciate the value df the self-denying labours of the
Jesuits in Argentina and Paraguay. The immensity
of those labours is proved by the fact that a whole
territory still retains the name " Misiones,'' from the
colonies and missions estabhshed there by the Order of
Jesus. Doubtless, at some future date, the iconoclastic
spirit will blot out this evidence of the past and sub-
stitute therefor the name of some general or pohtician ;
but, at the present, the most northerly territory of the
country bears the name consecrated by the blood
and the sweat of the good Fathers, who cut them-
selves off from all the advantages of civihzation to
instruct the '* poor Indian with untutored mind,"
whom his Spanish conquerors regarded as specially
created to serve them in every possible way in
which human slaves and animal beasts of burden
could contribute to the pleasure or necessities of a
superior race. At a very early period, under the
tender mercies of Irala, the Indians, under the name
of encomiendas, began to be divided amongst the
104 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Spanish settlers and used by them as they thought
proper. They were worse treated than slaves, for
slaves cost money, whereas Indians only required to
be hunted down. The fourth Adelantado, Vera y
Aragon, saw the cruelty of the system but was power-
less to stay it. He, however, sought to mitigate it by
allowing the Franciscans and Jesuits to establish
missions amongst the tribes, and, in 1586, San Fran-
cisco Solano headed a number of Franciscan mis-
sionaries to Tucuman and three Jesuit priests, Juan
Solonio (or Labonio), a Spaniard, Manuel Ortega, a
Portuguese, and Thomas Fields (or Filds), a Scotsman,
arrived after various adventures in Paraguay. These
Jesuit Fathers at once went amongst the Indians
and so gained their esteem by their self-denying exer-
tions that they built a chapel and house for the mission
at Villa Rica. A few years later we find the Jesuits
established in Asuncion with a college and other insti-
tutions under the control of Father Fields, who, with
his companions named, was said to have been instru-
mental in converting to Christianity two hundred
thousand Indians. When Hernandarias de Saavedra
was in power, before the separation of Paraguay and
Argentina, he authorised the Jesuits to establish
definite missions and gave them the territory of Guayra,
as a special province in which to establish their dominion.
A special concession was made, and afterwards con-
firmed by Royal Cedula, that no one should be allowed
to touch or take any Guarani Indians who belonged
to a mission estabhshed by the Jesuits. In this way
all Indians registered as under the rule of the order
were completely free from the danger of being treated
as slaves or encomiendas so long as they lived and
worked in the territory of the mission.
The first regular missionary colony estabhshed
under these conditions was that of Loreto, in 1610,
the heads of the Jesuits being Fathers Mazzela and
Cattaldino. At first the Jesuits hmited their missions
to La Guayra but, being molested by the inhabitants
of San Pablo in Brazil, they removed further South
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 105
to the present site of Misiones and on the banks of
the rivers Parana and Uruguay founded the missionary
colonies of Corpus, San Ignacio (see illustration No. 21),
Mini, and others. Each mission had as essential
elements a college and a rural district, the practice of
agriculture being the basis of the system. Around a
central plaza or square in each settlement, were built
the church, the college and the residences of the Fathers.
Leading off from this square were long streets of houses,
all perfectly clean and white-washed, each with its
appropriate fowlyard and domestic buildings. Outside
the lirnits of the " town," the surrounding land was
divided into chacras or farms, which the Indian settlers
were obhged to cultivate. The priests made the work
of cultivation as much a pleasure as a toil, as frequent
hohdays marked every stage of the agricultural labour.
The Jesuits used the native language of the Indians,
Guarani, in all the business of the mission. The
prayers, hynms, catechisms, and stories of the Saints
were all translated into that language and the Indians
heard the story of the Gospel in the tongue wherein
they were born. Father Antonio Luis Montoya very
early wrote a grammar of the language, which is still
considered a marvel of erudition.
The Indians were taught all kinds of useful trades
such as carpentering, tanning, weaving, etc., so that
the mission became a very independent institution
and needed very little assistance from outside. Even
music was not neglected ; the viohn, the flute and
other instruments were taught ; but the hne was
drawn at the guitar which, strange to say, was not
allowed. Each mission was under the control of four
Fathers with well defined duties. The Rector was the
supreme head of the individual mission ; the Doc-
trinero was the priest and schoolmaster, teaching, as
well as the usual school course, the mechanical and
other arts taught in the colony. The " dispensero "
or " economico " looked after the food and clothing
as well as the collection of the cloth woven by the
women of the colony. Of this he kept what was
106 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
necessary and sent the rest to the Missionary Capital
Candelaria (now Posadas) to be sold for the benefit
of the entire mission. A fourth official, the Coadjutor,
was an interpreter and go-between in the relations
of the colony and was generally a young priest with a
special aptitude for learning languages. All the various
missionary colonies were under the control of a Father
Superior who hved at Candelaria. The Indians them-
selves were appointed to the internal or municipal
offices of each colony, such as those of alcalde and
regidor, and, although their authority was probably
more theoretical than real, the possession of these
ofiices was eagerly sought after. The Jesuits were the
first to introduce the art of printing into South America.
The types were of wood and made by the Indians and
the examples still remaining of their work are of a
very fine order of merit. The Fathers did not neglect
the defence of the colony against the " gauchos malos "
and others who tried from time to time to attack the
missions. The Indians were well drilled and taught
the use of arms, and on more than one occasion were
victorious in a set battle.
The cultivation of the soil was, however, the chief
object of the missions, " Yerba mate," or, as it is
called in Europe, Jesuits' tea, cotton, tobacco, timber
and many similar industries were a source of great
wealth to the colony, and as the latter grew richer,
the comforts of its members increased. Hospitals for
the sick, convalescent homes for women, even
" creches," or nurseries for the children, were estab-
lished and everything was of the best character and
absolutely clean. The clothing of the Indian was
white and the head was protected by a straw hat
with broad brim. Naturally, the real government
was in the hands of the Jesuit Fathers ; but the lot
of a dweller in the mission was vastly superior to that
of an Indian left to the tender mercies of the Spanish
Colonists.
Such was the Arcadia estabfished and maintained
for nearly two hundred years and of which the only
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 107
remains to-day are the ruins of churches in the territory
of Misiones and an old printing press preserved in the
historical Museum of Buenos Aires.
The causes which led to the expulsion of the Jesuits
and the consequent destruction of their work, belong
rather to European History than to that of America.
About the middle of the eighteenth century there was
an anti-Jesuit epidemic which spread over Portugal,
France, Spain and even Italy, and was not extinguished
until the Pope Clement XIV in July, 1773, declared
the Order at an end by a Bull Dominus et Redemptor
noster. Prior to this all members of the Order had
been expelled from Spain and the King, Charles III,
had determined to rid all his dominions of the presence
of the hated Order. It must not, of course, be supposed
that the Jesuits had limited their attention in the Rio
de la Plata to the colonies in Misiones.
In Buenos Aires, the Jesuits had a fine collection
of buildings in the square bounded by Bolivar, Alsina,
Peru and Moreno with the church and college of San
Ignacio. Here were 36 priests. They had also a
smaller college outside the city, called Belen. Amongst
the priests in San Ignacio, was one Leopold Gartner,
who is described as a native of Ireland. In C6rdoba,
the Jesuits were very powerful and the Colegio Mdximo
in that city was regarded as the head of the government
of the Order. Amongst the priests attached to this
college were two Englishmen, one Thomas Falconer,
a native of Manchester, and another, Thomas Bruno or
Brown, a native of York. From the small beginnings
which we have already described, the Jesuits had
increased in number and importance until they had
become the most widely extended and most influential
of the religious Orders in the country. They had
friends and protectors in the Court and in the judicial
bodies, to such an extent that they were practically
all powerful. They had insinuated themselves amongst
the wealthy people and even amongst the common
people, until they had aroused the almost hatred on the
part of the other religious Orders, whom they treated
Q
108 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
with undisguised contempt. Amongst no section of
the community was the news of their expulsion more
welcome than amongst the Franciscans, Dominicans
and other Orders, which had had to take a very back
seat indeed in the colony. We need no further evidence
of this than the letters sent to the King of Spain by
the Bishops of Buenos Aires and Tucuman.
According to the Bishop of Buenos Aires, the yoke
of the Jesuits had been insupportable. He says, "on
all sides I hear but one opinion, and that is that every
one feels as if a great load had been rolled away.''
The Jesuits had held every one, from the Senora to
the lowest of her slaves, in such a state of subjection
by means of the confessional that the condition of
even the best families had become one of abject slavery
to the Fathers of the Order. They would not allow their
flock to confess to any priest who was not one of them-
selves. They had described the Fathers of the Fran-
ciscans as fiojosos (lousy), the Dominicans as necios
(fools) and those of the convent of La Merced were
beneath contempt. If a Jesuit Father had gone into
the confessional box of another Order, he had pre-
tended to clean it out first, as if even the dust of another
priest were contamination. Naturally, the Jesuits
were not popular with the other priests when they
treated them in this maimer. The Bishop of Tucuman
wrote to the King after the expulsion thanking him
heartily for the great favour which he had conferred
upon the whole of his dominions by freeing them from
the insupportable weight of the power of the Jesuits.
The Bishop of Buenos Aires was very much offended,
and rightly so, because in the books of the churches
which he had visited in his pastoral capacity and in
which he had noted his recommendations to the clergy,
the Jesuits had inserted marginal notes, all of the
most uncomplimentary character, both with respect
to the Bishop's recommendations and to the Bishop
himself. The Bishop had a hst of these irreverent
notes extracted by a notary, which hst he sent to
Count Aranda. But besides these personal questions
No. it. Ob.serv.\tory, La Plata.
i.-r^'t-*''-
.\<i In. .Mi;ti;()U(ii,<)(;i( Ai, Station. South Ohknky Lslanus.
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 111
between the Jesuits and the other Orders, there is no
doubt that they had interfered in the government of
the country, and that the negotiations between Spain
and Portugal, relating to the question of Colonia,
had been made ineffectual by reason of the machinations
of the Fathers. The governor Zeballos was a great
protector of the Order and therefore, for the purpose
of carrying out the expulsion, Don Francisco Bucar-
relli y Ursua was sent from Spain. There was no
hesitation on his part in carrying out the decree of
expulsion in the most thorough manner. Anyone who
wishes to read the full details of the expulsion can do
so in the volume pubhshed in 1872 in Madrid, by Don
Francisco Ja\aer Brabo, who lived for more than
thirty years in Argentina and made a copious collection
of documents relating to the events I am describing.
This volume, which 1 have before me at the present
time, contains the various reports sent from time to
time by Bucarrelh to the Spanish minister Aranda.
The expulsion of the Jesuits in Buenos Aires took
place in July, 1767. It was carried out by Bucarrelli
in person. In Montevideo, Cordoba, Santa Fe, and
Corrientes the expulsion was carried out in the same
month, so that, by the end of September, Bucarrelli
was able to inform Aranda that he had arrested 271
Jesuits, and that he was remitting them to Spain in
the gmiboat " Venus " and in smaller vessels, the " San
Esteban," the " Pajaro," the " Principe," the " San
Fernando," and " Nuestra Seiiora de los Remedios."
Later, Bucarrelh took troops with him and completed
the task entrusted to him during the following year.
All was not so easy for him in the provinces and Misiones
as it had been in Buenos Aires, as the Jesuits had
many and powerful protectors, who threw all kinds
of obstacles in the way of the seizure of the property
of the Order.
The Indians were persuaded that all was being done
out of the goodness of the King's nature to free them
from the servitude in which they had been held by
the Jesuits ; and the poor untutored savages believed
112 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
it, to such an extent that the caciques and corregidores
of the thirty-three Jesuit colonies drew up and signed
in their own language an effusive letter of thanks to
the King for his kindness. The poor wretches only
too soon found out their mistake. It is amusing to
see with what care the priests were sent to Spain and
what a collection of documents was necessary to record
their transmission.
The other important series of events which occurred
during the Colonial epoch centred round the little
colony of El Sacramento, on the Eastern bank of the
River Plate, almost opposite to Buenos Aires and now
known as La Colonia. In a previous chapter mention
has been made of the Bull of Pope Alexander VI
dividing the world between Spain and Portugal. The
Portuguese colonisation of Brazil was a result of this
division. In the year 1680 the House of Braganza,
having, by the aid of Great Britain, become firmly
seated on the throne of Portugal, determined to extend
the territory of Brazil so as to include the eastern
haK, or Banda Oriental, of the estuary of the River
Plate. Accordingly, the reigning King of Portugal,
Pedro II, ordered the Governor of Rio de Janeiro,
Don Manuel de Lobo, to occupy the island of San
Gabriel and the adjoining coast already indicated by
British sailors as a strategic position of importance
in protecting the much desired contraband business
with the Spanish colonies.
Lobo at once carried out the orders of the King
nor would he desist in spite of the repeated warnings
of the Governor of Buenos Aires, Don Jose de Garro,
who claimed the whole of the Banda Oriental as belong-
ing to Spain. As warnings had no effect and there
were no cables in those days, Garro got together an
army of 110 Porterios, 60 Santafecinos, 50 Cordobeses
and 3,000 Indians from the Jesuit Missions and attacked
the fortress of Colonia del Sacramento with such good
results that Lobo was taken prisoner with all his troops
and ammunition, and brought in triumph by the Maese
de Campo, Don Antonio de Vera Mojica, to Buenos
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 113
Aires. Lobo was sent as a prisoner to Lima, the
capital of the Viceroyalty, where he shortly afterwards
died. The question of the ownership of the River
Plate was being diplomatically discussed between the
Spanish and Portuguese Governments, when the news
of Governor Garro's cowp de tnain arrived. The Portu-
guese King professed extreme indignation and demanded
the immediate restoration of the Colony, the rebuilding
of the fortress and the punishment of Garro for ven-
turing to attack the fortress on his own account. So
fiery was the indignation of Portugal and, what was
more important, so strong were her alhances, that
Spain had to knuckle down and sign the treaty of
Badajoz (1681), giving in to Portugal to the fullest
extent. The Governor Garro was transferred to Chile
to satisfy the exigencies of the Lusitanians. By the
treaty it was, however, decided that the main question
of the real boundary between Spain and Portugal in
the Plate district should be determined by arbitration.
But possession is nine parts of the law and Portugal
did not trouble any more about arbitration, simply
sticking to the fortress when restored according to
the treaty. In 1700, the war of the Spanish succession
broke out, and, as Portugal sided with the enemies
of Spain, Colonia was regarded as a hostile fort and
might have become very useful to the alhes in case
of any attack on Buenos Aires. Seeing this, the
Viceroy of Peru, Count of Monteloa, ordered the
Governor of Buenos Aires, Valdez Inclan, not to wait
till the fort should be made use of by the alhes, but
to cross over and destroy it at once. Accordingly, on
October 17th, 1704, Captain Garcia Ros with 1,600
criollos and 4,000 Indians besieged the fortress. The
siege lasted as long as that of Tyre under Alexander
the Great, namely, six months, at the end of which
time the Portuguese abandoned the fortress with all
their arms and ammunition.
The war in Europe was put to an end by the Treaty
of Utrecht and by the aid of British influence La
Colonia was again returned to Portugal. The Portu-
114 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
guese again in possession of the fortress used it as a
centre for smuggling and, acting under the old principle,
" much would have more/' determined to build another
fortress where Montevideo now stands. With this
object, in 1720, they landed arms and men and expressed
their intention of occupying the sites now known as
Montevideo and Maldonado. But the Governor of
Buenos Aires was " vivo " and he determined to fore-
stall the Portuguese. He sent for troops to Tucuman
and Paraguay and kept the Portuguese so confined
in their movements that in the end they went away
to La Colonia and left Zavala master of the situation.
He determined to found a city himself and asked a
certain Senor Alzaybar to bring over some colonists
from the Canary Islands and Spain. These delayed
their arrival so long that Zavala sent over six famihes,
numbering 33 persons, from Buenos Aires, and with
these began the history of the city of Montevideo in
1726.
As frequently happened in history and even happens
in our own time, a man's foresight is not appreciated
as it deserves and the only reward Zavala obtained
from a grateful government was dismissal from his
governorship. He was succeeded by Salcedo, who soon
found that Zavala was right and that, with Colonia
in possession of the Portuguese, smuggling was inevit-
able. He so impressed the Home Government that,
in the end, he received orders to attack and take the
fortress. This, however, he failed to do. The Portu-
guese had made it impregnable against any likely
attacks from Buenos Aires. In 1750, the Spanish and
Portuguese statesmen arranged a secret treaty of
exchange, whereby the Colonia del Sacramento was
to be handed over to Spain in exchange for certain
other territory in Rio Grande and Misiones ; but the
opposition in the Rio de la Plata to the carrying out
of this treaty was so great that the Governor for the
time being, Zeballos, suspended the execution of its
provisions as far as possible, although the Portuguese
gtuck to all they could get hold of. The secret treaty
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 115
was annulled, but a new war broke out known to
history as the " Seven Years' War " (1756-1763) and
Zeballos lost no time in attacking and this time taking
La Colonia from the Portuguese.
It was during the occupation of Zeballos of La
Colonia that the English Admiral Macnamara tried
to retake the fortress, when his vessel took fire and
he and his crew perished. The English attached great
importance to the possession of La Colonia and declared
that its occupation by Zeballos was a distinct violation
of the Treaty of Utrecht. ^Vhen, therefore, terms of
peace were made at the close of the " Seven Years'
War " by the Treaty of Paris, La Colonia was again
ordered to be returned to Portugal (1763). Another
attack was made on the fortress in 1777 by the same
Zeballos, who again took possession of it after a siege
of five days. He had barely accomplished this when
he was told to suspend operations as the Treaty of
San Ildefonso had been signed providing for a boundary
settlement to be carried out. By virtue of this, La
Colonia and the whole of the Banda Oriental was
definitely declared to be Spanish territory and the
inhabitants of Colonia have since that time been able
to rest in peace, except during one short interval
which belongs to a later period of history.
There is one other incident of the Colonial period,
which, as it affected Great Britain, must be mentioned.
About the year 1770 a colony of EngUsh settlers was
estabhshed at Port Egmont in the Falkland Islands.
These islands though discovered by Davis in 1592,
were first colonised by a French colonel named Bougain-
ville who gave them the name of Malosines from the
French port of Saint Malo— hence the Spanish name
Malvinas. The French, however, sold the islands to
the Spaniards and abandoned them. The British
finding them abandoned colonised them, and when
Bucarrelli, the governor of Buenos Aires, heard that
the English colony was established at Port Egmont
he at once advised the Spanish Government and, without
waiting for instructions, sent a naval commander named
116 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Madariaga to turn the settlers out. The British Govern-
ment protested to the Spanish Government and as a
result of the negotiations the settlers were reinstated
in their rights, the British flag re-hoisted, and an
apology offered to the British Government for the acts
of Bucarrelli, who for having exhibited tro^p de zele
was withdrawn from the government of Buenos Aires.
The Spanish declared that this act of restitution was
without prejudice to their claim to the islands, which
was the subject of negotiations and, it is said, a secret
treaty. The islands were afterwards abandoned by
the settlers ; but a formal declaration of British posses-
sion was left on the island on a leaden plate.
The islands were left abandoned till about the year
1829 when the Argentine authorities, who then claimed
the islands as the heirs of Spain, considering them an
integral part of the Spanish territory in South America,
although they are not on the continental shelf, gave
certain fishing rights to one Luis Vernet, who, in exercise
of these rights, arrested some American ships which were
found fishing within the hmits of his concession. This
action caused an exchange of correspondence between
the Argentine and United States Governments and an
attack by an American gunboat upon the Argentine
settlers in Port Soledad.
Whilst this supposed violation of Argentine rights
was being diplomatically arranged, the Argentines sent
the gunboat "Sarandi" to guard the islands. Then
followed the appearance of the British man-of-war the
" Cho,'' whose commander, Mr. Onslow, took possession
of the islands by virtue of the former British possession
and declaration of ownership. The Argentine Govern-
ment protested against this action, but Lord Palmerston
rephed that the islands belonged to Great Britain and that
the abandonment in 1774 had not invahdated British
rights which had been specially preserved, as before de-
scribed. Since that date, the Argentines have always
claimed the islands as Argentine territory and in all maps
of the country these islands figure as part of the national
possessions. The British Government considers the
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 117
matter closed and refuses to reopen it ; but Argentina
maintains that the possession by Great Britain of
these islands is unlawful and is careful to do nothing
which would even apparently recognise the rights of
the present possessors. Some time ago, it was proposed
to run a line of Argentine ships which should call at
the Falklands ; but the Government refused to sanction
this, lest that act should be construed as waiving
Argentine rights and recently, when a Hst of British
colonies, which included the Falklands, was forwarded
to the Argentine Government, with reference to the
ratification of the Postal Convention of Rome, the
Argentine Foreign Minister sent a formal protest
claiming that the Malvinas were de soberania Argentina.
A question was asked as to this in the British Parlia-
ment and the reply was given in accordance with what
the British Government holds to be the rights of the
matter. This is, in short, the position of the Falkland
Islands question, and explains why these islands appear
in all Argentine maps and geographies as Argentine
territory " unlawfully retained by Great Britain."
CHAPTER VI
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS (1776-1810)
Establishment and Jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty — The
Viceroys — Reforms of Vertiz — The Consulado and Manuel
Belgrano — The First Newspapers — The First and Second
British Invasions — Treatment of Liniers — Preparations for the
Revolution— The 25th of May, 1810.
The gradually increasing importance of Buenos Aires
and the necessity of separating it from the distant
authority of Peru compelled the Spanish Government
to take the important step of raising it into a Vice-
royalty and, by a royal decree, in 1776, King Charles
III sent Don Pedro de Zeballos, a former Governor,
back to the Plate as first Viceroy of the Rio de la
Plata. The extent of the territory under his rule
included the whole of the present Argentine Republic,
most of what is now Bolivia, then called Alto Peru,
the whole of Paraguay, and the Banda Oriental. Thus
the three old provinces of Cuyo, Tucuman and the Rio
de la Plata became merged into the larger Viceroyalty
and the latter extended over more than a fourth of
the South American Continent. The Viceroy was not
by any means an absolute ruler. Not only was he
subject to the home authorities, but he had to con-
sult and act in accordance with the decisions of
two Juntas, that of War and that of Finance. The
latter fixed the annual expenditure of the Viceroyalty :
and the Viceroy could not outstep the limits of such
expenditure assigned to him. He was President of
the Judicial Court but had only a casting vote. All
his decrees were subject to appeal either to the Judges
of the " Audiencia " or to the Indian Council. Muni-
pipal affairs were managed by Cabildos.
118
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 119
The territory of the Viceroyalty was divided into
Intendencias, of which these of Cordoba, Salta and
Buenos Aires corresponded to the limits of the Argentine
Republic as we have it to-day. From these three
Intendencias, the Provinces, as they are now called,
have been gradually formed, as shown in Chapter III.
Over each Intendencia was a subordinate ofi&cer called
an Intendente. The first Viceroy appointed to the
new Viceroyalty created by Charles III in 1776 was
Don Pedro de Zeballos, the same person who had
been removed from the governorship of the old Province
of the Rio de la Plata, in order to give BucarreUi a
free hand with the expulsion of the Jesuits. One of
the first acts of the new Viceroy was to open the port
of Buenos Aires to all ships and cargoes proceeding
from Spanish ports. This radical change in the policy
hitherto followed with respect to the port was, in
the first instance, intended to let in a large quantity
of goods stored up in the town of La Colonia, which
had now become definitely Spanish property. The
decree of the Viceroy was approved by Charles III
and the real existence of Buenos Aires as a port may
be said to date from the year 1778, when the royal
Cedula was signed. Zeballos was a strong man and
would doubtless have still further extended the influ-
ence of the port, but he fell foul of his Portuguese
neighbours on the Brazilian frontier, whom he compelled
to keep within their own bounds, and the Portuguese
Government requested the King of Spain to recall him.
Charles III was weak enough to accede to this request.
Zeballos was, however, succeeded by another strong
and enterprising Viceroy, Don Juan Jose de Vertiz,
who was a former governor of the Province of the
Rio de la Plata. Vertiz, as soon as he seized the reins
of Government, determined to apply the goods con-
fiscated from the Jesuits in founding institutions of
education and charity. During his former residence
as Governor in the city, he had endeavoured to estabhsh
a secondary college so as to provide the necessary
instruction for the youth of the country to enable
120 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
them to pass to the still higher studies of a university,
which he also intended to estabhsh.
On his return to Buenos Aires with the increased
authority of a Viceroy, he at once took up the threads
of his former plans and, without delay, established the
College of San Carlos in the building which of recent
years has served for the Colegio Nacional, in Calle
Bolivar. The results of the action of Vertiz were at
once apparent. Many of the pioneers of Argentine
freedom received their education in the College of San
Carlos and, as the historian Lopez says, " Our country
has never had a generation more united, more instructed
and more steadfast and strong than the first generation
formed in that college. The men of that generation
were distinguished by one characteristic feature, that
of personal honour, which gave to all of them the
physiognomy of a grand and noble family of patriots."
The official name of the college was El Real Convictorio
Carolino. Its course of instruction was based upon a
profound classical education.
Whatever may be said of the study of the dead
languages or of the relative advantages of a classical
and a modern course, there is no doubt whatever
that in Argentina as in England, many great men
owed their ideas of patriotism, their nobility of thought
and their eloquence of language to having drunk deeply
of the Pierian spring of classical learning. When we
think of the really great men who rocked the cradle of
Argentma, when it emerged as a free nation, and com-
pare them with the rising generation to-day, we ask in
amazement, " Where is the Pyrrhic phalanx gone ? "
and we cannot but ascribe the degeneration to the
difference between the thorough classical training
which the Proceres de la Patria received and the " bit
of everything " which has been the ideal of the edu-
cational programmes of the last decade.
The first Rector of the Colegio de San Carlos was
Canon Juan B. Maciel, one of the most learned men
of his time. Vertiz was not neglectful of the amuse-
ments of the people and he ostabhshed a theatre or
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 121
" Casa de Comedias " on the site then known as the
" Rancheria " of the Jesuits (really the place where the
slaves were confined) and now occupied by the Central
Market. Above the stage he placed the inscription
" Ridendo corrigo mores." Although the Bishop
opposed him in his designs for correcting morals by
the theatre, the Viceroy kept him at arm's length and
did his best to obtain good companies to amuse the
public. Unfortunately, the explosion of a powder
magazine, caused by a flash of lightning, produced a
panic in the city and, as some twenty persons were
killed, the priests took advantage of this to preach
from the pulpit that this accident was a judgment of
God for the act of the Viceroy in establishing the
theatre.
The Viceroy was a man of action and he had the
priests w^ho preached against him arrested and
marched off to cool their zeal in the distant provinces
of Rioja. The Bishop insulted the Viceroy m every
possible way in the Church, until the latter was obhged
to make use of his supreme authority to shut the
Bishop's mouth. Other reforms introduced by Vertiz
were the paving of the two central streets, now Florida-
Peru and San Martin-Bohvar, and the establishment
of pubhc hghting. He founded a tribunal of " Pro-
tomedicato," the origin of the existing Faculty of
Medicine. He planted the present Paseo de Julio
with trees and named it the Alameda. He re-organized
the Poor House and Orphan Asylum, established the
Casa de Expositos and organized the working of the
recently opened port. He sent the pilot Villarino to
study the territory of the Rio Negro and carry on
the investigations commenced many years before by
La Piedra and Viedma. In short, it would be difficult
to imagine a more worthy Viceroy than Juan Jose
Vertiz. He remained in office till 1783, when feeling
the need of rest, he begged the King to accept his
resignation, as soon as the formal enquiry into his
adniinistration (juicio de residencia) could be made.
The King acceded to his request and was so satisfied
122 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
with the manner in which he had discharged his duties
that he reheved him from the usual enquiiy and declared
him to be " above reproach/'
Vertiz was succeeded as Viceroy by Nicolas del
Campo, Marquis de Loreto, a man of a very upright
personal character, but unbending, haughty, narrow-
minded, supremely contemptuous of the American
colonists, and therefore unpopular. He was afraid
lest the doctrines which were spreading over Europe,
as the concomitants of the revolutionary movement
in France, should spread to the Spanish colonies and,
like many others, thought that ignorance of these ideas
should be secured by restrauiing the spread of educa-
tion. He therefore deliberately set himself to undo
all the work of his predecessors so far as educational
schemes were concerned. He was well educated him-
self— in fact he might have been called an erudite
man — but he considered that it was preferable for the
colonists to be steeped in ignorance rather than run
the risk of contamination by revolutionary views. He
was not the first to consider that the lower classes
should be kept in ignorance to secure the domination
of their " betters," and in this way to show ignorance
of the all prevailing nature of truth. He was in a
perpetual conflict with the Bishop over questions of
patronage, and the use of the regaha ; but what made
his tenure of the office specially unpopular was his
persecution of Dr. Maciel, the learned Canon who was
referred to in the last " Episode " as the first Rector
of the College of San Carlos.
The Viceroy, who was amioyed at Maciel's popularity
and at his defence of the ecclesiastical authorities,
sent him in exile to Montevideo, which had received
the unpopular and expressive name of the " Presidiario.''
Here Maciel died before the decision of the King, to
whom he appealed and who decided in his favour,
arrived. MacieFs relatives commenced an action against
the Viceroy, who was compelled to pay heavy damages.
This story, which is told in full in Dr. Arturo Reynal
O'Connor's " Las Poetas Argentinas," shows clearly
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 123
the character of the Marquis de Loreto, which was also
evidenced in other instances, as in the persecution of
Coronel D. Ignacio Flores, of Chuquisaca. Shortly
before his term ended, he sent a military expedition
to the Rio Negro against the Indians ; but this expedi-
tion, under the command of Dr. Juan de la Piedra,
was defeated (1789). The only other event of im-
portance which signahsed this Viceroyalty was the
installation in Buenos Aires of the Audiencia Pretorial
del Rio de la Plata as a High Court of Appeal for all
the territory as far North as Salta. This Court, with
the Viceroy as President, became the chief judicial
authority in all administrative and political matters
throughout the whole extent of the Viceregal juris-
diction. In 1789 the Marquis of Loreto was replaced
by Don Nicolas de Arredondo.
Airedondo was a man of honourable reputation
who, though he did nothing very remarkable, fulfilled
the duties of his position with abihty and success. He
contributed very greatly to breaking down the com-
mercial isolation which had been so notable a feature
of the administration of Buenos Aires as a colony ;
in fact, the viceroyalty of Arredondo is the beginning
of the rise of Buenos Aires as one of the leading ports
of the world. The elevation of Buenos Aires into the
capital of a Viceroyalty, and therefore politically equal
to Lima, had entirely fi'eed it from dependence on
Peru and the commerce of the interior of South America
began to find its way in an ever increasing current
through the port of the River Plate.
The British ships, which had a practical monopoly
of the slave trade, obtained the privilege of carrying
the produce of the country on their return voyages.
During the years 1792-93 fifty-three vessels arrived
in the port from Spain, and 47 returned laden with
produce. In 1794 more than a hundred vessels entered
the port from Cadiz, Barcelona and Corunna, and
there was a large trade in hides with Havannah. In
the same year, owing largely to the representations
of the Viceroy and to the petitions of the merchants
124 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
of the city, the King of Spain, by a royal Cedula
authorised the creation of a Consulate in Buenos Aires,
similar to the Consulates already existing in Lima and
Mexico. The estabhshment of the Buenos Aires Con-
sulate was the means of introducing into public life
a youth who wrote his name large in the pages of
Argentine History, Manuel Belgrano, who was born in
Buenos Aires on the 3rd of June, 1770, and received
his early education in the halls of the college of San
Carlos. He went to Spain to study law at Salamanca
and must have attracted the attention of the Govern-
ment as he was appointed, without solicitation on his
part, the first Secretary of the Consulate. He accepted
the office and held the post for many years, although
by no means sympathising with the views of the majority
of the men who formed the governing body. These
were Spanish merchants, who had no sympathy with
the native born Argentines.
It is interesting to read about the social conditions
prevailing in Buenos Aires at the beginning of last
century. There was no love lost, as the saying is,
between the Spanish merchants and their retinues
and the true sons of the soil. The latter were inde-
pendent in the extreme and essentially democratic in
their tendencies and thoughts. They despised titles
and social differences, and were so independent that
even the Viceroy could not get a criollo coachman
for love or money. One of the writers of the period
quoted by Mitre says : " There is such a degree of
estrangement and even aversion between the criollos,
or sons of Spaniards born in the country, and the Euro-
peans and Spanish Government that I have seen it
in evidence between father and son, and husband and
wife, when one was European and the other criollo"
The newly elected Consulate was in favour of
monopohes and anxious to keep all the shipping trade
of the country in the hands of the Spaniards, but it
was a powerful agent in improving internal conditions.
Amongst the improvements undertaken by the Consu-
late was the erection of a wharf, the opening up of
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 125
roads through the country, the introduction of all kinds
of machinery, the estabhshment of Hghthouses, etc.
By the advice of Belgrano, also prizes were offered
for industrial and agricultural improvements.
Two institutions were founded by the Consulate
through the earnest and untiring zeal of Belgrano,
namely, a drawing school and a school for the study of
nautical science. For three years these did good work ;
but one fine day an order was received from the Court
of Spain to close them at once as being " mere luxuries."
This scandalous act of the mother country is a striking
example of the maimer in which Spain at that time
understood the question of colonial government. Can
it be wondered at that there was so httle sympathy
between the Criollos and those whom they contemp-
tuously began to call the Godos ?
In 1795 the able Viceroy Arredondo gave up the
office, which degenerated into the hands of a man
whom Argentine historians call the " imbecile " Melo
de Portugal. Melo was a man about whose personal
character all Ai"gentine historians are in agreement.
AVhen he came to Buenos Aires he was already worn
out, not merely by age, but by the vicious fife which he
had led. He had a census taken of the inhabitants of
his Viceroyalty which showed that in the territory of
Buenos Aires there were 107,832 inhabitants, and in
that of Paraguay 97,480. At this time there was
resident in the country, Don Felix de Azara, a noted
naturalist, whose writings are consulted with interest
even at the present date. Melo requested him to
undertake a journey of exploration in the district of
the Rio Negro, a report of which he published in Paris
in 1809. On the death of Melo, he was succeeded
for two years by Don Antonio Olaguier Fehu, the
governor of Montevideo, who in 1799 had to give up
the post to the Marques de Aviles, who devoted him-
self for a couple of years to the improvement of the
capital, the organization of a pohce service and the
paving of the streets. On June 1st, 1801, Aviles was
made Viceroy of Peru, and Don Joaquin del Pino
H
126 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
became Viceroy of Buenos Aires. His most notable
acts were the establishment of a chair of Anatomy
and a School of Chemistry and Medicine. The first
professor of Anatomy was Don Antonio Fabre. In
consequence, doubtless, of the want of printing facilities,
the city had so far been deprived of anything in the
nature of newspapers, but the printing press, which
Vertiz had caused to be brought from Cordoba and
set up in connection with the '' Casa de Ninos Ex-
positos," although very deficient in type and material,
was still sufficient to enable a newspaper to be printed
and, accordingly, the government of Aviles marked
the initiation of that journahstic activity which now
so much distinguishes the city.
The first newspaper pubhshed in Buenos Aires was
the " Telegrafo Mercantil, Rural, Poltico, Economico
e Historiografo del Rio de la Plata." It was founded
in 1801 by Don Francisco Antonio Cabello, who had
previously run a paper in Lima called the " Mercurio
Peruano.'' In this latter paper, he had prophesied
the birth of a newspaper in Buenos Aires, and he
set to work to fulfil his own vaticinations by founding
the " Telegrafo." It appeared on — to English views —
an unfortunate day, the first of April and terminated
its existence on the 15th October, 1802. On the stafi
of the " Telegrafo " were many distinguished men,
Manuel Labarden, Manuel Belgrano, Domingo de
Azcuenaga, Jose Joaquin Araujo, who used the
pseudonym " Patricio de Buenos Aires," Dean Funes,
who signed himself " Patricio Saltiano " and others.
The " Telegrafo " was issued by its founder Cabello with
the privilege of a monopoly decreed by the Viceroy.
It therefore provoked many enemies, who wished for
its decease so as to end this privilege. Advantage
was taken of an article, which appeared on the 8th
October, 1802, and which displeased the Viceroy ; and
a few days later the pubhc were advised by a decree
that it had seemed good to the superior government
to suspend the publication of the paper. In view of
the approaching demise of the " Telegrafo," and without
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 127
waiting for the actual deathblow, Don HipoHto Vieytes
commenced the second newspaper in the city on the
1st September, 1802. This was the " Seminario de
Agricultura, Industria y Comercio," which, com-
mencing on the date mentioned, continued to exist till
the 11th February, 1807, with a short interval (June
23rd to Sept. 24th, 1806) in consequence of the British
invasions of that year. The entire pubhcation was
made up of 218 ordinary numbers, two supplements
and one extra, the last containing an oration by General
Belgrano at a public examination at the Nautical
Academy and an account of the founding of the town
of San Fernando by the Viceroy Sobremonte. Writing
of the British invasions, the " Seminario Agricola "
described the British troops as " enemigos colorados "
on account of the colour of their uniform. The last
number of the " Seminario " pubhshed the following
valedictory notice, not unique in the history of jour-
nahsm : — " The editor suspends the " Seminario " for
the present." After this suspension, except official
documents, there was nothing in the nature of a news-
paper in Buenos Aires till 1810.
In the year 1804 Rafael, Marques de Sobremonte,
was transferred from the governorship of Cordoba to
the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. His name is a
byword for cowardice, and all historians regard his
conduct with derision. Doubts are even thrown upon
his right to call himself Marques, as some writers have
called him. In official documents he is called El Exmo
Senor Marques Don Rafael de Sobremonte.
The principal event during the term of Sobremonte
was the First British Invasion. The British Invasions,
although really belonging to the Colonial history of
the country and of no importance whatever from an
international point of view — as, even if great Britain
had succeeded in obtaining definite possession of the
country it would doubtless have been given up again
to Spain j^when the two nations afterwards became
allies — were of great importance as between this
country and Spain. It is au admitted fact that it
128 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC *
was during the residence in Buenos Aires of the British
generals that the idea was thrown out which developed
into a fixed plan to separate the colony from the mother
country.
The literature of the British Invasions is almost
as copious as that of the Peninsular war. Every step
in the campaign has been enlarged on by Argentine
historians, and furious polemics have raged as to even
minute details. The controversy between General
Mitre and Dr. Groussac, m which the bounds of
courtesy were passed by, at any rate, one of the writers,
is a case illustrating the latter statement. The poets
of the Revolutionary period described the invasions
as veritable struggles of giants and all the gods of
Olympus were represented as taking sides in the
conflict. But the time has gone by for exhibiting
feeling of any sort about the matter. Reduced to
their true proportions, the invasions were simply
incidents in the war with Spain, forced upon both
countries, against their will, by the ambition of
Napoleon. This war ended in the two comitries
becoming allies against the French Emperor and in
the glorious campaign of the Peninsular war.
Argentine historians recognise the truth of what
has just been stated and begin the story of the in-
vasions by an account of the mamier in which Napoleon,
breaking the treaty of Amiens, declared war against
England and forced Spain to sign a secret treaty binding
herself to pay Napoleon two million dollars per month
out of the treasure which Spain expected to receive in
four frigates from Buenos Aires. This secret treaty
soon came to the knowledge of Great Britain, which,
naturally, considered it a breach of neutrahty, as
providing the sinews of war was as much an act of
war as actually taking the field. The British Govern-
ment, therefore, took the natural steps of preventing
the arrival of the frigates at their destination and
sent Commodore Moore to stop them before they
arrived at Cadiz. Moore was successful in his mission
and the treasure ships arrived at Plymouth instead of
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 129
Cadiz, Naturally, Spain declared war openly, and it
was during the continuance of this war that the two
British invasions of Argentina took place.
As Napoleon had made his brother King of Holland,
the Dutch possessions were considered proper objects
of attack by the British and an expedition was sent
to the Cape, under the command of Sir Home Popham
and General Beresford, which soon took possession of
that colony, ^^^lilst there, the leaders of the expedi-
tion, without any orders from the Government, decided
to cross over and take the Spanish Colony of Buenos Aires.
It is probable that Sir Home Popham knew that
an attack on Buenos Aii'es would be gratefully received
by the great statesman Pitt, who was at the head of
affairs when the expedition sailed for the Cape. But,
unknown to Popham, Pitt had died, and therefore any
such hope was no longer justified. In ignorance of the
death of Pitt, and playing entirely off their own bat,
Popham and Beresford sailed for Buenos Aires at
which town they arrived on the 25th of June, 1806.
Landing at Quilmes, the British troops advanced to
the city and occupied the town and fort on the 27th,
practically without opposition. The Viceroy, Sobre-
monte, escaped to Cordoba and ordered all the money
in the treasury to be sent after him. But Beresford
was too sharp for him, and the treasure, to the extent
of two milhon duros, went not to Cordoba but London.
Beresford immediately declared himself Governor of
Buenos Aires in the name of King George III and
issued a decree granting absolute freedom of rehgious
behef to the inhabitants, confirming the Cabildo in
their positions, giving the free right of voting to the
citizens and recognizing the freedom of the press.
Whatever may be said of the action of Beresford in
making the attack on the city in the first instance, we
unhesitatingly record our opinion that Buenos Aires
has never possessed such civic and religious freedom,
either before or since, as during the time when its
citizens were subjects of King George HI ; and it
would be a glorious day for the country if its present
130 THE ARGENTINE EEPUBLIC
President would issue a similar decree and carry it
out. Beresford also opened the port to foreign trade
and gave the Porteiios all the rights of British subjects.
The inhabitants of the city, however, preferred to
hug their chains and organised a steady resistance
to the British, and then appeared on the scene the
man who was to do so much for the colonists only to
receive, as his reward, his death at their hands. Liniers,
who was in command of the Port of Ensenada, went
over alone to Montevideo and brought back troops
with which he landed at the Tigre. Marching on the
city with an ever increasing army he was able to present
a sufficiently powerful attack on Beresford's position
to compel that General to surrender. This event is
called the Reconquista, and Liniers is fully entitled to
all the credit of the operation. When all was over,
the Viceroy sent word to say that he was on his way
with troops from Cordoba ; but the Portenos had had
enough of their Viceroy faineant and he was ordered to
go with his troops to Montevideo and not show his face
in the city.
The people of Buenos Aires in " Cabildo abierto "
declared that they would no longer recognise the
authority of the Viceroy and that Liniers should be
the Mihtary Governor of the City, with instructions
to prepare to resist any second invasion which might
be contemplated, and which the continued presence of
Popham in the neighbourhood of the Plate clearly
foreshadowed. Accordingly, Liniers created various
army corps with their proper officers. These were the
Patricians, under the command of Dr. CorneUo Saavedra,
the Arribenos from the interior, whose chief was Dr.
Pio de Gaona, the Pardos and Morenos, negroes and
half breeds, imder the command of Baudrix, and five
squadrons of cavalry or hussars. He also formed
troops of criollo dragoons and a number of so-called
Spanish corps named Gallegos, Catalanes, etc., but
composed in the greater part of " hijos del pais."
In the meantime. General Baird, who had remained
at the Cape, sent reinforcements to Buenos Aires.
No. 11. Aqueduct, S.oc Ll i.-
.\<t. IJ. \'li;u IN Jl .IIY.
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 133
These arrived too late and contented themselves with
occupying Maldonado in Uruguay. When the news
of the action of Popham and Beresford reached London,
the Government of the day was not overpleased with
their action, as it was very Ukely that their troops
would be required in Europe, and when the news of
the Reconquista arrived, Popham was dismissed the
fleet and replaced by Admiral Stirling.
Rear-Adiniral Stirling arrived at Montevideo on
January 5th, 1807, and brought with him Brig.-General
Sir Samuel Auchmuty to take command of the land
forces. Maldonado was at once abandoned and Monte-
video besieged. After considerable resistance, the city
was taken on February 6th. Sobremonte, who was
at Montevideo with his Cordobese troops, fled with them
from the Enghsh, firing shots in the air with three
cannons as he ran. When he heard that the British
were after him, he abandoned his cannons and took
to his heels, thereby covering himself with ignominy.
The citizens of Buenos Aires were exceedingly wroth
when they heard of his conduct, and forces were sent
to capture him. He was taken at Soriano and brought
to Buenos Aires. Here he was formally deposed by
the Cabildo and sent on to Chile to be remitted to
Spain for trial and punishment. The action of the
Cabildo is regarded by the historians as the first step
towards the revolution, as the people, by their action,
assumed the sovereign power.
The British possession of Montevideo was marked
by a studious regard of the interests of the inhabitants,
who were made to feel that British rule meant freedom
in its widest sense and, had the British Government
been content with the occupation of that city, the
history of Uruguay might have been very different
from the actuahty. But in May, 1807, a larger expedi-
tion under the command of Admiral Murray and
General Crauford, who superseded Stirling and Auch-
muty, arrived at Montevideo and was followed, a
month later, by Lieut. -General Whitelocke who was
sent to assume chief command. A more incompetent
134 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
general it was impossible to conceive of and the bril-
liancy of the first occupation of Buenos Aires by Beres-
ford with a handful of men, and of the siege of Montevideo ,
were obscured for all time by the failure of Whitelocke,
who had at his command about 10,000 men. It is true
the conditions were altered. Buenos Aires was prepared
for and expecting the invaders and, instead of Sobre-
monte, Liniers was at the head of the defence. It is
needless to recapitulate the story of the attack and
brilhant defence of the city. At one moment it seemed
as if the capture of the city would be easy. Gower
put Liniers to flight and if he had pressed on to the
city it would most likely have fallen ; but he had
been told to encamp at Miserere and he obeyed orders.
This action saved the city. Liniers reformed his
soldiers and the attack by the British troops in force
failed and ended in their capitulation. This was bad
enough, but it was made worse by ^\Tiitelocke's yielding
to the impositions of Liniers that Montevideo also
should be evacuated. The conditions were fulfilled by
the British, and Montevideo was restored to Spain.
On evacuating the latter city, the British received a
written testimonial of the inhabitants testifying to
the generosity with which they had treated the citizens
and the manner in which they had lessened the sufferings
inseparable from the siege. Rarely in history has such
a testimonial been given by the besieged of any city
to its captors. On retm'ning home, Whitelocke was
tried by Court Martial and dismissed the service. His
fate would probably have been worse but for influence
in high quarters.
A further expedition was decided upon, which was
to have been commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley,
afterwards the Duke of Wellington, and, no doubt,
this would have had a different termination ; but
Great Britain became the ally of Spain against Napoleon
and, of course, all designs against her colonies were
abandoned. Even had Buenos Aires fallen in 1807,
there is no doubt that it would have been returned
to Spain, if not earlier, at least at the peace of 1814,
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 135
The effect of the British invasions soon began to
be felt in the country. The victory of the citizens was
celebrated in a poem by Lopez y Planes, in which the
name Argentines was first given to the sons of the soil.
The name was proudly adopted by the latter, much
to the disgust of the Spanish citizens who called the
Argentines " criollos,"' a term until then only appHed
to animals. The Spanish element, headed by Alzaga,
was opposed to Liniers, who was a Frenchman, and
who was suspected, but without reason, to be in favour
of the designs of Napoleon. The Argentines favoured
Liniers to whom they owed so much. The Governor
of Montevideo, Colonel EUo, made common cause
with Alzaga against Liniers and on January 1st, 1809,
the Spaniards in Buenos Aires, as the result of a pre-
arrangement, rushed into the streets shouting for the
deposition of the " Frenchman." The Cabildo, mainly
composed of Spaniards, endeavoured to induce Liniers
to resign and, to avoid bloodshed, he was about to
sign his remmciation, when Saavedra and the Argentine
regiments of the Patricios and AiTibeiios appeared on
the scene, and the members of the Cabildo ran in all
directions, even jimiping through the windows to
avoid arrest by the troops. The same night, Alzaga
and the leading men who were conspiring against
Liniers were arrested and sent off by sea to Carmen
de Patagones. The ship was however stopped by
Eho, the Governor of Montevideo, and the prisoners
taken to that city where they were able to continue
their conspiracies.
Both Liniers and his opponents appealed to the
Junta Central of Spain. The Junta, knowing already
that the Argentines and the Spaniards were enemies
in Buenos Aires and that Liniers was the favourite
of the Argentines, sent out Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros
as Viceroy, and Liniers had to yield to the inevitable
(1809). The advent of Cisneros was speedily followed
by the opening of the port to Enghsh and Portuguese
shipping. But, while, on the surface, the supremacy
of Spain seemed assured^ the seed sown was germinating
136 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
below the soil. The hostility between the Spaniards
and the " hijos del pais " daily became more pronounced.
Secret meetings were held to prepare the way for a
revolution. These meetings took place, sometimes in
the soap factory of Hipohto Vieytes and sometimes
in the Quinta of Nicolas Rodriguez Peiia. Towards
one or other of these meeting places a few quiet looking
gentlemen used to wend their way for what seemed
to be a harmless " paseo."
No one watching these respectable personages going
out for a walk in this quiet manner would have dreamed
that they were laying the train for an explosion that
should rend a continent from its moorings and deprive
Spain of her possessions in the New World. And if
the Republics of South America had received the
names of Vieytes, Pena, Belgrano, Castelli, Passo,
Donado, Alberti, French, Berutti, Larrea, etc., it
would not have been an undue compliment to have
paid to the men to whose dehberations they owe their
existence as separate nationahties.
All was ready so far as sentiment was concerned.
The patience of the criollos was exhausted with the
selfish and tyrannical government of centuries. Cis-
neros had made himself unpopular by having sent the
Criollos regiment, the Patricios, under the orders of
the hated general Nieto, to put down a revolutionary
movement in Sucre. The men were ready and the hour
came in due course. On the 13th of May, 1810, a
British ship was seen to come up on the horizon and
enter the port of Buenos Aires. It brought the decisive
news which soon changed the whole pohtical situation.
Napoleon was master of Spain, except the town of
Cadiz. In that town was the Junta Central, which
was governing in the name of Fernando VII the colonies
of Ajnerica. The people of Cadiz had revolted, assas-
sinated the head of the Junta and declared it at an
end, replacing it by a government of the men of Cadiz.
Now the criollos were by no means eager to remain
subjects of Spain ; but Spain, as such was no more ;
it was merged, to all intents and purposes, in France.
Still less was Cadiz entitled to their loyalty. The
THE PERIOD OF THE VICEROYS 137
Portefios had suffered too much already from Cadiz
and Seville to even consider the question of submitting
to any Junta of Cadiz citizens. In great alarm, the
Viceroy Cisneros felt his power sHpping from him.
Naturally, if there were no king there could be no
Viceroy ; and he felt that decisive action was necessary.
On the 18th of May, he took the people into his con-
fidence and asked them to remain loyal to the Mother
Country and to the Government of Cadiz. This was
just what the Porteiios would not do, and very soon
the new doctrines were circulating through the town,
in the barracks and in all parts. " No king therefore
no Viceroy, and, as a corollary, we must govern our-
selves." The Porteiios demanded the convocation of
an Open Cabildo to consider the question, and, in the
end, the Viceroy consented to convoke the people of
the city to a " Cabildo abierto." While it was assembled
the cries were raised Muera Cisneros ! Ahajo los godos !
After a long discussion it was resolved that the
power of the Viceroy was at an end and that the Cabildo
should appoint a junta or governing body. A day of
intrigue followed. Every effort was made by the
Spanish element to obtain the supremacy ; and, as a
result, a Junta was declared on the 24th consisting of
Cisneros himself, Saavedra, Castelh, Sola (a priest) and
Inchaurri ; Inchaurri was a friend and nominee of
Cisneros. On this hst being published, popular in-
dignation was unbounded.
The next morning, the 25th of May, a crowd bearing
blue and white ribbons met in the plazla headed by
French and Berutti. A deputation presented in the
name of the people a demand for the immediate renun-
ciation of the five members, and the nomination of a
new Junta, entirely free from Spanish influence. In
face of the determined attitude by the people, Cisneros
and his friends had no alternative but to submit ; and
the priniera Junta was proclaimed amidst the shouts
of the assembled people. In this way as the Himno
nacional declares:
" So levanto en la faz del cielo
Una noble gloriosa naci6n."
CHAPTER VII
THE REPUBLIC
The Primera Junta — Belgrano's Expedition to Paraguay —
Fate of Liniers — Battles in the Interior — Changes of Government
— Arrival of San Martin and Alvear — Services of San Martin —
Alvear offers Argentine to Great Britain — The Directors — The
9th of July — Admiral Brown — Canning — Federales and Unitarios
— Rivadavia — Rosas — The Reign of Terror — The Presidents —
The Wars with Brazil and Paraguay — Mitre — Sarmiento —
Avellaneda — Roca — Celman — The Revolution of 1890 — Recent
events.
The fourth period of Argentine History began with
the cry of Liberty on the 25th of May, 1810, and with
the estabhshment of a provisional government which
was free from any shadow of sympathy with the old
regime. This Revolution was, however, only the
beginnmg of a long struggle ; and it was not until after
several years had passed that a united nation was the
result of this movement which was at first limited to
the City of Buenos Aires. To tell the story in detail of
the rise and development of the Republic would occupy
the whole of the present volume, and even then much
would be left unsaid. In addition to this, it must be
recognised that we are too near to the events to pass
impartial judgments. Those who have lived in Argen-
tina for any length of time will have perceived how,
even in a decade, opinions change as to the importance
of the part played in the history of the country by a
given individual. The words patriot and traitor are
frequently almost synonymous in a period of revolu-
tionary development, and it has been frequently the
case that the men who to-day are regarded as the
greatest Argentine patriots, were, in their own day,
deemed traitors and sent to die in exile. The tq-
l?8
THE REPUBLIC 139
impatriation of the remains of exiled patriots has
been no uncommon event in recent Argentine history.
Repeatedly have Lowell's words been reahzed in Argen-
tina : —
The hooting mob of yesterday
In silent awe return,
To glean up the scattered ashes
Into History's golden urn.
The story of the Republic will therefore be told
very succinctly and, as far as possible, no judgment
will be passed upon either the actors or their deeds.
Only in one or two cases, where no possible defence
can be found, will any censure be passed.
On the outbreak of the Revolution on May 25th,
1810, the government of the country was entrusted,
in the first instance, to a Junta or council, always
referred to in Argentine history as the Primera Junta.
The President of the Junta was Cornelio Saavedra,
the vocales were Manuel Belgrano, Juan Jose Castelli,
Miguel Azcuenaga, Manuel Alberti, Domingo Matheu
and Juan Larrea. There were two secretaries, Juan
Jose Passo and Mariano Moreno.
The first object of the Junta was to extend the
revolutionary movement over the whole territory of
the Viceroyalty, and, had this object been fulfilled,
the Argentine Repubhc would to-day include Paraguay
and the greater part of Boh via. Two expeditions
were sent from Buenos Aires, one to Paraguay, under
the command of Belgrano, and one to the interior
and Bolivia, under the command of Ocampo. The
expedition of Belgrano was unfortunate from a military
point of view, as the Paraguayans refused to listen
to the suggestions of Buenos Aires, as they were, for
the moment, content with their Spanish Governor
Velasco. They offered such resistance to the advance
of Belgrano that in the end he had to capitulate, but
was allowed to return with all the honours of war
on undertaking not to return with the same mission.
During the negotiations respecting the capitulation
140 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Belgrano managed to influence many of the leading
men in Paraguay, with the result that the very next
year a revolution broke out in Asuncion and the Spanish
power was overthrown. The Junta in Buenos Aires
made an effort to induce the new government of Para-
guay to identify itself with Buenos Aires, but in vain.
The Paraguayans, under the dominating influence of
Francia, who afterwards became a tyrant and a dic-
tator, rejected all the overtures of Buenos Aires, and
Paraguay remained definitely separated from Argentina.
The expedition of Ocampo was met in Cordoba
by some resistance on the part of Liniers, who remained
ever loyal to his Spanish masters. Liniers and others
who supported him were captured and, in spite of all
that he had done for Buenos Aires during the British
invasions, he and a number of leading men were shot.
As Ocampo refused to be a party to this action, he
resigned his command and was replaced by Balcarce,
who, on advancing northwards, found his march
opposed by the Spanish troops under Goyeneche, sent
by the Viceroy of Peru. On November 7th, 1810,
Balcarce gained a decisive battle at Suipacha and
continued his advance into Boh via, only to be utterly
routed and driven back at the battle of Huaqui (June
20th, 1811). In the meantime, the standard of revolt
was raised in Uruguay, where the revolutionists gained
a victory at Las Piedras (12th May, 1811), which for
a time compelled the Spanish viceroy and his forces
to keep within the shelter of the fortress of Montevideo.
Whilst the Argentine soldiers were operating in
these directions, there was nothing but petty jealousies
and rivalries in Buenos Aires itseK. The character
of the Primera Junta was soon changed. There were
only nine members ; but it soon became a hotbed of
dissension, owing to the infatuated ambition of the
President Saavedra, who according to some historians
hoped to rise to regal rank and found a new dynasty.
He was opposed by 'Moreno, and the bitterness of
the quarrel between the two spread to their friends
in the Junta and caused an open breach. This led
THE REPUBLIC 141
to the incorporation into the Junta of representatives
of the various provinces, thereby constituting the
Second or Segunda Junta Gubernativa, which was
installed on the 18th of December, 1810. Moreno
soon afterwards renounced his position and, being
sent to England on a diplomatic mission, he died
on the journey. On the 6th of April, 1811, in
consequence of an asonada or tumult got up by the
supporters of Saavedra, Senores Rodriguez Pena,
Larrea, Azcuenaga and Alberti were expelled from
the Junta, and even Belgrano, who had been sent
to take command in Uruguay, was recalled in
disgrace, to answer for his failure in Paraguay.
Nothing, however, came of this and Belgrano was
soon restored to his honours. As the victory of
Suipacha was more than counterbalanced by the
defeat of Huaqui, the Junta found that, if progress
had to be made, personal feelings must be put on one
side and a new start made. The form of government
was therefore at once changed, and, instead of a council
of twenty members as was the Segunda Junta, the
supreme power of the country was vested in a First
Triumvirate, composed of Seiiores Chiclana, Sarratea
and Passo with three secretaries : Seiiores Perez,
Rivadavia and Vicente Lopez (Sept. 23rd, 1811). The
members of the Junta agreed to take a back seat and
call themselves the Junta Conservadora. No sooner,
however, was this arrangement concluded and a Te
Deum sung in its honour, than the Junta, headed by
Dean Funes, wanted all their honours back. The
Triumvirate cut the matter short, under the advice of
Rivadavia, and by a coup d'etat put an end to the
Junta and declared themselves the sole governors of
the country.
An armistice was arranged with the Viceroy of
Montevideo and the siege of that city raised. Hos-
tihties were, however, renewed in the following year.
It is interesting to observe that, in spite of the revo-
lution, the Argentines still carried the banner of Spain,
even when fighting against the mother country, and
142 THE ARGENTINE EEPUBLIC
an attempt by Belgrano in January, 1812, to inaugurate
a new national flag was sternly repressed by the Trium-
virate. In July, 1812, a conspiracy was discovered
in the nick of time, which might have wrecked the
revolution, had it been successful. This conspiracy
was entered into by a Spanish gentleman of great
wealth and importance named Alzaga with the support
of the Spanish Authorities at Montevideo. It was dis-
covered by the revelations of a black slave, and Alzaga
and more than thirty others paid for their action with
their hves.
In March, 1812, there returned to Buenos Aires
two personages who played important parts in the
history of the country. These were Jose de San Martin
and Carlos de Alvear.
San Martin, who afterwards became one of the
most conspicuous figures in Argentine history, was
born in Yapeyu, in Misiones, and, when a mere boy,
went to Spain, where he continued till he was 32 years
of age. In Spain, he adopted a military career and
was engaged in the Peninsular war, where he served
under Beresford at Albuera. He had the opportimity
of seeing the skill and patience with which Beresford
Hcked into shape the Portuguese army, and the lessons
which he learnt at that time were put into practice
in after years when he formed his victorious army
with which he freed Chile from the Spanish yoke and
aided in the general emancipation of South America.
Under the Napoleonic invasion the fortunes of Spain
sank to such a low ebb that it was with no real feelings
of disloyalty to the mother comitry that a movement
was set on foot to free the Spanish colonies and make
them into independent nations.
General Francisco Miranda, a native of Caracas,
the capital of Venezuela, was the first South American
to dream of the greatness of the various South American
Colonies if they could be freed from Spanish dominion
and converted into independent States. In order to
carry his ideas into effect, he estabhshed a secret
society called the " Gran Reunion Americana " with
THE REPUBLIC 143
headquarters in London. This parent association
gave birth to many branches and affihated societies
of which the principal was the Sociedad de Lautaro
or of Caballeros Racionales, which in 1808 had more
than forty members in Cadiz: alone. The meetings of
these societies were secret and protected by rites and
passwords derived from freemasonry. There were
various degrees, the first grade involving a promise to
work for American Independence and the second
accepting repubhcan principles. The fifth grade was
the highest and most responsible, as it involved more
than mere expressions of opinion and professions of
faith.
While still at Cadiz, San Martin was initiated as a
member of the Logia Lautaro, and his thoughts neces-
sarily turned towards his native land and the future
which might be in store for it, if the dreams of the
societies named materialised. Other Argentines, who
were members of the Lodge in Spain along with San
Martin, were Alvear and Zapiola.
After 22 years absence from his native land, San
Martin thought that he had done enough for the mother
country and that it was time that he devoted his
energies to the work to which his membership of the
Lautaro Society had pledged him. Through his friend-
ship with Lord Macduff, afterwards Earl of Fife, who
had fought with him on more than one battlefield,
he obtained a passport which enabled him to leave
Spain secretly and make his way to London.
In London he met Alvear, Zapiola and other Porteiios,
as well as the Venezuelan patriot Bello and other
workers for American independence. With Alvear
and Zapiola, San Martin was initiated into the fifth
degree of the secret society already referred to, a
degree which had only a short time before been con-
ferred upon Bolivar. It now became necessary to
carry out the oaths and obligations of the society
and to actively take part in the struggle already com-
menced in Buenos Aires. Accordingly, in January
of 1812, the three Patriots just mentioned sailed from
I
144 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
England for that city. The ship which bore them
to the scene of their future glory was the " George
Canning," named after the illustrious statesman who
did so much for the cause of South American inde-
pendence.
On arriving at Buenos Aires, both San Martin and
Alvear, plunged into the conflict in which their country
was engaged, San Martin forming his celebrated corps
of mounted Grenadiers and Alvear entering into the
political arena. On the 23rd of September, 1812,
Belgrano, who had been sent north, gained the battle
of Tucuman over the Spanish troops under General
Tristan, and the hopes of the new nation revived.
Another revolution took place in the city on October
8th and, as a result, the First Triumvirate resigned
and was replaced by a second council of three named
in history the Second Triumvirate and composed of
Senores J. J. Passo, Nicolas Rodriguez Peiia, and
Antonio A. Jonte, who were, however, placed in power
with the express mandate to convoke as soon as possible
a General Constituent Assembly of Representatives
of the Provinces. This assembly met in Buenos Aires
on the 31st December, 1813, under the presidency of
General Alvear. The assembly at once declared itself
the sovereign governing body of the Argentine Nation,
delegating the exercise of the executive power to the
members of the Second Triumvirate.
Amongst other important resolutions adopted by this
Assembly were those which declared the freedom of
the slaves, the aboHtion of all titles of nobihty, the
freedom of commerce with foreign countries, the
abohtion of forced Indian labour and the substitution
of the Spanish Arms and Flag by those of the nation
as described in Chapter III. On February 20th of
the following year, Belgrano gained another victory
over Tristan at Salta, San Martin having on the 3rd
of the same month inaugurated his victorious cam-
paign at San Lorenzo.
The hopes raised by these victories were soon
dashed to the ground by the terrible defeats in the
THE REPUBLIC 145
following October and November of Vilcapujio and
Ayoma. These disasters, coupled with the treachery
of Artigas in Montevideo, again brought about a change
in the form of govermnent. Instead of a Triumvirate
the supreme power was vested in a Director Supremo
del Estado with three Ministers of War, Hacienda
(Exchequer), and Interior (Home Secretary). The
first Director was Gervasio Antonio Posadas, under
whose rule Admiral Brown began his notorious naval
career.
WiUiam Brown was an Irishman born at Foxford,
County Mayo, on June 20th, 1777. His father died
when he was nine years old, and for the next twenty
years he led a seafaring life and suffered considerable
hardship. He made a voyage to Ai'gentina in a ship
called the " Eliza,'' which was WTecked at Ensenada.
He managed to save the cargo and with the proceeds
of its sale bought the schooner " Industria " and
estabhshed the first regular packet service between
Buenos Aires and Montevideo. After being two years
in the country, the Argentine Government offered him
the command of a squadron with which to attack
the Spanish navy in South American waters. After a
few failui"es his strategy was crowned with success
and the capture of the Spanish fleet ofi Montevideo
on May 16th and 17th, 1814, brought to an end the
defence by the Spaniards of Montevideo and caused
the capitulation of the Spanish authorities. On the
22nd of June, Montevideo ceased for ever to belong
to Spain, and Alvear received possession of the fortress
and city. In consequence of the machinations of
Artigas, Posadas was, however, obliged to concede the
independence of the Banda Oriental shortly afterwards.
In the following year, Brown took his squadi'on to the
Pacific and there harassed the Spanish fleet on the
West coast with varying fortunes. In spite of the
surrender of Montevideo, the position of the Argentine
government was far from being satisfactory. The
Spanish victories in the north and the unpatriotic
actions of Artigas and others, who were stirring up
146 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
strife in the littoral provinces, showed that the new
nation was far from being established.
The persons most interested in the government,
at the head of which was Posadas as supreme director,
were at their wits' end to secm'e some safe basis on
which to act. All kinds of schemes were discussed,
even to the absurd and extreme one of searching for
some descendant of the ancient Inca monarchical line,
and crowning an Indian as King of the country. In
the end, Rivadavia and Belgrano were sent to Europe
in August, 1814, to try to get the independence of the
comitry, or at least its autonomy, recognised by Spain,
and, if this were impossible, to get a King from some-
where to come to Buenos Aires and reign over them,
as it was felt that a monarchical government would
offer greater security and cohesion than the republican
or quasi repubhcan form which then prevailed. Bel-
grano, on his arrival in Europe, fell into the hands of
Cabarrus, who deceived him to the top of his bent.
First he got Belgrano to entrust him with a commission
to the old ex-King of Spain, Carlos IV, who had retired
from the King business and was hving unwept, un-
honoured and unsung in poverty and seclusion. After
spending a considerable sum of money extracted from
Belgrano, he returned to the latter and said that he
could not get the old King to go to Buenos Aires, as
he was too ill, but that the ex- Queen would go with
her second son, Don Francisco de Paula Bourbon.
Belgrano did not care who the person was, so long as
he got a King, and he gave Cabarrus more money to
arrange matters ; but he saw no more either of his
money or its kingly equivalent and returned in disgust
to Buenos Aires, where he made the suggestion, just
referred to, that an Inca Indian dynasty should be
founded.
Rivadavia went to Spain to try and arrange for the
autonomy of the country under Spanish rule, if King
Ferdinand would not agree to its independence ; but
he had a very imcomfortable quarter of an hour or
rather twenty-four hours. He was asked by the
THE REPUBLIC 147
Spanish Foreign Minister for his credentials. He had
not any, so he was ordered to go out of the country
immediately under pain of being treated as a rebel,
a fate from which only the possession of a safe-conduct,
procured through the British Ministry at Madrid,
saved him. Foiled, therefore, in these missions, Alvear,
who assumed the directorship in January, 1815, deter-
mined to offer the country to Great Britain as a self-
governing colony. This he did with the full knowledge
and authority of those associated with him in the
government of the country. He sent a most able and
diplomatic go-between to Rio Janeiro, where Lord
Strangford was the British Representative, and a most
cordial and sjmipathetic friend of Argentina. The
diplomatist referred to was Don Manuel Jose Garcia.
He had with him two notes of a secret character,
one directed to the British Ambassador in Rio and
the other to the British Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In these letters it was stated that, " Five years of
repeated experience had shown clearly to all reasonable
men that this country was neither of an age nor in a
position to govern itself, and that it needed another
hand (mano exterior) to direct it and keep it in order,
before it fell into the horrors of anarchy. But time
had also shown that a return to the Spanish dominion
was impossible, owing to hatred of the Spaniards,
which hatred had risen to such a pitch that the simple
idea of coming to terms with Spain had roused such a
spirit of fanaticism, that all swore, both in pubhc and
private, to die rather than return beneath the Spanish
yoke." But the government of Buenos Aires said
that " it would be quite different if generous England
woukl put an end to these evils by receiving in her
arms these Provinces which would obey her government
and accept her laws, which would be the only means
of hoping from the wisdom of that Nation for a pacific
and happy existence."
But England's hands were tied at the time, and
she did not sec how great these provinces would become.
The offer made was not acceptable. If it had been,
148 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the history of this country would have been something
very different from what it has been from 1815 to
the present time. But it is unprofitable to discuss
" might-have-beens." It is well, however, to place on
record the fact that, in 1815, nine years after the
invasions and five years after the revolution of May,
1810, the Argentine provinces offered themselves,
through their responsible authorities, to England,
begging her to " acogerlas en sus brazos " and
promising " que obedeceran su gobiemo y recibiran
sus leyes y que seria medio de esperar de la sabiduria
de esa nacion, una existencia pacifica y dichosa.''
There can be no doubt that a certain section of
the citizens were indignant at Alvear for his action
in offering the country to England, and, in the following
April, a revolution called the Motin de Fontezuelas,
caused the overthrow of Alvear, who was succeeded
by Alvarez Thomas, who was, in his turn, replaced by
Balcarce in April, 1816.
Meanwhile, a terrible blow was inflicted to the
Argentine hopes by the battle of Sipe-Sipe or Viluma
(Nov. 28th, 1815), in which the Spanish troops, under
Pezuela, completely routed the Argentine army com-
manded by Rondeau. So complete, in appearance, was
the triumph of the Spaniards that, in Spain itself,
when the news was received, it was taken for granted
that the revolution was at an end and that the restora-
tion of the Spanish government was absolutely assured.
Then it was that the Argentines determined to de-
finitely cut the painter and, following the example
of the United States, declare the independence of the
United Provinces of the South. Accordingly, at a
Congress held at Tucuman, a formal Declaration of
Independence was drawn up and signed, the date of
this event, the 9th of July, 1816, being ever since kept
up as a national hohday. This date is the real birth-
day of the Argentine nation. The national flag, with
its stripes of blue and white Ht up by the sun of the
Incas, was declared to be the official banner of the
nation, justifying Belgrano's previous action in unfurling
THE REPUBLIC 149
the same standard on the banks of the Plate and later
when crossing the Rio Pasaje.
In the year 1817 HipoHto Bouchard, with the title
of Sargento Mayor of the Argentine navy, set sail
from Buenos Aires in the frigate " La Argentina ''
on an adventurous voyage. His second in command
was Nathaniel Somers, an old English captain, and
there were several other Englishmen on board. After
an eventful journey, the ship arrived at the Sandwich
Isles, whose king Kamehameha at once entered into
diplomatic relations with the Argentina and was the
first sovereign to recognise the independence of the
country ! After many daring deeds against the
Spaniards, Bouchard returned with his ship to Buenos
A-ires, having carried the Argentine flag and name round
the world at that early date of his country's history.
General Pueyrredon was elected Permanent Director
at the Tucuman Congress and held this position till
June, 1819. In consequence of a conference between
San Martin and Pueyrredon and of the influence of
the Logia Lautaro, which San Martm had estabhshed
in Buenos Aires, it was decided to draw off the attention
of the Spaniards in Peru by crossing the Andes with
an army and invading Chile. The story of the victorious
campaign of San Martin is too long to relate here.
Suffice it to say that after a number of battles, beginning
with Chacabuco (Feb. 12th, 1817), and ending with
the crowning victory of Maipu (April 5th, 1818), Chile
was freed from Spain and entered upon her history
as an independent nation, with O'Higgins as its first
Director. The liberation of Chile relieved Argentina
from all further fear of Spain. San Martin continued
his victorious career in Peru which in turn was freed
and Bolivar in the north liberated the remaining
South American States. It is sad to have to relate
that San Martin received no honour from his country-
men during his hfetime. His refusal to be drawn
into internecine struggles and civil wars only caused
him to be treated with obliquy and when he retired
to Europe it was in practical disgrace.
150 THE AEGENTINE KEPUBLIC
Once only he returned to Argentina but to be met
with insult and ignominy. He at once returned to
Europe and there, in company with his only daughter,
who was his faithful companion until his death, he
dragged out the remaining years of his existence for
the most part in suffering. But for the kindness of a
Spanish banker named Aguado, who was an old com-
panion in arms during the Peninsular war, the grand
general would have had to beg his bread.
In after years, the greatness of the man was under-
stood, and now no name stands higher in the roll of
Argentine patriots than that of San Martin. His
remains were solemnly conveyed to his native land
and are honourably guarded in the Cathedral of Buenos
Aires. (See illustration No. 3.)
The years 1819 and 1820 were made lively by the
interprovincial wars in the Northern and Littoral
provinces. The names of Bulnes and Borges, Kamirez
and Lopez, and Artigas come into prominence as
caudillos fighting against the central power ; and,
on the 1st of February, 1820, Rondeau was defeated
at Cepeda. This battle gave rise to important changes.
Rondeau was deposed from the Directorate and Aguirre
named in his place ; but the national authority was
at an end for the time being. The various provinces
were practically independent, and, by the Treaty of
Pilar, the Federal system was adopted and accepted by
the various provinces. Don Manuel Sarratea was
named First Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires,
which then, of course, included the city of that name.
It was about this time that the Government of the
United States sent a cormnission to investigate the
state of affairs in order to see if the time were ripe
for the establishment of diplomatic relations or, at
least, the formal recognition of the country as an inde-
pendent nation. The cormnission was composed of
Messrs. Rodney and Graham with Mr. Brackenridge
as secretary. The Commission drew up a voluminous
report and Mr. Rodney was appointed the United
States Minister. This gentleman soon afterwards died
THE REPUBLIC 151
and was the first to be interred in the Protestant
cemetery.
In June, 1820, General Belgrano, who had deserved
so well of his countrymen for long and faithful service,
died of dropsy in Buenos Aires. He had just strength
to reach the city, having been treated in Tucuman in
the most disgraceful manner by the local caudillos.
But for the interference of his doctor, Dr. Redhead,
he would have been put in irons, although his legs
were so swollen that they were barely strong enough
to sustain his weight. In his case, as in that of San
Martin, his compatriots have done justice to his memory,
and his mausoleum is now one of the finest monuments
in the city.
It must not be supposed that there was nothing
but confusion and strife in Buenos Aires at this period.
Those who are interested in knowing how the hfe of
the Portenos was passed during the second and third
decades of the century can obtain most interesting
information on the subject from a book by Dr. Jose
Antonio Wilde, himself the son of Dr. Santiago Wilde,
an Englishman, who was a prominent citizen of Buenos
Aires in the twenties. There were a considerable
number of British residents in 1817 and, a few years
later, the number was greatly increased and the principal
business houses were English. Many of the Argentines
with British names now holding honourable positions
in the country are descendants of the men who became
residents of the country in the early years of its history
as a nation.
Just when the new nation seemed to be absolutely
free from Spain and was preparing to enter upon its
own career, a movement was started in Europe with
the object of restoring to Spain her ancient greatness,
including her colonial possessions. France and Russia
were the heads of this Holy Alhance and their intentions
were to capture Buenos Aires, dominate the Pacific
with a strong fleet and join hands with the Viceroy
Lasema in Peru. France had an understanding with
Spain that Argentina should be handed to her and
152 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
that Spain should regain all her colonies as far north
as Mexico. Troops were being got ready to carry out
this object, when Mr. Canning heard of it and at once
declared that the movement should go no further, as
the independence and commerce of the New World
were of more importance to Great Britain than the
countries of Europe. He threatened immediate war if
the French and Russians attempted to interfere with
Buenos Aires and brought influence to bear on the
United States whose government, under the presidency
of Mr. Monroe, at once declared the " Monroe doctrine.''
This action of Mr. Canning saved the situation and the
Holy Alhance was dissolved. On this account, the name
of Canning is held in high honour in Argentina- What
the name of Gladstone is to the struggling small States
of Europe the name of George Canning is to Argentina.
In 1821 General Rodriguez took the place of
Sarratea as Governor and one of his leading ministers
was Rivadavia whose reforms were of a far reaching
character. In 1824 Rodriguez was succeeded by
General Las Heras during whose rule a general Con-
gress sanctioned a Fundamental Law providing for a
definite Constitution. In 1823 Mr. (afterwards Sir)
Woodbine Parish was appointed as Consul General
of Great Britain in Buenos Aires and was soon after-
wards made Minister plenipotentiary. In February,
1825, Don Bernardino Rivadavia was elected the first
President of the United Provinces and Buenos Aires
was declared the Capital of the nation, the rest of the
province being governed as a province but by the
president. This was practically a unitarian system of
government and was the beginning of the long standing
struggle between " Federales " and " Unitarios.''
In February, 1825, the first treaty of Peace between
Great Britain and Argentina was signed. This treaty
is still in existence.
During the presidency of Rivadavia, war was de-
clared with Brazil, as that nation was again endeavouring
to obtain possession of the coveted State of Uruguay.
Admiral Brown was again called upon to take com-
...-v.. ) i -:
THE REPUBLIC 155
raand of the Argentine navy and his action was as
rapid as it was effectual. In Argentine histories the
" Twenty-nine days of glory '' is the term used to
describe Brown's campaign. A few unimportant de-
feats were followed by the complete victories of Jimcal
and Quilmes (February 9th and 24th, 1827) in which
such of the Brazihan ships as were not captured were
driven out of Argentine waters. The battle of Itu-
zaingo on the 20th of the same month was a decisive
defeat for the BraziHans, the Argentine troops being
led by Alvear. Negotiations were opened in Rio de
Janeiro through the influence of the British Govern-
ment, but the Argentine representative rashly and
improperly assented to the possession of the Banda
Oriental by Brazil, a settlement of the question which
the Argentines were not disposed to tolerate. Riva-
davia found that his presidency was anything but a
bed of roses and resigned on June 12th, 1827, being
succeeded by another eminent man, Don Vicente Lopez.
Shortly after his resignation, Rivadavia retired to Rio
Janeiro and afterwards to Europe. He died in poverty
and obscurity in Cadiz on September 2nd, 1845. On
his retirement he was followed by the execrations of
those who could not appreciate his worth. Now, his
memory is held in high honour as one of the truest
patriots which his native country has pft)duced. ;
Don Vicente Lopez soon resigned the presidency
and Don Manuel Borrego became the Governor of
Buenos Aires. He brought to a satisfactory termination
the question with Brazil and, upon the mediation of
the British Government through the British Ambassador
in Rio de Janeiro, Uruguay was declared an independent
State and has continued such ever since.
Meanwhile the Congress of the Nation had dis-
solved and the country was in a state of complete
disunion, each province acting independently of the
rest without any even nominal bond of union.
The advocates of the unitary idea made another
attempt to achieve their object. Two Generals, Lavalle
and Jose M. Paz, headed a revolutionary movement to
156 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
re-establish this form of government, and were backed
up by a considerable section of the army, which had
been recalled to Buenos Aires by Dorrego after the
conclusion of hostihties with Brazil. Lavalle lost no
time in getting up a revolution and speedily unseated
Dorrego, who fled, but was captured a few days later.
As soon as Lavalle knew of his capture, he ordered him
to be shot. This cold-blooded murder, for it was
nothing else, was carried out at a few hours' notice and
without even a form of trial to give it apparent legahty.
No possible defence can be urged for it. It was
even a more barbarous assassination than that of
Liniers. It is said that Lavalle was sorry for his action
afterwards, and well he might be, for it brought upon
the country nothmg less than the tjrranny of Rosas.
Dearly indeed did the Nation pay for the butchery of
Dorrego. Lavalle went to join General Paz, who was
acting in Santa Fe : and he was speedily assailed by
Rosas, who had been Dorrego's Comandante MiHtar,
and who, aided by Estanislao Jordan, took up arms
to avenge the murdered Governor. Lavalle was de-
feated at Puente Marques and compelled to resign the
office of Governor, which he had usurped, into the
hands of General Viamonte, as interim Governor.
General Paz was afterwards defeated by Rosas, and
thrown into prison in Lujan. On the 8th of December,
1829, the Representatives of Buenos Aires elected
Rosas Governor of the Province, with the added title
of Restorer of the Laws. At the end of his term of
three years, he declined re-election, and set off on a
campaign in the South, from which he received his
second title of Hero of the Desert. During his absence,
the Governorship was filled first by Balcarce and
afterwards by Viamonte. On the latter 's retirement
no one cared to take the Governorship, and Dr. Maza,
as President of the Legislature, assumed the reins of
office provisionally. On the 13th April, 1835, Rosas
was re-elected Governor for five years by acclamation.
He was entrusted with the full power of all the public
authorities and so became virtually Dictator.
THE REPUBLIC 157
In such a historical outline as the present it would
be out of place to say much of the character and deeds
of Rosas during the long period in which he exer-
cised his despotic rule over the country. The old
saying that " every country has the government which
it deserves " might be said to apply here. That the
Rosas tyranny was submitted to for so many years is
in itself, to some extent, evidence that, in spite of all
the crimes which he is said to have committed or
tolerated, the country found him as a whole not in-
tolerable. That he did authorise the acts of the Mazorca
there can be no doubt, and that the band of assassins
known by this name exercised a reign of terror and
committed the most atrocious deeds is, unfortunately,
a fact that can not be gainsaid. To-day the name of
Rosas is held in execration in Argentina ; and the
very house in which he Hved was not long ago razed
to the ground as if to blot out all remembrance of
him from the face of the land. But even a Rosas
could not have governed for so long, had he not had
a powerful following amongst the pohtical leaders of
the country and, when the final verdict of history
comes to be written, there may be some modification
of the opinions which all Argentine histories pass upon
the Hero of the Desert and the Restorer of the Laws, by
which titles his countrymen for the time honoured him.
One or two incidents of his government must,
however, be related in which Great Britain took part.
To escape from persecution, numbers of Argentines
fled to Uruguay, and this country became so notorious
a refuge for those who were opposed to his rule that,
in the end, Rosas determmed to besiege Montevideo
and take possession of the country. He accordingly
sent an army to attack Montevideo by land and called
upon Admiral Brown to once more assume the com-
mand of a fleet and besiege the city from the sea.
Brown arrived before Montevideo in February,
1843, and at once occupied strategic positions. One
of his ships took possession of the island of Ratas,
where there were stored the powder and other war
158 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
material of the defenders of the city. This action at
once put the Fort and the whole defence at the mercy
of Rosas' attacking forces, and the fall of the city
into their hands was only a question of a very short
time. The British and French pohcy was the exact
opposite of that of Rosas. They sought by all means
in their power to protect the independence of Uruguay.
If Montevideo fell into the hands of Rosas, not only
would he be, for the time bemg at all events, master
of the situation, but British and French Diplomacy
would have received a severe defeat at the hands of a
man, to whom treaties and arrangements were as
though they had never been. There were no cables
by which to communicate with the home governments,
and the British and French Ministers were entirely
without instructions for such an unforeseen emergency.
The French Admiral was at Rio Janeiro ; but the
British Admiral, Mr. Purvis, was on the spot and very
wide awake. It is of course open to question how far
Admiral Purvis acted under the orders of the Ministers ;
but, it is impossible to believe that he acted without
their tacit approval at the least. He knew well what
would happen. There were only two likely alternatives
and he was prepared for either as he knew that neither
involved any real disgrace to him and he would at
any rate play the game which most suited the pohcy
of both Britain and France. He knew that the British
Government would either approve of his pohcy, or,
if not, would simply transfer him to another station,
and that in either case, he would save the situation
for the time being. He accordingly advanced with his
fleet and forced Admiral Brown to withdraw from
the Island of Ratas, and, as the most effective means
of raising the blockade, he captured the Argentine
squadron, holding Admiral Brown and all his officers
and crews as prisoners of war. A few days afterwards
the French Admiral Laine returned from Rio Janeiro
and approved immediately of the action of his colleague.
The action of Admiral Purvis was, of course, a high
handed step, and one which he would not have under-
THE EEPUBLIC 159
taken had he not known the importance of preserving
Montevideo from falhng into the hands of Rosas.
No doubt he was fully aware of the instructions
given by Sir Robert Peel to the British Minister, Mr.
Ouseley, and felt that he was carrying out the wishes
of the Home Government. The raising of the blockade
and the freeing of the anmaimition stored in Rats'
Island for the time being secured the safety of the
city, as General Paz was quite able to keep in check
the land forces of Oribe.
Of course, Admiral Brown protested against his
sequestration and Rosas, it is needless to say, did the
same.
The British Government, to avoid all questions
and to put itself in an unassailable position, withdrew
Admiral Purvis and sent him to another station. Rosas
thought he had gained his point ; but he was mistaken.
Conjointly with the removal of Admiral Purvis, the
British Government handed his passports to Mr. Mende-
ville who was Rosas' diplomatic agent. This step was
immediately followed by the appearance on the scene,
in the character of armed interventors, of the British
and French Ministers, Ouseley and Deffandis, who,
much to the disgust of Rosas, came with both the will
and the power to follow up the pohcy sustained with
such daring and foresight by Admnal Purvis.
Rosas dechned to hsten to reason, and demanded
that his right to blockade Montevideo should be recog-
nised. The Ministers Ouseley and Deffandis saw that
it was a waste of time to argue with a man w^hom
the fates had already marked for destruction, and
who was only exhibiting the preliminary madness
which is said to distinguish those whom the gods wish
to destroy. They at once broke off negotiations,
assumed the protectorate of Montevideo and in turn
declared the blockade of the Argentine ports.
About the same time, Corricntes revolted against
Rosas, and Paraguay, which was considered by Rosas
as a rebel province of Argentina, joined with Corrientes
and Uruguay in a defensive alhance against the Tyrant.
160 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
To prevent all intercourse with these provinces by
the River Parana, Rosas had sunk a number of boats
at a place called Vuelta del Obligado and put chains
across the river. This defensive line was protected
by a gunboat, the " Repubhcano,'' and by four shore
batteries. The Anglo-French squadron determined to
keep the river way open to the upper provinces and
to Paraguay, and, accordingly, on the 18th of November,
1845, the gunboats " Fulton," " Gorgon " and " Fire-
brand " advanced against the chains, broke the boom
and opened the passage. Having done this they
disembarked about 700 men and attacked the shore
batteries, which soon yielded. This action was not
by any means bloodless, but its object was achieved
and contributed largely to the success of that series
of events which cuhninated in the Battle of Caseros
and the fall of Rosas.
It is interesting to note that one of the most vigorous
opponents of Rosas' forces in Uruguay, at the time
imder consideration, was the Itahan patriot Garibaldi,
who was a resident in Uruguay for about eight years,
leaving that country for Italy in 1848.
The incident just described was the last appearance
of Admiral Brown as a naval commander. He hved
for the remainder of his hfe in quiet retirement at
Barracas and died on May 3rd, 1857, heneynerito cle la
patria. The gallant Irishman is gratefully remem-
bered and honoured in Argentina to-day.
For details of his adventurous hfe the reader is
referred to that most interesting book, by the late
Mr. Michael Mulhall, " The EngHsh in South America,"
where will be also found records of most of the Britons
who have in any way helped to further the fortunes of
Argentina and other South American countries. The
time arrived at last when the star of Rosas was to set.
General Urquiza raised an army of some 24,000 men
and marched towards Buenos Aires to attack the
T5rrant in his stronghold. Rosas went out to meet his
foe and the two armies came into colHsion at Caseros
Feb. 3rd, 1852). Urquiza gained the day and Rosas,
THE REPUBLIC 161
feeling that all was over and that he had fought his
Waterloo, escaped from the field and after a hurried
journey to Buenos Aires escaped to England, where he
resided for 25 years. No one would have suspected
that the singularly handsome old gentleman who Hved
quietly and unobtrusively in a httle farm near
Southampton was the once famous despot of Argentina.
In England, he was esteemed by all who knew him
and was frequently visited by Lord Palmerston and
his family. To his grandson, Sr. Manuel Terrero,
who gave the writer many details of Rosas' hfe in
England, he once said, " I want you to remember
what I am going to say. Whenever anything wrong
was done over there in my name, but which was not
directly attributable to me, I always got the blame
for it ; anything good and right my enemies always
put to the credit of my ministers."
Rosas died on March 14th, 1877, and was buried
in Southampton cemetery.
After Caseros, a serious attempt was made to
reorganise the Government of the Nation, still on a
federal basis, and Urquiza was appointed Director
Provisorio. The Provmce of Buenos Aires, however,
refused to agree to Urquiza 's appointment, and, on his
absenting himself for Santa Fe, the revolution of
Once de Setiembre, 1852, broke out, and Dr. Valentin
Alsina was elected Governor of Buenos Aires, which
Province refused to join with the rest of the Republic.
A Congress, held in Santa Fe on May 1st, 1853, sanc-
tioned the National Constitution, which established the
Federal Government with its three powers : Executive,
Legislati\e, and Judicial, and declared Buenos Aires
the Capital of the Nation. At the election for President
held under the Constitution, Urquiza was chosen ; and,
as Buenos Aires still held out, he established the Federal
Capital at Paran4. After a separation of six years,
Urquiza determined to force Buenos Aires to enter
into the Argentine Confederation, and both sides
took the field. Mitre leading the Buenos Aires troops.
A battle was fought at Cepeda and the forces of the
K
162 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Confederation triumphed over those of Buenos Aires.
Dr. Alsina resigned the Government and was succeeded
by Senor Llavallol. Owing to the mediation of the
Paraguayan Government, an agreement was made,
called the Pacto de San Jose, the result of which was
the entrance of Buenos Aires into the Confederation
and its acceptance of the Argentine Constitution.
Unfortunately, a further battle was needed to com-
pletely clear the air. Urquiza was succeeded as Presi-
dent by Derqui, and a dispute arose between Buenos
Aires and the rest of the Repubhc about a revolution
in San Juan. The same Generals again faced each
other in the field ; but this time fortune favoured
Mitre, who added Pa von to his other laurels. Urquiza
retired to Entre Rios and Derqui resigned the Presi-
dency. As the result of elections held over the whole
country. Mitre entered into ofl&ce as the first Constitu-
tional President of the whole Nation, which now began
to call itself the RepiibUca Argentina.
With the election of General Mitre to the Presidency
of the Republic, we enter upon the last stage of the
kaleidoscopic government of the country. Not that the
Argentine history can be written in rose-water since
that date, any more than before it ; but the form of
Constitutional Government has since been preserved ;
and, although he would be a bold man who would
prophesy that the age of revolutions has finished, still
there is every probabihty that the form of government
now prevailing will be permanent. True, a time may
come, when it will be seen that a unitarian and not a
federal system will be better and more economical
for the country ; but many self-denying ordinances
will have to be signed, before such a change can be-
brought within the range of practical poHtics.
During the presidency of General Mitre took place
the war with Paraguay brought about by the machina-
tions of Brazil and the actions of the Paraguayan
despot Francisco Solano Lopez. The Argentines were
allied with Brazil and Uruguay, and the struggle lasted
until the greater part of the male population of Para-
THE REPUBLIC 163
guay was destroyed and Lopez was killed. Then
Argentina found that although the Hon's share of
the fighting had been done by her, the lion's share
of the spoils fell to Brazil, which country tried, by
every kind of diplomatic subtlety, to prevent Argentina
from getting any benefit whatever from the sacrifices
she had made. Those who care to understand the
extent to which Brazilian diplomacy has gone in
opposing Argentina, can find all the details in the
writings of the distinguished Argentine statesman
Dr. Estanislao Zeballos in the " Revista de Derecho,
Historia, etc.," of which he is the editor.
On the conclusion of Mitre's term, the great school-
master President, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, was
elected, Oct. 12th, 1868. He came from North America,
where he was Argentine Minister, to assume the reins
of office. His Presidency was fruitful in progressive
work of all kinds. The assassination of Urquiza in
Entre Rios brought about National Intervention in
that Province, and it was not until the defeat of Lopez
Jordan and his flight to Brazil, that order was restored.
When the time drew near for the choice of a new Presi-
dent, two important parties were formed in Buenos
Aires, one called " Nacionahstas " and the other
" Autonomistas." The leader of the former was
General Mitre and of the latter Dr. Adolfo Alsina.
In the Provinces the candidature of Dr. Nicolds Avel-
laneda was proclaimed. The Autonomista party joined
forces with the Avellanedistas, and Dr. Avellaneda
was elected President, and entered into possession of
the seals of office on October 12th, 1874. A revolution
broke out headed by Generals Mitre and Arredondo.
Two battles were fought, one at La Verde, in which
Mitre was defeated by Colonel Arias, and one at Santa
Rosa, in which Arredondo was defeated by General
Roca. The revolution was therefore crushed, and
Dr. Avellaneda was allow^ed to complete his presidential
term, owing to a concihatory pohcy, whereby Mitristas,
Alsinistas and Avellanedistas shared in the government.
Dr. Alsina was Minister of War.
164 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
At the close of Avellaneda's term, General Roca
was elected to the Presidency and commenced to
govern on Oct. 12th, 1880. His entry into power was
not easy. Dr. Carlos Tejedor, the Governor of the
Province and Roca's rival in the candidatm'e for the
Presidency, resisted General Roca's entry into the
city of Buenos Aires, then the Capital of the Province
as well as of the Nation. The National Government
and Congress estabHshed the seat of government at
Belgrano (then outside the city boundary), and Roca
prepared to force his entrance into the Capital. The
combats of the Puente Alsina and Corrales gave the
victory to Roca, who entered the city and put an
end to the schemes of Tejedor. Two years afterwards
Dr. Dardo Rocha, the then Governor of the Province,
founded the city of La Plata as the Provincial Capital,
Buenos Aires having been previously declared Federal
territory and the Capital of the Nation. General Roca
completed his first term in peace ; but, unfortunately,
imposed on the country, as his successor, his brother-
in-law, Dr. Miguel Juarez Celman, under whose rule
took place the " crisis of progress," or period of national
madness, from the effects of which the country is still
suffering. The country stood the parody of government
until the traditional worm turned, and a revolution
broke out amid the applause of the whole of the citizens.
It was put down after great slaughter by the soldiery ;
but it gained its end, as, after a few days of intrigue,
Ju4rez Celman resigned, and Dr. Carlos Pellegrini
entered the Casa Rosada, Hterally in the arms of the
people. He completed Juarez Celman's term ; and,
in 1892, Dr. Luis Saenz Pena was elected President,
as the result of a coaHtion. A man without a party,
he had a bad time of it in the presidential chair : he
tried all kinds of Ministers, until the office of a Minister
became a drug in the market and no one was found
" so poor as to do it reverence." Unable to govern
for want of Ministers, Dr. Saenz Pena allowed the
Vice-President, Dr. Jose Evaristo Uriburu, to complete
his term, which expired on October 12th, 18^8.
THE REPUBLIC 165
General Roca was again elected President and
held the office from 1898 to 1904. During his presi-
dency the boundary question with Chile, which had
brought the two countries to the verge of war, was
settled, being referred to the arbitration of King
Edward VII, who sent out a commission under Col.
Holditch to survey the territory in dispute. The
award was favourably received by both nations and
what is to be hoped will be a lasting peace was the
result. Col. Holditch has WTitten an interesting book
of his survey entitled, " The Countries of the King's
Award."
In 1904, Dr. Manuel Quintana was elected Presi-
dent. In February of the following year, a wanton
attempt at a revolution was put down in 48 hours.
The year 1906 was a fatal one for the country. Presi-
dent Quintana died and was succeeded by Dr. Figueroa
Alcorta, the vice-president. In the same year General
Mitre died and was buried with all signs of national
mourning and, shortly afterwards, Dr. Carlos Pelle-
grini was carried to the tomb. The loss of these three
personages within a few short months was an irre-
parable disaster for the country. Dr. Pellegrini, who
was of British descent on his mother's side, was a loyal
friend to Great Britain. His address at the opening
of the British Argentine Exhibition in November,
1905, was a masterly exposition of Argentina's recog-
nition of the services of the British nation and will
long be quoted as an eloquent tribute of admiration
of all that is British. Dr. Pellegrini was a notable
speaker and was the Argentine " Rupert of Debate."
Dr. Quintana had for years been associated with British
enterprises and had earned the esteem of the British
commerce.
With these tributes to some of Argentina's recent
patriots I will conclude this outhne of Argentine
history.
At the tinie of writing Dr. Roque Sdenz Pena
has been duly elected to the Presidency of the
Republic,
166 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
The progress of the nation is assured and it will
ever be to the honour of Great Britain that she
showed her confidence in the country from its earhest
years of independence and has contributed more
than all other nations put together towards its
development and glory.
CHAPTER VIII
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA
Before giving a detailed account of the fauna and
flora of the country it will be not uninteresting to
say a few words as to the part played by British
naturalists in the study of the animal and plant life
of Argentina. On the occasion of the British Argentine
Exhibition in 1905, the writer was asked to draw up
a report on this subject and it is from this report that
the details which follow are extracted.
The labours of British naturaUsts have, to a
large extent, been directed towards the bird life or
ornithology of the country, which part of natural
history, so far as concerns Argentina, may be almost
said to have been exhausted by them. It is not likely
that very many species remain to be discovered.
We find from Riva's Efemerides Americanas that
the first EngHshmen entered Buenos Aires on July
12th, 1610 ; but as they were refugees from a corsario
we do not expect that they were very scientific. Sir
Francis Drake and other well-known seamen, such as
Narborough, Bryce and Wallace, had previously visited
Patagonia ;' but, except for general references to
Patagonian giants and Tierra del Fuegian dwarfs,
little was known of the country until the famous expedi-
tion of the " Beagle," which, under the command of
Captain Fitzroy, R.N., sailed from De\onport on the
27th of December, 1831. Captain Fitzroy had been
previously in conmiand of the " Beagle " during a
portion of the time when that vessel was engaged,
with the " Adventure," in the survey of the South
American Coasts, undertaken and partly carried out
by Captain (afterwards Admiral) King, in 1826-30.
167
168 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
One object of the second voyage of the " Beagle "
was to complete the survey referred to, and then to
carry a chain of chronometrical measurements round
the world. This voyage of the " Beagle " was destined
to bear great and unexpected fruit.
Accompanying the expedition in the character of
naturahst was the youth, who now sleeps in West-
minster Abbey, the illustrious Charles Darwin, then
only twenty- two years of age. The circumstances
under which he joined the expedition and the interesting
correspondence which took place on the subject between
Darwin himself. Professor Henslow and others, are
all set out in his memoir pubhshed by his son, Francis
Darwin, the President of the British Association during
its assembly in South Africa.
Darwin's " Journal " during the voyage of the
" Beagle " is one of the classics of EngHsh Literature,
as well as a most fascinating book of travels and
scientific observation. It was during this voyage
that the young naturahst began to collect that enor-
mous mass of evidence that by sheer weight, as it
were, forced the doctrines afterwards associated with
the name of the author into universal acceptance.
The " Beagle " arrived at Montevideo on the 26th
July, 1832, and a stay of ten weeks was made at Mal-
donado. Referring to the " Journal " we find copious
notes of observations on the rhea, or avestruz, the
capybazy, the tucutuco {Ctenomys Brasiliensis), the
cowbirds, the bien-te-veo, the calandria, the carrancho,
the chimango, the gallinazo, etc.
From Montevideo, the " Beagle " sailed to the mouth
of the Rio Negro, and thence to Bahia Blanca, then
" scarcely deserving the name of a village." In the
neighbourhood of Punta Alta, Darwin first came upon
the fossilized remains of those mighty animals, the
Megatherium, the Megalonyx, the Scelidotheriima, the
Mylodon Darwinii and many others, which were after-
wards described by the great anatomist. Professor
Owen, and deposited in the Royal College of Surgeons,
London. This part of Darwin's journal is again full
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 169
of notes on the avifauna of the district, and many
descriptions of birds and other animals found in our
books of natural history are based on the observations
made at this time. Armadilloes, snakes, rodents and
reptiles of all kinds were seen by the young naturahst
and described with the most copious and accurate
details. Coming up through the Province of Buenos
Aires, he arrived at the City of Buenos Aires on 20th
September, 1833. From thence he went overland to
Santa Fe, and returned, by river, to Buenos Aires,
landing at Las Conchas (or the Tigre), with the object
of riding into the city from that place, but as there
was a revolution going on, he could not in any event
have continued his journey by boat, so perforce had
to ride, making a long detour to avoid difficulties.
It may be stated, in passing, that Darwin's visit
to Argentina took place during the time of Kosas,
who made a most favourable impression on the
naturahst, whom he treated with great courtesy.
Darwin left Buenos Aires a fortnight afterwards,
returning to Montevideo, where he made many journeys
along the banks of the Plate, and inland, and on
December 6th the " Beagle " left what Mr. Hudson
calls the Purple River, but what Darwin calls the
muddy stream of the Rio Plata. Near San Bias the
traveller encountered a shower of butterflies. The
" Beagle's " course led down the coast of Patagonia
by Port Desire (Deseado), San JuHan and the coast of
Santa Cruz. Here Darwin made many observations
on the habits of the guanaco, the condor and other
larger animals, as well as on those of insects. After
a detour to the Falkland Islands, the " Beagle " visited
Tierra del Fuego, where Darwin made notes of great
interest on the Indian tribes.
After passing up the Western Coast of the Continent
as far as Valparaiso, Mr. Darwin again entered Argentine
territory by the Portillo Pass, through the Cordilleras,
visiting Mendoza, and returning by the Pass of
Uspallata, the Rio de las Vacas, and the Puente del
Inca,
170 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
The zoological specimens collected by Mr. Darwin
during this expedition were described by Mr. John
Gould in the " Zoology of the Beagle." Mr. Gould's
notes were revised and the final pubUcation issued by
Professor G. R. Gray. The paloentological specimens
collected were described, as already stated, by Pro-
fessor Owen, and the botanical specimens by Mr.
(afterwards Sir) Joseph Dalton Hooker. The latter
distinguished botanist described the flora of Tierra del
Fuego and south-west Patagonia in a large work entitled
" Flora Antarctica," pubhshed in 1847.
At the time of Darwin's visit, there was hving,
in quiet semi-obscurity in the far-ofi Province of Salta,
Dr. Joseph Redhead, a man of wide instruction and
considerable scientific acquirements. He was a graduate
of Edinburgh University and of Gottingen. Happening,
during a journey through Europe, to find himself in
Paris about the year 1785, he managed to get conveyed
as a prisoner to the Bastille, then the dread of Paris
and to become the symbol of despotic tyranny to the
whole world. He was Hberated after a detention of
fourteen months, and, in 1809, came to South America
in the suite of Cisneros, the last of the Viceroys. He
travelled considerably in the interior of South America,
and wrote many scientific papers, especially on geo-
logical questions ; but he also studied and wrote on
the properties of indigenous plants from a medicinal
point of view. He finally settled in Salta. Mr. M. G.
Mulhall, in his " EngHsh in South America," states
that " here he passed fifty years in medical and
scientific studies, dying in December, 1840, at a very-
ad vanced age, beloved and regretted by all the in-
habitants." The latter date is clearly an error, as
in 1840 he had only been thirty-one years in South
America.
Another EngHshman, who studied the botany of
the Andine regions about this time, was Dr. Gillies,
of Mendoza. He was " a young Scotch physician who
came to^Mendoza suffering from a severeTpulmonary
affection, and finding benefit from the climate settled
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 171
down here/' (Mulhall). He sent his botanical speci-
mens to Sir Joseph Hooker, who pubhshed descriptions
of them under the title of " Cesalpiae Gilliesii."
Dr. GilHes was the first Enghshman who explored
the Damas and Planchon Passes through the Cordillera,
and pubhshed a narrative of this journey in 1827.
The name of Sir Woodbine Parish, F.R.S., must
not be omitted from our hst of scientific writers. Not
only is he famous for negotiating the treaty of peace
between Argentina and Great Britain in 1825, for
which he received his knighthood and a pension,
but he wrote an important book entitled " Buenos
Aires from the Conquest,'' which contained a description
of the " Geolog)^ and Fossil Monsters of the Pampas.''
Sir Woodbiue Parish was a Vice-President of the
Royal Society of London.
A writer, whose observations are quoted in some
works on Natural History, though not himself a
NaturaUst, was Captain Head, who came to Argentina
in 1825 as a mining explorer. He made a famous
ride from Buenos Aires to Mendoza (1,000 miles) in
eight days.
In 1857, Messrs. Rams and Rubert explored the
River Salado, or Juramento ; and in 1862 they made
a second journey down the same river, accompanied
this time by Mr. Thomas J. Hutchinson, F.R.G.S.,
F.R.S.L., F.E.S., then H.B.M. Consul in Rosario.
Mr. Hutchinson joined this expedition, at the request
of the British Government, with the object of dis-
covering if the cotton plant grew in the neighbourhood
of the River Salado, and of advising as to its cultiva-
tion. Mr. Hutchinson wrote an interesting volume
(published by E. Stanford, 1865), entitled " Buenos
Aires and Argentine gleanings with extracts from a
diary of the Salado Expedition, 1862-1863." A few
years later (1869) he pubhshed another volume entitled
** South American Recollections." From Rosario, Mr.
Hutchinson went as Consul to Peru.
In 1859 and 1862, Mr. Nathaniel Cox explored the
Bio Negro, partly on foot and partly in a canoe, arriving
172 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
at the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi in his first journey
from the Chilean side, and as far as Villarina on a
second journey.
In 1866 an exploring expedition was sent out by
the British Government in H.M.S. " Nassau." Mr.
Robert 0. Cunningham, M.D., F.L.S., accompanied
the expedition as naturahst, and recorded his observa-
tions in a most interesting volume entitled " The
Natural History of the Straits of Magellan and the
West Coast of Patagonia." Although the territory
explored was mainly Chilean, Mr. Cunningham's de-
scriptions are equally applicable to the fauna and flora
of the neighbouring Argentine shores.
In 1869, Captain George Chaworth Masters, of the
Royal Navy, made his famous excursion from Punta
Arenas, in the Straits of Magellan, across Patagonia
in a northerly direction. His wanderings took him
to the foot of the Andes, from whence he crossed to
Chubut, discovering the lake which bears his name.
He published an account of his journey which was
described by Sir Roderick Murchison to the Royal
Geographical Society as " the most hazardous of all
men living, except Livingstone."
Mr. Charles Ledger, for many years a resident in
South America, and during a portion of that time
in Salta, is known in connection with the introduction
of the guanaco (llama) and alpaca into Austraha, for
which he received the thanks of the British Govern-
ment and a donation of £2,000. (Mulhall).
From 1870 to 1890, the principal scientific work of
British naturahsts was in the branch of ornithology.
Mr. William Henry Hudson, C.M.Z.S., well known for
his writings " The Purple Land that England lost,"
" The Naturahst in La Plata," " Idle days in Pata-
gonia," etc., was for many years an indefatigable
observer of bird hfe in Argentina. " The Naturahst
in La Plata " is one of the most entrancing books on
Natural History ever written.
Mr. Hudson's specimens were forwarded to England
to the celebrated ornithologist Professor P. L, Sclater,
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 173
F.R.S., who added notes to several of the communica-
tions made by Mr. Hudson to the Zoological Society
of which he was a corresponding member. The following
list of Mr. Hudson's communications is given in the
larger work on ornithology to which reference will be
made further on : —
1. Letters on the Ornithology of Buenos Aires.
P.Z.S. 1869, 1870, 1871.
2. On Birds of Rio Negro and Patagonia. P.Z.S.
1872.
3. On habits of Swallows of Genus Progne. P.Z.S.
1872.
4. Further Observations on Argentine Swallows.
P.Z.S. 1872.
5. Notes on habits of Churrinche. P.Z.S. 1872.
6. Notes on habits of Argentine Pipit. P.Z.S.
1873.
7. Notes on Procreant instinct of three species of
cowbirds found in Argentina. P.Z.S. 1874.
8. On habits of Burrowing Owl. P.Z.S. 1874.
9. On Herons of Argentine Repubhc. P.Z.S. 1875.
10. Note on Spoonbill of Argentina. P.Z.S. 1876.
11. Note on Rails of Argentina. P.Z.S. 1876.
12. Note on Birds of Genus Eomorus. Ibis 1885.
Mr. Hudson, on leaving the Argentine Repubhc,
went to reside in England, where he published the
larger works referred to and also one on British Orni-
thology " Birds in a Village " (1893).
Mr. Henry Dumford, whose untimely death in
1878 was a loss to ornithological science, resided in
Ajgentina for three years previous to his death. He
was bom and educated at Eton, of which his father
was a Master. At eighteen years of age he entered
a Liverpool business house, but spent his leisure in
natural history studies, his communications appearing
in the Zoologist, 1872-3. In 1875 he came to Buenos
Aires, being twenty-two years old. The firm with
which he was Ibgaged closed its branch two years
later, and young Dumford devoted himself to bird
174 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
study and to travelling. He went to the Welsh Colony
in Chupat (Chubut), and then went Northwards intend-
ing to pass through Tucuman and Salta to BoUvia
and Paraguay. Unfortunately, he died of heart
disease at Campo Santo in Salta, July I3th, 1878.
His published works are as follows : —
1. Ornithological notes from neighbourhood of
Buenos Aires, made during five months' residence in
Belgrano. Ibis 1876.
2. Notes on birds, made at Baradero. Ibis 1877.
3. Notes on birds, made at Baradero. Ibis 1878.
4. Notes on some birds observed in Chupat Valley.
Ibis 1877.
5. Notes on birds of Central Patagonia. Ibis 1878.
6. Last expedition to Tucuman and Salta, being
almost a verbal copy of his journal during the journey
on which he died. Ibis 1880.
" Ibis " is the journal of the Ornithological Union,
of which Mr. Dumford was a member.
Mr. Ernest Gibson, of Los Ingleses, Ajo, is another
ornithologist, whose studies have appeared in " Ibis."
1. Ornithological notes from neighbourhood of San
Antonio. Ibis 1879.
2. Notes on Birds of Paysandu, 1883. Species
were sent to Mr. Dalgleish and described by Mr. Sclater.
Mr. Ernest Wm. White, F.Z.S., was the son of the
well known Dr. White, of Buenos Aires. His death at
Philadelphia on 29th Nov., 1884, removed, all too
soon, one who was an ornament to hterature, as well
as a keen naturaHst. He pubhshed the following com-
munications on ornithology : —
1. Notes on Birds collected in Argentina. P.Z.S.
1882.
2. Supplementary Notes on Birds collected in Argen-
tina. P.Z.S. 1883.
3. Further Notes on Birds collected in Argentina.
P.Z.S. 1883.
No. 15. Victoria 1-'alls. .Misioxes
Nil. Ki. Lakk 1;( icnos Aikks, Santa Cruz.
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 177
Mr. White also pubKshed an interesting work,
in two volumes, " Cameos of the Silver Land/' which
is a most valuable contribution to our knowledge of
the country in general as well as of its natural history.
Mr. Walter B. Barrows, who resided at Concepcion
del Uruguay in 1879 and 1880, and afterwards made
an excursion to the Sierra de la Ventana, wrote notes
on the Birds of the Lower Uruguay for the Bulletin
of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, vol. viii., and for
the Auk (1884). At length, in 1889, all this varied
ornithological material was collected in a standard
work, by Professor Sclater and Mr. Hudson, entitled
" Argentine Ornithology." This monumental work is
in two volumes ; but, as the issue was Hmited to 200
signed copies, it was rather expensive and is rare.
Copies may be consulted at the National Museum,
Buenos Aires. In these volumes nearly five hundred
Argentine species are described, and there are several
well executed coloured plates. Many of our references
are extracted from the Bibliography at the end of the
second volume.
Since the publication of this work, the ornithology
of the country has been left in the hands of Mr. A. H.
Holland, of the Estancia Santa Elena, Halsey, who has
communicated the following papers to " Ibis " : —
1. On some Birds collected at Estancia Espartillar,
near Ranchos. Ibis, 1891.
2. Further Notes on Birds of Argentina. Ibis 1892.
3. Short Notes on Birds of Estancia Espartillar.
Ibis 1892.
These were written after a visit to England and a
re-arrangement of his collection.
4. Field Notes on Birds of Estancia Santa Elena.
Ibis 1893.
5. Field Notes on Birds of Estancia Santa Elena.
Ibis 1895.
6. Field Notes on Birds of Estancia Santa Elena.
Ibis 1896.
178 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
In the year 1890, Captain John Page, of the Argentine
Navy, endeavoured to ascend the fateful river Pil-
comayo. He was accompanied by Mr. J. Graham
Kerr, of Edinburgh University, as naturahst. Mr. Kerr
wrote several letters on the ornithology of the expedi-
tion, addressed to Professor T. Bay ley Balfour, F.R.S.
These were published in " Ibis," in 1890, 1891 and
1892.
In 1893, Argentina was visited by Professor R.
Lyddeker, the celebrated English Naturalist. This
visit produced several articles in " Knowledge," " Ibis,"
etc. Amongst these we may name " The Mailed
Monsters of Argentina," " On the Extinct Giant Birds
of Argentina," " On the Aquatic habits of the Chaja,"
In 1902, Mr. H. Hesketh Prichard, F.Z.S., arrived
in Argentina on a journey in search of the mylodon,
which it was considered within the bounds of possi-
biUty might still be existing in some out-of-the-way
region of Patagonia. Mr. Pritchard's journey was
unsuccessful. He described it in a well got up volume
entitled " Through the Heart of Patagonia." The
volume concludes with a list of plants collected, classi-
fied by Dr. Rendle and Mr. James Britten, F.L.S.,
of the Botanical Department of the British Museum.
The present writer has, during his residence in the
country, written scores of papers in the local press on
subjects relating to the Natural History of the country
and has given frequent popular lectures on the same
subject. He intends shortly to pubUsh, as a special
volume, a detailed account of the fauna of Argentina.
For several years he was engaged as naturahst to the
Argentine Rural Society and studied extensively the
parasites of the domestic animals. During the locust
invasion of 1891-2 he made a complete study of that
insect, and his investigations were pubhshed in book
form under the title of "La Langosta Argentina."
He founded in 1909, in company with Mr. Larkby,
also a fiequent writer to the press on subjects astro-
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 179
nomical and geological, a society for the study of
natural science named the River Plate Scientific Society,
which contains several earnest students of Natural
History.
Dr. Miles Stuart Pennington, a son of the writer,
is a student of Argentine Botany and while assistant
in the Museum of Pharmacology of the medical Faculty
made two botanical expeditions, one to Tierra del
Fuego and the other to the Parana Delta and Entre
Rios. During those excursions he collected almost
a thousand species of plants, which are in the Museum
referred to, and of many of which duphcates have
been sent to the leading Museums of Europe. He has
also published the following papers : —
1. Uredineas del Rio Parand. An. Arg. Sci. Soc,
1902.
2. Uredmeas del Rio Parana (second paper). An.
Arg. Sci. Soc, 1903.
3. MedicLua Popular del Delta del Parana. 1904.
4. Enumeracion de Plantas Fuegianas Recolectadas.
1905.
It must not be supposed that the bulk of the
scientific work of the country or anything hke it has
been done by British observers. I have given the
foregoing summary to show what my countrymen
have done and not to assign to them the leading place
in the scientific studies of Argentina. It is to such
men as Burmeister, Berg, Ameghiao, Holmberg, Lynch,
Arribalzaga, and others, whom I shall name, that
we owe most of our knowledge of the fauna of the
country, except in the department of ornithology, and
it is to such as Holmberg, Spegazini, Gallardo,
Dominguez, etc., that we owe our knowledge of the
flora.
I will now briefly enumerate the principal species
of animals and plants which have their habitat within
the limits of Argentina, premising that there are very
few species indeed that are pecuhar to that country.
L
180 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Mammalia.
Primates. — The monkeys in the New World are
all true monkeys, that is to say, have long tails. They
have also broad noses and hence are named Platyr-
rhini to distinguish them from the Catarrhini, of the
Old World.
The Argentine monkeys are the Saki {Callithrix
Personata, Wied.) with a non-prehensile tail, the Howling
Monkey {Mycetes Car ay a, Desm.), the Cay or Capuchin
{Cebus Azarae, Reng.) and the pretty Marmoset or
Ouistiti {Hapale Penicillata, Geoff.).
Chiroptera. — The interesting order of Bats has
numerous examples in the country, all the Argentine
species being insectivorous. The hideous Vampire
Bat {Phyllostoma Spectrum, Lin.) is found in the north
of the Repubhc. The most common species of the
Gymnorhina, which have no nasal appendage, is the
Vespertilio Isidori (Ger.) which is the common " Mur-
cielago " of the Argentines. Other species are F.
Nigricans (Wied.), Dysopes Naso (Wagner), Nycticejus
Bonaerensis (Less.) and Noctilio Leporinus (Grelin).
Insectivora. — This order, which contains the
shrews and the moles, is not represented in the country.
Carnivora (The flesh-eating mammals). — The Car-
nivora are represented by the Cat tribe or Felidse,
the Dog tribe or Canidae, the Bear tribe or Ursidse,
and the Weasel and Martens or Mustelidae. Of the
cat tribe there are found in Argentina the well-known
Puma or Cougar {Felis Concolor, Lin.), commonly called
the " leon,'' the dreaded Jaguar {F. onca) always
referred to in Argentina as the " Tigre," the Pampas
or Straw cat {F. Pajero, Azara), the Margay or Tiger
cat {F. tigrina, Lin.) which is rare, as is also the
Jaguarondi {F. Jaguarondi, Azar.), the " Gato Montes "
or wild cat {F. Catus, Lin.), Geoffrey's cat also called
the Gato Montes {F. Geoffoyi or guigna, D'Orb.). The
" Chibi guazu," a kind of Ocelot {F. mitis) and, rarely
in the north, the weasel-like Eyra {F. Eyra) and the
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 181
Colocolo {F. Colocolo). The Ocelot {F. Pardalis) has
been said to be found in Patagonia, but is not usually
considered an Argentine species.
To the Dog tribe belong the Red Wolf or " Aguara
guazu " {Canis Jvbatus, Desm.), the Patagonian Fox
{C. Magellanicus, Gray), also called the Culpeu, the
Pampas Fox or "Aguara Chay " (Canis Azarae, Wied.),
the crab eating dog or " zorro selvatico " (C Can-
crivorus, Desm.), and the Graceful Fox (C Gracilis,
Burm.) found in the Andine provinces and also in
Chile, where it is called Chilla.
The only representative of the Bear tribe is the
Coati or Soncho {Nasua Narica, Lin.) found in the
Chaco and Misiones.
To the Mustehdse or Weasels and Martens belong
the Zorrino, Chincha or Skunk, whose scientific name
Mephitis suffocans sufiiciently describes its character,
the Nutria or Otter, popularly called the Lobo acuatico
{Lutra Paranensis, Reng.), the Huron Menor or Grison
(Gallictis Vittata, Bell), the Huron Mayor or Tayra
{G. Barbara, Lin.) which is said to be the ughest of
all the Carnivora, and the Quiqui or {Lyncodon Pata-
gonicus, Gerv.).
PiNNiPEDiA. — The seals are sometimes separated
from the Carnivora as a distinct order, at other times
treated as a sub-order. To the Phocidse or true Seals
belong the Argentine common seal or foca {Phoca
vitulia, Lin.) and the false sea-leopard or Weddel's
seal {Stenorhycus Weddelii), while to the Otaridae or
eared seals belong the Falkland Island Fur seal or
Lobo Marino (Arctocephalus Falklandictis, Forst) and
Cook's Otary or the Patagonian Hair Seal, also called
the Sea Lion [Otaria jubata, Forst).
RoDENTiA. — The Rodents or gnawing animals are
numerous in Argentina and some of the species are
pecuhar to the country. Most of the so-called Hares
are really Cavies, the only true indigenous hare being
the Tapiti {Lepus Brasiliensis) found in the extreme
north. The Cavies are peculiar to South America.
Amongst these are the Patagonian Cavy (Dilichotis
182 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Patagonica, Shaw), which is called by the Indians
Marra ; the Conejo del campo {D. centralis, Weyen) ;
the Southern Cavy {Cavia Australis), called by the
Spaniards the Conejo or rabbit ; the Aperea or restless
Cavy of which the Cuis {Cavia Leucopyga, Brandt)
is a near form, if not an actual variety, and which is
beheved to be the wild form of the guinea pig ; the
water Cavy, water-pig, Carpincho or Capybary {Hydro-
clioerus Capybara), which is the largest hving rodent,
and the pretty Agouti {Dasyprocta). The Coendu,
Puerco Espin or Porcupine {Cercolabes Prehensilis,
Lin.) is the only representative of the Family Aculeata.
It is found in Misiones. To the family Octodontidse
belong the Coypu or Quija, commonly, but falsely,
called the nutria {Myopotamus Coypu), which is the
source of the " nutria " skins sold in the market, and
the Tucutuco, so called from its cry {Ctenomys Brasil-
iensis, Blainv.). To the family of the Chinchillas
belong the Vizcacha, a most interesting rodent found
everywhere in the Pampa {Lagostomus trichodactylus,
Brookes), whose habits somewhat resemble those of
the Marmot ; the Vizcacha de las Sierras [Lagidium
Cuvieri, Wagn.), and the Chinchilla (C. lanigera), which
is found in the Andine district.
Of the rat and mouse tribes there are numerous
species.
Ungulates. — The hoofed animals are divided into
two sub-orders, the Artiodactyla, or two-toed animals,
and the Perissodactyla or one-toed. To the former
belong the Argentine Peccary, wild Boar or Jabali
{Dicotyles torquatus, Cuv.), the Guanaco {Auchenia llama),
which is the wild Llama and the Vicuna {A. vicuna)
of which the domesticated variety is the Alpaca. To
the same sub -order belong the deer, of which there
are five species in the country, namely, the Ciervo or
" Guazu-puca,'* of Azara, {Cervus paludosus, Desm.),
the Chilean deer, called also the Guemul or Huemul,
{Cervus Chilensis, Gray) ; the widely spread Cervus
campestris, of which the male is called the Venado
and the female the Gama, and which is the " Guazu-ti ''
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 183
or " Guazu-y " of the Indians ; the " Guazu Pita " of
the Chaco (Cervus Rufus, 111.) and the Cervus Simpli-
cornis or " Guazu bira " found in the same district.
It is needless to say anything here of the domestic
animals of this sub-family. Besides the horse, the
only single- toed Ungulate in Argentina, is the Tapir,
Anta or Gran Bestia (Tapirus Americanus, Lin.), called
by the Indians " Mborebi."
Get ACE A. — The \^Tiales and Porpoises, although
fish-Hke in form, are in every respect true marmnals
and form the mammahan order Cetacea. The Cetacea
are divided into two sub-orders, the Mystacoceti, or
whalebone whales, and the Odontoceti or toothed
Cetaceans. The Mystacete whales have a large head
without teeth, but with baleen or whalebone plates.
To this sub-order belong the Argentine species Baloe-
noptera Bonaerensis (Burm.), which is one of the Rorquals
or Finners ; the Physalis Patachonicus (Gray), which
has been several times thrown up on the shore near
Buenos Aires. The Sihbaldicus Intermedius Antarcticus
(Burm.) attains 80 feet in length. The River Dolphin
or Franciscano, StenodelpJiis Blainvillei, belongs to the
toothed cetaceans and is one of the three fresh water
species known to naturahsts. It is common at the
mouth of the Plate. Other dolphins are Delphinus
Cymodoce (Gray) and Lagenorrhucus Ccerulus Alhus
(Meyer). The Orca Magellanica is a species of grampus
or killer whale, and the Phcecena Spinipinnis is a
porpoise often found in the estuary of the Plate. There
is one Argentine species of sperm whale, or Cachelot,
the Epiodon Australis (Burm.). The remains of one
of these whales, thrown up on the shore at Buenos
Aires, are in the National Museum.
Edentata. — Argentina is par excellence the home
of the armadillos and, for ages back, the Pampas have
sheltered animals of this order. The fossihsed remains
of gigantic species are frequently unearthed, and in
Lyddeker's " Mailed Monsters of Argentina " {Know-
ledge, March, 1894) are some interesting descriptions
of the Pampean denizens of old. The present species
184 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
of Armadillo are the Giant Armadillo {Dasypus Gigas,
Cuv.) ; the Tatu {D. Tatouay, Desm.) ; the Peludo,
so called from the hairs interspersed among the armour
plates {D. villosus, Desm.) ; the Mulita {D. hihridus) ;
the Piche or Quirquincho (Z). Minutus) ; the Mataco
or Ball Armadillo (Z). Afar), and the cm-ious little
species, not bigger than a rat, and only protected by
an armour plate on its back, the Pichiciego [Chlamydo-
phorus Truncatus, Harl.). In some English books
this last species is called the fairy pink armadillo.
To the Edentata also belong the Ant eater or
Tamandua (Myrmecophaga juhata, Lin.) and the Sloth,
Perezoso or Perico Ligero {Brady pus Tridactylus).
Marsupialia. — America shares with Australia the
presence of a number of Marsupials or pouched animals.
In Argentina these all belong to the Opossums or
Comadrejas. The Micure (Didelphys Azarce) is the
largest species and the only one in which the pouch
is fully developed. In the other species the teats are
protected by a fold of skin, and the young are, after
leaving the nipple, carried on the back of the mother
holding on to her tail by their similar appendages.
These are the thick tailed Opossum or Comadreja
colorada (D. Crassicaudata), Merion's opossum, no
bigger than a rat, the Chilean opossum (D. Elegans)
still smaller, and the red-sided opossum {D. Brachyura)
occasionally found in the province of Buenos Aires.
AvES (Birds).
As there are at least five hundred species of birds
already known to inhabit Argentina, it will not be
possible to detail them all. I shall, therefore, refer
to the most typical or interesting species in each
family.
TuRDiDAE (Thrushes). — The Dusky Thrush (Turdus
Leucomel, Vieill.) is a very sweet singer, and according
to Hudson, one of the finest singing birds he ever
heard, the Zorzal (T. Rufiventris, Vieill.), the Calan-
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 185
dria or mocking-bird {Mimus Modulator, Gould), and
the South American mocking-bird, Mimus Triurus,
the prince of Argentine songsters. This species is
sometimes called the " calandria de tres colas " or
the " calandria blanca/'
Troglodytidae (Wrens). — The common wren of
Europe {Troglodytes Furvus) is called the Ratona by
the Argentines. There is also another species, the
" Todovoz " of Azara {Cistothones Platensis).
MoTACiLLADAE (Wagtails). — Of this family are found
the conunon pipit or Cachila, also called the Correndera
{Anthu^ Correndera), and a rarer species {A. furcatus)
or fork-tailed pipit.
HiRUNDiNiDAE (Swallows). — These include the
domestic martin or golondrina {Progne Chalyhea) ;
the tree martin {Cotyle Tamper a), which uses the nest
of the Homero in preference to building one of its
own ; the bank swallow {Atticera Cyanoleuca), which
makes its nests in the burrows of the vizcacha, and
the Nacunda goatsucker, also called the duerme-
duerme, gallina ciega, etc. {Podager Nacunda).
Fringillinae (Finches). — There are about fifty
species of finches in the country. Amongst the most
interesting are the Cardinal, conspicuous for its scarlet
crest and throat {Paroaria cucullata) ; the screaming
finch, so called from its note, which it repeats so rapidly
that it becomes a scream {Spermophilis Ccerulea) ;
the Argentine redbreast or pecho Colorado {Poaspiza
Nigrorufa) ; the yellow cardinal, a frequent cage bird
(P. Caniceps) ; the chingolo or song sparrow, the best
known Argentine finch {Zonotrichia Pileata), unfortu-
nately being driven away and supplanted by the
common sparrow, which is determined to rule the roost
in Argentina as in other parts of the world ; the Jil-
guero Cabeza Negra {Chrisomitris Icterica) the male
of which is distinguished by a black head ; the Jilguero
Amarillo (Sycalis Brasiliensis) ; the yellow house
sparrow {S. Pelzelni), common in Buenos Aires, and
the Misto, which is found in flocks in the fields on a
bright summer day {S. Luteola).
186 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
Tanagridae (Tanagers). — These are finch-like birds,
but the bill is notched near the end of the upper man-
dible. There are 14 species known in Argentina. The
Tanagra honaerensis or Siete Colores (seven colours) is
a well known bird in the quintas near the capital. The
White Capped Tanager {Stephanopherus LeucocepJialus)^
of a deep blue colour with a few crimson feathers and
a white crest, is found in the monies near the Parana.
IcTERiDAE (Cow Birds or Troupials). — These are
the starlings of the New World. The Tordo, or as it
is called by British residents, but quite incorrectly, the
Blackbird {Molothrus honaerensis) is a parasitic bird
rarely making a nest, but always looking out for other
nests in which to lay its eggs, which are hatched in a
shorter time than the eggs of most other birds and
therefore sooner come under the attention of the
enforced foster parents. Worse than the Cuckoo,
the Tordos, both male and female, have a habit of
destroying the eggs in any nest they come across.
There are two or three other species, not however
quite so destructive as the Tordo. Belonging to the
Icteridae also are the Boyero {Amblycercus Solitarius)
or soHtary Cassican, which makes a whistling noise
like that of a " tropero " ; the Pecho Amarillo or
yellow-breasted marsh bird {Pseudoleistes virescens),
the red-throated miHtary marsh starling or Pecho
Colorado {Sturnella Militaris) and the chestnut shoul-
dered hangnest {Icterus Pyropterus), which makes a
short hanging nest of hchens.
CoRviDAE (Crows and Jays). — There are no black
crows in South America. Theit place is taken by the
blue jays, of which there are two species in Argentina,
the commonest of which is the Urraca Azul or Urraca
Jay {Cyanocoraz chrysops) found in the northern pro-
vinces and in Entre Rios, and not to be confounded
with the Urraca of Buenos Aires, which is a cuckoo.
Tyrannic AE (Tyrant Birds). — These birds are the
fly catchers of the New World. Amongst Argentine
Tyrants may be mentioned the Black Crowned Tyrant
(T. Coronatus) ; the Dominican Tyrant (T. Dominica) ;
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 187
the Widow Tyrant or Viudita {T. Modesto), called also
Angelita de las Animas from a supposed predeliction
for the neighbom-hood of cemeteries ; the Silverbill
Tyrant or Pico de Plata (Lickenops Perspicillatus) ; the
Many-Coloured Tyrant also called Siete Colores {Cya-
notis Azarce), which is a beautiful bird showing plumage
of black, white, green, blue, orange, yellow and scarlet ;
the " Bien-te-veo " (Pitangus BoUvianus), whose cry
vulgarly interpreted as " Bicho feo," is well known
to all residents in or visitors to the country ; the
Churrinche or Scarlet Tyrant {Pyrocephalus Rubineus),
called also the Federal and Fueguero, and in Guarani
*' Guira pita," and the pugnacious Tijereta or scissor-
tail {Milvolus or Tyr annus Violentus) easily recognised,
when flying, as its tail feathers open and close like a
pair of scissors.
Dendrocolaptidae (Wood Hewers or Creepers)
include the Common Miner, manca cola, minera or
caminante {Geosita Cunicularia), which makes its nest
in Vizcacha burrows ; the Lenatero or Wood Gatherer,
also called Espinero and Aiiunibi {A. Acvticaudatus) ;
the Brown Cachalote {Honorus Lophotes) and, most
interesting of all, the Red Oven Bird, Homero or
Casero {Furnarius Rufus) whose mud nests form con-
spicuous objects all over the country.
Trochilidae (Humming Birds). — Of these there
are about a dozen species in Argentina, where they
are called Picaflores. The commonest species is the
ghttering Humming Bird {CMorostilbon Splendidus).
The Red-throated Humming Bird {Hylocharis Sap-
pharina) and the Angela Humming Bird {Calliperidia
Forcifera) are also fairly common species.
PiciDAE (Woodpeckers). — There are 13 species in
Argentina. Of these are Boie's Woodpecker {Cam-
pephilus Boiaei) ; the varied Woodpecker or Come
Palo {Picus Mixtus) ; the Redcrested Woodpecker
{Chrysophilus Cristatus) and the Pampas Woodpecker
or Carpintero {Colaptes Agricola).
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers). — These include the
Kinged Kingfisher {Ceryle Torquatus) or Martin Pescador,
188 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
which is the common species near the capital, and a
smaller species Ceryle Americana.
CucuLiDAE (Cuckoos). — The Cuckoos of America
are free from the parasitical vices of those of the Old
World. The best known species is the Piriri or Guira
Cuckoo, called near Buenos Aires the Urraca {Guira
Piririgna). A common species is the Blackbilled
Cuckoo or Coucou {Coccyzus Melanocoryphits).
Rhamphastidae (Toucans). — In the extreme north
is found the Rhamphastos Toco, a species of Toucan,
so well known for their prominent bills.
PsiTTACiDAE (Parrots). — There are ten Argentine
species of parrots of which the Loro Barranquero
or Burrowing Parrot {Conurus Patagonicus) is one of
the best known. We must also mention the Green
Parrakeet {BolborJiynchus Monaclius) and the common
Green Parrakeet called the Cotorro orCatita. The general
name for parrots is Loro. We frequently see in cap-
tivity in Buenos Aires specimens of the Aras or Macaws,
of which two species are found in the Chaco, the Blue
Macaw {Ara Glauca) and the Red Macaw {Ara Macao).
Raptores. — The Birds of Prey are represented in
Argentina by the Owls, the Vultures and the Hawks.
Strigidae (Owls). — Besides the Common Owl
(Strix Flammea) mention must be made of the Lechuzon
or Short-eared Owl {Asia Brachyotus) ; the Virginian
owl, called the nacuruta {Bubo Virginianus) ; the
Burrowing Owl or Lechuza comun del Campo (Spoo-
tyto Cunicularia), which frequents the burrows of the
Vizcacha, and the Choliba Owl {Scops Brasilianus) .
VxJLTURiDAE (Vultures). — The most important
member of the vulture family is the Condor {Sarcor-
hamphus Condor), so frequently referred to in descrip-
tions of Andine scenery. Two species of purging
vultures are also found, the Turkey Vulture or Turkey
Buzzard {Caihartes Aura) and the Black Vulture or
GalHnazo, also called, incorrectly, the Cuervo {Cathartes
Atratus).
Falconidae (Hawks). — Foremost among the Argen-
tine Hawks are the Carancho {Polyhorus Tharus)
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 189
and the Chimango (Milvago Chimango). Both these
birds are common objects aromid slaughtering houses,
and the chimango is the last bird to leave a skeleton.
The Red-beaked Buzzard or Gavilan {Buteo tricolor)
eats the cuis or wild guinea pig. The Chilean Eagle
{Haliaetis Melanolencus) is found in the west and north.
The Halconcito {Falco SparveriKs) is a kind of kestrel
and does not hesitate to make its nest in the churches.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants). — The Argentine
or Brazilian Cormorant, commonly called the Vigua or
Bigua {P. Brasilianus), is a common object in the
Parana Delta and generally over the country.
Ardeidae (Herons). — This family includes the Grey
Heron or Garza Gris {Ardea Cocoi), very like the common
Heron of Europe ; the White Egret {A. Egretta), whose
range of migration is from Nova Scotia to Patagonia ;
the Snowy Egret {A. Candidissima) ; the Httle Blue
Heron of Entre Rios and the Variegated Heron {Ardetta
Involncris) . A summer visitor to Buenos Aires is the
AVhistling Heron {Ardea Sibilatrix), the Flauta del Sol,
of Azara. The Dark Night Heron or Bnija {Nycticorax
Ohscurus) is only seen in the evening.
CicoNiiDAE (Storks). — The Argentine storks are
the Jabiru {Mycteria Americana), which is five feet high
and has a wing expanse of eight feet ; the Maguari
Stork of the Pampas {Euxenura Magtcari) and the
Wood Ibis or Cigiieiia {Tantalus Loculator).
Plataleidae (Ibis). — To this family belong the
White-faced Ibis {Ibis Falconellus) ; the Black-faced
Ibis or Bandurria, also called Cucurau {Ibis Melanges) ;
the Plumbean Ibis or Bandurria de las Lagunas {Ibis
Guarauna), and the Whispering Ibis (/. Infuscatus).
The Spoonbills also are of this family and include
the Rosy Spoonbill or Espatula {Ajaja Rosea). The
Argentine Flamingo or Flamenco is the Phoenicopterus
Ignipalliatus with rosy red plumage and crimson wing
coverts.
Palamedeidae (Screamers). — The Crested Screamer,
Chauna or Chaja {Chauna Chavaria) is a well known
bird, easily tamed and then as useful as a watchdog.
190 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
Anatidae (Swans, Ducks and Geese). — This family,
so dear to sportsmen, has many representatives in
the country. The principal are the Black Headed
Swan (Cygnus Nigricollis) of the south ; the Barred
and Magellan Upland Geese {Bernicia Dispar and
Magellanica) ; the Andean Goose or Pluquen {B.
Melanoptera) ; the Crested Duck, Pa.to Crestado {S.
Carunculata) ; the Muscovy Duck or Pato Real {Corina
Moschata) ; the Fulvous Tree Duck which may at
times be heard whistling at night as it flies {Dendro-
cygna Fulva) ; the Yellow-billed Teal [Querquedula
Flavirostris) ; the Ring-necked Teal {Q. Torquata) ;
the Grey Teal {Q. Versicolor) ; the Blue-winged Teal
{Q. Cyanoptera) ; the Brazihan Teal, Pato Portugues
or Ipecutiri {Q. Brasiliensis) ; the Red Shoveller
{Spatula Platalea) ; the Chiloe Widgeon, or as it is
called by sportsmen, the Whistler or Overa {Mareca
Sihilatrix) ; the Brown Pintail {Dafila Spinicaudata) ;
the Rosy-billed Duck {Metopiana Peposaca) and, of
the spinytailed ducks, the Ferruginous or Rusty Lake
Duck {Erismatura Ferruginea).
CoLUMBiDAE (Dovcs). — Among Argentine doves are
the Common Wood Pigeon of the country {Columba
Picazuro) ; the Torcaza or spotted dove [Zenaida
Maculata) ; the Picui or TortoUta {Columhula Ficui),
and the soHtary Pigeon of the Plate district {Engyptila
Chalcanclienia) .
Cracidae (Curassows). — These birds are a sub-order
of the Galliformes or Game Birds. The most interesting
Argentine species is the Dark Guan {Penelope Obscura),
called also the Yacu, Yacuhu and Pavo del Monte.
This bird is brilliantly coloured and is not unlike the
Pheasant. There are two other species of curassow
found in the northern provinces, Ortolus Canicollis and
Crax Sclateri, the latter being the " Mitu " o€ Azara.
Rallidae (Rails). — There are 14 species of rails,
waterhens and coots in Argentina, the principal being
the Spotted Rail {Rallus Maculatus) ; the Black Rail,
called also Burrito {R. Rythyrhyncus) ; the Antarctic
Rail {R. Antarcticus) ; the Ypecaha Rail {Aramides
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 191
Ypecaha) ; the Spot Winged Crake {Porzana Salinasi) ;
the Little Water Hen {Porphyriops Melanops) ; the
Red-gartered Coot [Fulica Armillata) ; the Red-fronted
Coot {F. Leupopygia) ; the Yellow-billed Coot {F. Leu-
coptera), and the Southern Courlan {Aramus Scolopaceus).
Cariamidae. — There are two species of Cariamas,
of which the commonest is the Chunga Burmeisteri,
called the Chunia by the natives.
Parridae (Jacanas). — The Jacana is a curious
bird with enormously long toes and brilliant colouring.
It is the Parr a Jacana of Linnoeus.
Charadriidae (Plovers). — The best known and
most interesting Argentine plover is the Teru-teru
or Cayenne Lapwing (Vanessa Cayennensis) : the
curious habits of this bird have been described by
Hudson and others. The American Golden Plover
{C. Dommicus) is called the Chorlo in Southern Argen-
tina. This bird arrives from the arctic regions in
August. The Winter Plover, on the contrary, breeds
in South Patagonia and the Falklands and migrates
north in April.
Scolopacodae (Snipes). — Most of the Argentine
snipes are arctic birds and migrate to Argentina.
The Paraguayan Snipe or Becasina {GalUnago Para-
guaiae), the Teru Real or Zancudo {Himantopus Brasil-
iensis) and the painted Snipe or Dormilon {Rhynchaea
Semicollaris) are not migratory. The chief migratory
species are Bartram's Sand Piper or Batitu, also called
the Chorlo Solo {Actiturus Bartramius) ; the Esquimo
Whimbrel or Courhs {Numenius Borealis), the Greater
Yellow Shank {Totanus Melanoleucus), etc. All the
snipes are called indiscriminately Chorlo in the Argen-
tine camp.
Laridae (Gulls). — There are about a dozen species
of gulls in the country. The chief species are the
Black-tailed Skimmer {Rhyncops Melanura) ; the
Great Billed Tern {PJmetusa Magnirostris) ; the Eye-
browed Tern {Sterna Superciliaris) ; the Dominican
Gull (Larus Dominicanus) ; the Spotted Winged Gull
{L. Maculipennis) commonly called the gaviota —
192 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
although this is a general term for gulls — and the
Grey Capped Gull {L. Cirrocephalus).
PoDiciPEDiDAE (Grebes). — The Great Grebe {Podi-
ceps Bicornis) is called the Laca Comudo from its
habit of erecting its occipital crest. Another species
is the American Dabchick {Tachybaptes Dominiciis),
which is common in Buenos Aires and the Pampa.
Aptenodytidae (Penguins). — On the south coast
is fomid the Jackdaw Penguin or Pajaro Nino {Speniscus
Magellanicus) .
Tin AMID AE (Tinamous). — By the European name
of Partridge (perdiz) are known in Argentina several
species of Tinamous. These birds are well known to
sportsmen. The commoner species are the Great
Tinamou or Perdiz Grande {Rhyncotus Rufescens),
which is called the Martineta in the Buenos Aires
markets ; the Perdiz Comun {R. Maculosa) and the
true Martineta or Copetona {Caladromus Elegans).
Rheidae (Rheas). — The Argentine Ostrich or Aves-
truz is really a Rhea and in many ways different from
the true Struthio of Africa. The common Rhea {R.
Americana) is well known. Another species is Darwin's
Rhea (R. Darwini) found in Chile and Patagonia. The
native name is the ^Randu.
Those who wish for full information, as to the different
species, can obtain it by consulting the monograph of
Messrs. Sclater and Hudson referred to above. For
the information of residents in Argentina I may say
that there are copies of this work both in the National
Library and the National Museum. I may also say
that any one wishing for information on any depart-
ment of Natural History will find Sr. Pendola, the
secretary of the latter institution, always ready to
assist a bona fide enquirer to the utmost of his ability.
Reptilia and Amphibia.
The various Orders of Reptiles have their repre-
sentatives in Argentina though their number is not
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 193
so great as the extent of the country would lead us to
expect. I will name the most important species of
each order.
Ceocodilia. — The Argentine members of this order
belong to the Caimans. The native name is Yacare.
They are to be found in the Alto Parana and Uruguay
rivers. The two Argentine species are Alligator lati-
rostris (Daud.) and A. Sclerops (Cuv.).
Chelonia (Tortoises and Turtles). — The principal
Argentine river chelonians are the Hydromedusa Tectic-
fera (Cope) and the Platemys Hilarii (Bibr.), the latter
common in the rivers of Cordoba. The Testvdo Argen-
tina is the principal species of land tortoise. The
Argentine name for the tortoise is Tortuga.
Lacertilia (Lizards). — There are several species
of hzards, but the best known species are the common
Green Lizard or Lagartija {Teius Teyou, Fitz.) and
the large and handsome Lagarto the Tegu {Tiipinambis
Teguexin, Blgr.). This lizard, which is often incorrectly
spoken of as the Iguana, is the terror of the poultry
yard. Its flesh is sometimes eaten and the fat of its
tail is popularly regarded as a cure for rheumatism.
Ophidia (Snakes). — There are a considerable number
of snakes in Argentina, but fortunately few are dan-
gerous. The Vibora de la Cruz {Trigonocephalus Alter -
natus) is a poisonous species which is now rare, except
in the outside camps. It is beautifully marked and
has a black cross on the head. The Rattlesnake
{Crotalus Horridus) is still rarer and only found
in the Chaco and neighbourhood. It is called by
the natives Cascabel. The common serpent with
the red belly found all over the camp is the Coronella
Pulchella. Another species {Liophis Reginae) is grey,
black and green. The green tree snake Philodryas
Holjersii is found in the neighbourhood of the Parana.
In the woods of Misiones and the north is found the
Anaconda or Boa {Eunectes Murinus) called lampa-
lagua. Alhed to the deadly coral snake and the Naya
or Cobra of India is the Flaps Marcgravii found in
Mendoza, etc.
194 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Amphibia. — The Argentine Amphibia belong to
the Batrachians or Froga and toads. There are many
kinds of Batrachians, but the only ones necessary to
name are the Tree Frog {Hyla Pulchella), the colour of
which is green, blue or grey, according to its sur-
roundings, and the Horned Frog or Escuerzo, about
which all kinds of legends as to its poisonous properties
are told in the camp. This frog, the Ceratophrys Ornata,
though very " bravo," as the natives say, is certainly
not in the least degree venomous. The colouring of
the Escuerzo is beautiful, being mottled with green,
olive and gold, but its shape is hideous.
Pisces (Fishes).
It cannot be said that the Argentine fishes are well
known. Drs. Berg and Holmberg have devoted con-
siderable attention to the subject ; but, as yet, the
number of fishes described and classified must be
small in comparison to the actual number of species
in Argentine waters. In the following summary I
shall name the most important species, especially those
which find their w^ay into the markets of the large
cities. Attempts are being made to estabhsh fisheries
in various parts, and a special section of the Agricultural
Department is devoted to the development of fishing
as an industry.
Chimaeridae (Spooks). — The Callorhyncus Callo-
rhyncus, or Gallo, is the only Argentine species of this
remarkable family.
Teleostomi. — This sub-class includes all the fishes,
except a few aberrant forms as the Spooks, and the
Sharks and Rays. To avoid the use of terms which
are purely scientific and would not add to the value
of the book for the general reader, I shall refer rather
to famihes than to orders and sub-orders.
Perciformes (Perch-hke Fishes). — To this group
belong the Cochero {Dules Auriga) ; the Mero {Acan-
thisteus Patagmiicus and Brasiliensis) ; the Truchas
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 195
(Persichthys Trucha and Laevis) ; the Buiro {Lobotes
Surinamensis) ; the Barbo or Barbillo {Mullus Bar-
hatus), which is a species of mullet ; the Sea Breams
{Sparus Pagrus) or Besugo and Diplodus Argenteus
or Sargo. The Besugo Blanco belongs to the Cir-
rhitidae, and is the Chilodactylus Macropterus.
Sci^NiFORMES (Umbrines, Meagres and Drums). —
To this group belong the Pescadillo (Cynascion Striatus) ;
the Pescadillo de red {LagenicMhys Anclyodon) ; the
Burriqueta {Scicena Adusta) ; the Corvina {Pachypops
Furciceiis) ; the Corvalo {Polyclemus Brasiliensis) ; the
Curbina {Micropogon Undulatus) ; the Roncadera {Mor-
natus) ; the Pargo Blanco {Umbrino Canosi), and the
Chanchito, sometimes called Palometa {Pogmnias Fas-
ciatus).
Trichiuridae (Hair Tails). — There is one species
called the Pez Sable {TricJdurus Lepturus).
Carangidae (Horse Mackerels) include the Pampano
{Trachynotus Glaiicus) ; the Palometa {Paropsis Sig-
nata), and various fishes captured off Montevideo.
Scomberidae (Mackerels). — To this group belong
the Caballa {Scomber Scombrus) ; the Bonito {Sarda
Sarda), and the Anchoa, of which the young is called
the Burel and of which there are three species {Pona-
tomus Saltatrix, Seriola Rivoliana and Seriolella Porosa).
EcHENEiDAE (Sucking Fish). — The Remora, aUied
to the Pilot Fish, is the only species.
Percophidae. — The Congrio Real {Percophis Brasil-
iensis).
Eleginidae. — The Robalo {Eleginus Maclovinus).
Cottidae (Gurnards). The Rubio {Prionotus punc-
tatus).
Atherinidae (Sand Smelts). — To this family belong
that favourite group of fishes so famihar to all residents
in and visitors to Argentina, the Pejereys. This word
is derived from Pez del rey (fish for a king). The chief
species are Atherinichtkys Vomerina, Platensis, Micro-
lipidotus, Laticlavia, Argentinensis and Bonaerensis.
Here 1 may remark that, although above there are
certain fishes named Pescadilla to which Dr. Berg has
M
196 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
allotted scientific names, this name, which really means
little fish, is popularly applied to all fishes less than
10 centimetres in length.
MuGiLiDAE (Grey Mullets).— To this family belong
three species of Lisa, a dehcate fish often found on the
Restaurant menus. They are Mugil Brasiliensis, M.
Lisa, and M. Platanus.
ScoMBRESOCiFORMES. — This group includes the Fly-
ing Fish or Fez Volador {Exocoetus Orhignyanus) and
the Aguja, probably a species of gar-pike {Hemirhamphus
Unifasciatus).
Batrachidae (Frog Fishes). — Of this group we find
the-Bagre Sapo {Porochthys Porosissimus).
Syngnathidae (Sea Horses). — To this strange group
belong the Aguja del Mar or Pipe Fish {Syngnathus
Acicularis) and a pretty species of Sea Horse or Caballo
Marino (Hippocampus Guttulatus).
Tetrodontidae (Sea Hedgehogs). — There is one
species of this family, the Tambor [Lagocephalus Laevi-
gatus).
DioDONTiDAE (Globe Fishes). — There are two species
{Chilomycturus Schoepfi and C. Geometricus).
Gadidae (Cod).— The well known Brotula {Phycis
Brasiliensis) belongs to this family.
Merlucidae (Hakes).— The Merluza (M. Gayi) is
a species of Hake.
Pleuronectidae (Flat Fish). — There are numerous
species of flat fish to which the general term Lenguado
is given. The principal are, Hippoglossus Notata, a
species of Hahbut, Solea Kaufi, a sole, and Symphurus
Plagusia, vulgarly called the Tapaculo, a species of
plaice. The Lenguita is ApJwristia Ornata. There is a
fresh water species Achirius Tricospilus.
Apodes (Eels).— To the eel tribe belong the Con-
grio, Leptocephalus Conger ; the Moreno, Sidera Ocellata,
and a species of electric eel, Sternarchus Albifrons, and
the Anguila.
The Siluridae (Cat Fishes) are well represented
in Argentina and include the various species of Bagre,
the Viejas, the Pega-pega, the Yuskas of Salta, the
FAUNA OF AKGENTINA 199
Armado {Doras Maculatus), the Zurubi {Platystoma
Orbigniana), the Pati {Pimelodus Pati), the Manguruyu
(P. Mangurus), the Manduvi {Ageneiosus Brevilis),
and the Moncholo {Pimelodus).
Characidae (Southern Carps). — This is a most
important group of fresh water fishes and includes
many of the best known elements of the Argentine
menu. The name Dorado is apphed to at least four
species of Sahninus, namely, S. Brevidens, S. Platensis,
S. Paranensis and S. Maxillaris. The Tararira is the
Macrodon Trahira. The Dentudo is a fish with large
canine teeth, Anacystus Argenteus. The name is also
applied in Tucuman to a species of Macrodon. The
Huevada is Curunatus Gilherti Brevipemiis. A common
fish is the Boga {Anastomus Platai). The Palometa
{Pygocentrus Natteri) is the fish which is referred to by
all travellers in tropical America as the Pirayas or
Piranas. It is difficult to catch, as it bites the hook
easily in two. The name Pacu is given to at least
four species of the genus Myletes. The term Mojarra
or Mojarrita is apphed in the Eiver Plate to a number
of small fish, whether of fresh or salt water ; but the
true Mojarra is a species of Tetragon. Brycon Orbig-
nyanus is called the Salmon or Pirapita.
Haplopomi. — This group includes a large number
of very small fishes. The males are much smaller than
the females and are the smallest of all hving fishes.
They are msotly viviparous and are in Argentina
generally found in fresh water. They include species of
the genera Cynolobias, Fitzroyia, Glandodon Jenynsia, etc.
Clupeidae (Herrings). — To this family belong the
Lacha {Clupea Pectinata), the Arenque {C. Maderiensis)
and the famous Anchoa which, in the writer's opinion,
is the richest of all Argentine fish as an article of food
Its scientific name is Engraulis OUgolepsis.
Alhed species are the Anchoita or Sardina {Stole-
phorus Oliolus and Lycengraulus Grossidens).
Cyclostoma (Lampreys). — There are two species
of lamprey, Exomegas Microstomus and Geotria
Chilensis, the latter a fresh water species.
200 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and^Rays). — There are
several members of the Shark tribe fomid in Argentine
waters, notably the Spiny Dog Fish {Squalus Acanthias),
and the Pintarrojo or Dog Fish (Scyllium Chilensis),
two species of Topes are called Tibm-on or Cazon, the
Galeus Canis and the Galeorhinus Galeus. The Hammer-
headed Shark {Zygaena Tudes) is also found as well as
the Angel Fish {Squatina) and a species of blue shark
{Carclmrias Americanus).
Jdi the Rays, there are several species of the genus
Ray a and called popularly by that name. There is
also a fresh ^water species Potamotrygon Byachyura and
a species named Chucho {Dasyhatis Pastinaca). The
Myliobatis Aquila belongs to the Eagle Rays, or Sea
Devils, and the Electric Ray {Discopyge Tschudii) is
reckoned among the Argentine Fauna. The Rhino-
hatus Undulatus is popularly named the Guitarra.
It should be said that a considerable quantity of
the fish consumed in the Capital is caught in the lake
at Chascomus.
Invertebrata.
It is customary, in summaries such as the present,
to treat the invertebrate animals with scant courtesy
and to say very little about them. When, however,
we consider the important part that is played by some
of the humbler members of the animal kingdom, we
are bound to admit that the invertebrata deserve
better treatment at our hands. The locusts, which
periodically invade the country, are of more importance
than all the Tigers and Lions in the Chaco ; the
insects, which, on the one hand, destroy and, on the
other hand, fertilize our plants, are to us vastly more
important than any number of wild animals or reptiles.
The flocks and herds which roam over our camps are
hable to attacks from internal and external parasites
that, on more than one occasion, have seriously affected
the census returns of our domestic animals. Man
himself is far more at the mercy of the invertebrates
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 201
than of the larger animals. It is, as was said long
ago, the little things of the earth that confound the
mighty.
Therefore, although it is impossible for many
reasons to detail species as in the preceding part of
this chapter, it is absolutely necessary to give such an
account of the insects and other lower forms of life
as will show their importance and give some idea of the
part they play in the economy of nature. No attempt
at proportion is aimed at in the following summary ;
but those species are indicated which call for special
mention. Even with this hmitation, much will be
left unsaid from want of space.
MOLLUSCA.
Just as in Enghsh the greater part of the Mollusca
are classed as Shell Fish and Snails, so in Spanish
they are referred to as Conchas (bivalves) and cara-
coles.
Bivalves. — On the coasts are found two or three
species of the Oyster family {Ostrea) and some forms
of Scallops {Pecten). A large species of Mussel {Mytilus)
is often seen in the markets. The fresh water mussels
of the genera JJnio and Anodonto are common in the
rivers, some thirty species being known, most of which
were described by D'Orbigny. The " conchilla " of
the Province of Buenos Aires, etc., is largely composed
of the shells of Azara Labiata of the family of the
Cyrenidae.
Gastropods (Snails, Whelks, etc.). — The fresh water
streams contain species of the genera Ceratodes, Ampul-
laria, Paludestrina, etc. The last named is abundant,
especially the species A. caniculata. Of the slugs or
" bichos^babosa," the chief forms are Limax Argentinus,
Vaginellus Bonaerensis and F. Paranensis. There are
also many species of true snails of the genera Planorhis,
Bulimus and Helix. The edible snail is Helix Lactea.
Jt was introduced into Buenos Aires by Sr. Philidiano
202 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Pueyrredon, whose name is associated with the old
Barracas bridge. Of the other orders of Mollusca
there are many examples in Argentina, but to detail
them would be of no interest to the general reader.
The authorities on Argentine mollusca are D'Orbigny
and Doering.
On the coasts of the Atlantic are numerous species
of Bryozoa or Polyzoa. I have in my collection
numerous specimens of Flustra, Bicellaria, Bugula
Lepralia, etc., and I have seen two beautiful species
of fresh water Polyzoa or Lophopus. The Polyzoa
are frequently classed as Molluscoidae, having certain
affinities with the mollusca.
Articulata.
Those animals whose bodies are divided into seg-
menta are included in the sub-kingdom Articulata,
Annulosa or Arthropoda. They include the Barnacles,
Crustaceans, Spiders and Mites, Centipedes and Mille-
pedes, Protracheata and insects.
The CiRRiPEDiA or Barnacles are abundant, espe-
cially in the south. They are of the genera Lepas
and Balanus. They are found cHnging to the bottoms of
ships and attached to piers and similar structures.
It was by a thorough investigation of these animals
that Darwin first became recognised as an authority
on zoology.
Crustacea
To this class belong the various species of crabs,
lobsters, entomostraca, etc. There are numerous species
of Entomostraca found in the waters of the country,
especially noticeable being the various forms of Daphnia
or fresh water flea, common in algihes, as also cy clops
and other Copepodes. The higher Crustacea include
the woodhce, called " mulitas," from their habit of
coiHng themselves into a ball like a species of armadillo,
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 203
the Macrura or lobsters, prawns and shrimps. The
prawns, called Langostinos, of the family CrangonidcB,
are lately common objects of the table. There are
also several species of lobster, or langosta de mar, and
a fresh water cray fish {Potamergus Platensis). Many
kinds of crabs, or Cangrejos, are to be fomid both in
the sea and in the rivers, and in the south may be
obtained fine specimens of a large species of spider
crab probably of the genus Maia.
Scorpions, Spiders and Mites.
Numerous Scorpions are found in the camp in
most parts of the country, but in the neighbourhood
of the capital they are now rare. They are not of
large dimensions and we rarely hear of anyone being
stung by them.
Spiders are a numerous family and bear a most
evil reputation. Any large specimen is at once re-
garded as a tarantula and, although the famous taran-
tula of Italy is not found in Argentina, there are many
species whose bite is capable of producing a painful
wound. There is a large grey spider, in appearance
not unlike the famous Mygale or bird spider, which
is very common. It is usually found in couples. The
gossamer spider is sometimes found in large numbers
floating on its miniature aeroplanes. The Epeiridae or
garden spiders weave their beautiful geometrical webs
in all gardens, and one species, which is found in the
provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes, fives in com-
munities and is called the Epeira socialis.
It is, however, amongst the Mites, insignificant
as they appear to be, that we must look for some of
the most important of the Argentine fauna. What
the insects are to the agriculturist, the mites are to
the stock raiser. It is a mite (the Psoroptes communis)
which causes the scab or sama in sheep and necessitates
the employment of sheep dips all over the Argentine
camp. There are allied species which attack horses
204 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
and cattle ; but their ravages are not so serious, as
they do not decrease the value of the hides to the
same extent as the sheep scab does fleece. It is to
an Ixodes or Tick popularly named " garrapatas "
that the disease in cattle called Tristeza is due, and
in many parts of the country the cattle have to be
regularly protected by special dips against this serious
plague. An exceedingly annoying mite, which causes
even serious ulceration in human beings, is the so-called
" bicho Colorado," or red mite {Tetranychus Molestis-
simus), which attacks mankind and other warm-blooded
animals during the summer months.
Centipedes and Millipedes.
These are not represented by any very formidable
species, except perhaps in the Chaco. A species of
Scutigera is very common in Argentine camp houses,
specially of the old style with open roofs. It is not an
ugly creature when examined, being rather prettily
marked. Its legs are of varying length, increasing in
size backwards. It is quite harmless and feeds on
insects. There are some eight species of Scolopendra,
the largest being six inches in length. The Millipedes,
which are cylindrical in shape and have two pairs of
legs to each segment, are vegetable feeders and are
not venomous. They are mostly lead coloured or
black and are found about the roots offplants, under
stones and even on trees.
I have seen several specimens of Peripatus, which
is a strange creature between the Myriapods and the
insects, having a flattened body with from 20 to 40
segments, each with two imperfectly jointed feet.
They are found under leaves and rotten wood, and are
viviparous.
Insecta
To attempt to describe the insect life of Argentina
in such a notice as the present is impossible. I shall,
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 205
therefore, only name the most representative or im-
portant species of each order.
CoLEOPTERA (Beetles). — The Cecindelidce or Tiger
Beetles are represented by nmnerous species, as is the
other family of carnivorous ground beetles, the Cara-
bidae, to which belong those dark coloured, generally
nocturnal, beetles, which are attracted to the interior
of houses by the Hght and are not infrequently styled
" hediondos " on account of the smell which they
leave behind them. To the latter family belong also
the metallic coloured beetles of green or copper tint
and the Bombardiers or " Bombarderos," belonging
to the genus Brachinus, with blue-black elytra (wing
cases) which expel an acid fluid of a volatile nature,
when alarmed. The Water Beetles, belonging to the
genus Dytiscus and its alhes, are numerous and may
be frequently seen at night at considerable distances
from their aquatic haunts.
The Clamcornes or burying beetles are common
and are represented by many different genera, Der-
mestes, Necrophora, etc.
The Lamellicornes or Chafers and Dung Beetles are
also very numerous, including several species of Trox
and Cetonia. There is a species found on rose and
other trees, with green and white spots. A large greenish
beetle, with a prominent horn, is Phaneus imperator.
To the Buprestidae belong the long, narrow beetles with
pectinated antennaB such as Psiloptera Corinthia, P.
Tucumana, etc.
But the most interesting of these beetles are the
various fire flies or, as they are called, " luciernagas."
These belong to the Elateridae or springing beetles, called
in English the Click Beetles or, by the farmers, wire
worms. The smaller species are called by the natives
" Salta perricos." There is a large species with lights
on the shoulders called the " Tuco " (Pyrophorus
Punctatissimus). I have seen several females of the
glow worm Lampyris.
The Vesicatores or bHstering beetles are represented
by the ** Bicho Moro " (Lytta Punctata). The weevjl^
206 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
are common in Argentina, as elsewhere, and are called
" gorgojos."
The Longicornes or long homed beetles include a
number of common species called in the camp " gal-
litos," of the genus Mallodon. One form, the Mallodon
Spmibarbis, is popularly called the " Tagamoco/' It
bores big holes into the willow and other trees. Many
beetles of this group destroy timber and fruit trees
while in the larval stage and are called " Bichos Tala-
dros." A large beetle — in fact the largest beetle found
in Argentina — is found in Santiago del Estero and
Tucuman. This is the Collared Prionus {Enoplocerus
Armillatus). Its larva destroys the wood of the
Quebracho trees and is called by the natives " Come-
palo." It is nearly four inches in length and its
antennae are still longer. The ladybirds, coccmellidae,
or " Vacas de San Antonio '' are well represented
and include C. Erythoptera, Hippodamia Connexa, etc.
Orthoptera. — The Orthoptera include the strangest
of all insects. The wing cases, instead of being hard
and chitinous like the elytrae of the beetles, are leathery.
To this order belong the earwigs, cockroaches, locusts,
crickets, praying insects, stick insects, etc. The Forfi-
culidae or earwigs, " taladra orejas/' are found in the
country to the extent of some half dozen species, one
of which is slightly phosphorescent. The Mantidae
or Praying Insects are fairly common. They are called
" Mamboreta " and are supposed to answer the question
Dmde estd Dios ? (where is God ?) by pointing upwards
with their antennae. One of the Argentine Mantidae
has a red spot on the front wings ; another has the
front wings greenish and almost transparent, and
another has these wings brown. The eggs of the
Mantis may be found on the branches of plants, where
they form a pyramidal hard mass. The cockroaches
are represented by two large species nearly two inches
in length, one of which is common in the houses of
the capital, and by several smaller species, one of
which, with dehcate green wings, is by no means ap-
parently a relative of the disgusting cockroach of the
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 207
kitchen which is becoming as acclimatised in Argentina
as in London. Argentines call these insects " cuca-
rachas."
The Stick Insects or Phasnidce are common and
belong to the genus Cladoceriis, etc. ; they are popularly
called " Caballos del Diablo."
There are many species of crickets and the Mole
Cricket {Curtilla Grillotalpa) is frequently met with.
Recently, this species played havoc with the cricket
ground of the B.A. Club at Palermo. There are many
species of grasshoppers, both with long and short
antennae, and allied to them is the great plague of
the country, the so-called Locust or " Langosta,"
Acridiun or Schistocerca Paraiiense. This insect was
fully studied by the writer during the year 1891 and
described in a monograph, " La Langosta Argentina."
Neuroptera (Nerve Winged Insects). — The Dragon
Flies or Libellulw are well represented. The commonest
form is the Mschna Bonaerensis, which is frequently
found in immense numbers. There are also species of
Lihellula and of the slender bodied genus Agrion.
The native name for the dragon flies is " Alguacil."
The Ephemeridw, or May Flies, are also at times
very numerous. These insects, which are often bom (as
perfect insects) after sunset and die before the following
sunrise, are sometimes found in numbers such as to
cover the streets. I remember one October seeing
enormous quantities which covered the streets for
three nights running. They are soft four- winged
creatures, almost like moths, but with long setae or
bristles, sometimes three times the length of the body,
at the tail end.
There are several species of the alhed order of
Caddis FHes, whose cases are found in the rivers of
the interior, notably in the Rio Primero in Cordoba
and in the rivers of Tucuman.
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps and Ants). — These
insects, which are furnished, so far as the female sex
is concerned, with stings or ovipositors, are very
numerous. The bees include the species Antheridium
208 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Steloides, Melipona Molesta, Bomhus Dahlbornii and
other species. The large bee which is common all
over the country goes by the name of " Manganga."
The wasps Vespidce include the Polistes Moris, which
makes its nest in the windows and doorways of houses,
the Chartergus Chartarius, or " lechiguana/' and the
well known wasp of the " Camuati/' which makes a
large nest in trees. There is a solitary wasp, which
makes its nest of clay and deposits, at the bottom of
each nest, a number of paralysed spiders for the benefit
of the young when they hatch from the eggs. The
large wasp which is so frequently responsible for un-
pleasant sensations, especially in the head, which is
its favourite point of attack, is the Pepsis Hews.
The ants are represented by more than fifty species.
The common red ant is Atta Hystrix and the common
black ant, which likes to build its nest under the draw-
ing-room floor or other specially inconvenient spot,
is the Atta Lundi.
In the north is found the Dinoponera Grandis, the
largest South American ant, the sting of which pro-
duces great pain. Other species are Solinopsis Geminata,
common below stones ; the Monomorium Pharaonis,
generally distributed ; the solitary Iridomyrmex Humilis ;
the yellow Prenolepis Fulva and the Pogonomyrmex
Cunicidarius, which is found near Tandil and makes
its nest in the form of a snail shell.
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). — These insects
are classed together in the common tongue as Mari-
posas. There are some very beautiful species in the
country. The Papilionidce are large and beautiful
butterflies allied to the English Swallow-tails. There
are two divisions of these family ; one called Archivi
in which the colours are black and yellow and the
other Trojani in which the yellow is replaced by red.
The species PapiliojThoas is very common in Buenos
Aires. In the allied species Euryades the female has
almost transparent wings. ^
The PieridcB, allied to the garden white, orange
tips and clouded yellows of English entomolgy, include
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 209
• -i
many species of black-veined whites of which the
commonest is P. Autodice. The Colzas Lesbia is common
in alfalfa fields and is remarkable for the variations
in the wing colouring, the males being a reddish auburn
and the females varying from the auburn of the male
to a shade of green and often having male and female
wings on the same specimen. Another common species
is Terias Agave or black-tipped yellow. There are at
least two species of Danais or Black-veined Brown,
D. Archippus and D. Erippus. The Heliconidce include
the pretty Heliconia Phyllis. The Nymphalidae, which,
in England, include the Peacock and Tortoise Shell
Butterflies, are represented by some very beautifully
marked species. Such are Eresia Janthe, Colcenus
Phoerusa and Julia, the fritillary {Agraulis Vanillce)
with silver marking on the underside of the wings, and
Euptoeta Claudia. Other species are the Pyrameis
Car ye and the common Junonia Lavinia. The " 80
butterfly " or Callicone Candrena is noteworthy for
the distinct markings below the wings, in the form
of the figures 80. The Morphos are large and beautiful
species not often found, except in the north ; M. Adonis
is a rich metalHc blue, M. Epistrophus is bluish white
with black markings and a wing expanse of more than
five inches, and M. Achilles has black wings adorned
with a blue band and extending when unfolded to
six inches. The Satyr ince are marked with eye spots
on the under and sometimes on the upper surface of
the wings. They are related to the EngHsh Meadow-
browns. The LycoenidcB, or Hair Streaks, include a
number of pretty little blue and brown species, with
delicate markings, of the genera Thecla and Lyccena,
measuring from two to four centimetres across the
wings. The Hesperidce, or Skippers, are very numerous.
They may be recognised by their large heads, thick
bodies and short flights, from which latter feature
they derive the name of skippers. The antennae are
generally hooked, showing a transition to the moths.
The wings of some of them are marked like a chess-
board. Others have a red tuft of feathers at the
210 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
tail and red markings or spots on the head and
abdomen.
Tmning to the Moths, the Sphy)igidce, Sphinx or
Hawk Moths, are represented by several very pretty
species of the genus Sphinx, S. Cestri, S. Angulatus,
etc. Their caterpillars are noted for their rich colours
with stripes on the sides and, usually, a curved or
straight horn on the eleventh segment. The Pro-
toparca Rustica is the Argentine Death's Head Moth,
having a clearly marked skull on the thorax. This
moth, as weU as lo Liberia, at times utters a distinct
squeaking sound. Philampelus Eos and P. Vitis are
common species, the latter found on the vine. The
caterpillars can withdraw the first three segments into
the fourth. CJiaerocampa tersa is a greenish moth
with greyish stripes on the wings. The caterpillar
is green with eye spots on the sides.
The nocturnal moths are divided into three sub-
tribes, the Bombycoides, with pectinate or plumose
antennae and thick body ; the Noctuacea, with setaceous
antennae, and the Geometrina, with plumose antennae
and thin bodies.
Most of the species I shall refer to belong to the
first sub-tribe. The various species of Glaucopidce,
of which there are a number in Argentina, are small
moths not exceeding an inch in length. Glaucopis
Omphale is a red moth with clear wings. The Psychtdce
are represented by two interesting species, the Oece-
ticus Kirbii, whose larva is the well-known Basket
Worm, or " Bicho de Cesto " or " Bicho Canasta,"
and the 0. Geyeri, whose larva forms a long tube like
a cigarette holder. The baskets of the former species
are common objects in the country, but the male moth
(the female remains in the basket) is known to very
few, although it is common in the months of April
and May, and may be seen flying about at night. It
is easily recognised by its habit of elongating and
shortening its abdomen, as if feeling for the opening
in the basket in which .the female remains concealed.
The female is a shapeless creature with only the merest
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 211
rudiments of organs. To the genus Palustra belong a
number of moths whose larvae are aquatic in their
habits. They belong to the Order Arctuadce or tiger
moths. To the Bomhycidce belong the ashy colom-ed
Clisiocampas and the white Artace Puntistriga as well
as the common Hypopta Ambigua. The Saturniadce
contain some interesting species. In England, the
Emperor Moth is a type of the family. Attacus Jacobew
is a reddish-browm, almost purple, moth with a white
band across the wings. lo Liberia, which utters a
distinct squeaking noise, especially when large numbers
are together, is a large reddish-brown moth, with a
prominent black eye spot with a yellow pupil in each
of the back wings. The caterpillar is a vivid green
in colour with a forest of branched spines, which,
on being touched, give rise to considerable smarting.
The lo Viridescens is a somewhat similar species,
but the wings are greenish grey. The eye spots are
black with a reddish-brown iris enclosing one large
and three small pupils. The caterpillar is black with
branched spines of a sulphur yellow colour. There
are two large, formidable looking, but really harmless
caterpillars often found in gardens. One of these,
which is the larva of the Ceratocampus Regalis, bears
two small horns on the first ring of its body and a
pair of large horns on each of the second and third
rings as well as another on the eleventh ring. The
Moth is a large insect with reddish-brown wings mottled
with yellow and with red nerve markings. The other
caterpillar is the larva of Ceratocampa Imperialis. It
is of a greenish-brown colour with two much smaller
pairs of horns and the body covered with green or
grey hairs. Nearly all the segments have a purple
red spot round the stigmata, each spot surrounded
with a white line. The moth is a large yellow insect
with purpHsh spots and markings. Both these moths
have a wing expanse of between four and five inches.
In the montes around the capital and in other parts
may be found the curious skiff-like cases made by
the larva of Mimalla Despecta. The skiff is curved
212 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
upwards at each end. On the peach trees may fre-
quently be found thousands of small dark caterpillars,
which are popularly and deservedly called " bichos
quemadores." They are the larvae of a black moth
M. Nigricans.
Hemiptera. — The hemiptera, or half winged insects,
contain some very interesting and some very unpleasant
species. I have seen several specimens of Reduvius
allied to which is the dreaded " Benchuca " or " Vin-
chuca," so well known in the interior of the country,
and over whose bloodthirsty habits Darwin waxed
enthusiastic in his famous journal. Normally a flat
insect somewhat hke a plant bug, it drops from the
roof upon unsuspecting sleepers and in a few minutes
imbibes sufficient blood to swell out like a ball : its
scientific name is ConorJiinus Infestans. To this order
belong also the Nepa or Water Scorpion, of which
there is one very large species.
The Cicada or Chicharra is also of this order. There
are several species found in the country, the commonest
being Fidicina Bonaerensis. Its shrill chirp is known
to all residents in the camp. There is another species
{Tympanoterpes Sihillatrix), called in the north
" Coyuyo," the sound of whose call is like the whistle
of a locomotive.
To the Hemiptera also belong the Aphides or plant
lice called " pulgones," and the various species of
plant bugs. The Coccidce are also classed with these
and include the scale insects, from one of which is
obtained the cochineal. A species, which is doing
considerable damage to the peach trees, is the White
Peach Scale {Diaspis Pentagona) the appearance of
which has set in motion an army of inspectors and so
alarmed the authorities that it is not allowed to send
any plant containing roots by train without a certifi-
cate from an inspector of the " Defensa Agricola."
DiPTERA. — This order includes flies, " tabanos " or
horse flies, sand flies, crane flies, and mosquitoes, of
which the number is legion. In some provinces the
Anopheles mosquito fully bears out its reputation
FAUNA OF ARGENTINA 213
as the bearer of the malarian protozoon and its bite
gives rise to an attack of ague or " chucho."
The bot-flies Oestridse are found in some parts of
the camp where they annoy the sheep and horses. So
far I have not heard of the appearance of the Hypo-
derma Bovis amongst cattle. There is found in the
interior a species of fly, Calliphora A^ithropophaga,
which lays its eggs in the human nostril and gives
rise to serious cases of Myiasis. There are, however,
some species of flies which are distinctly useful. One
of these is the Nemorea Acridiorum, of Weyenburgh,
which lays its eggs on the neck of the locust so that
the larvae bore into the body and destroy the insect.
Another is a species of Anthomyia, which I described
in 1891 as an active locust destroyer, laying its eggs
in the holes bored by the female locust when ovipositing.
The fly maggots hatch out flrst and eat up the eggs
of their host. The locust invasion of 1891 was in
many parts destroyed entirely by this fly.
Aptera. — Needless to say there are numbers of
the wingless insects, bugs and fleas. The latter are
foimd in the camp, especially in empty houses, often
in such numbers as to secure the prompt removal of
any inmate not acclimatised
Vermes. — The sub-kingdom Vermes includes such
animals as the leeches, flat and round worms of all
kinds, the microscopic rotifers or wheel animalcules,
etc. This sub-family is well represented in Argentina,
as in all parts of the world ; but, except with respect
to those members of it which have made their presence
felt as parasites of men and beasts, little attention
has been paid to it.
Leeches and ground worms need no description.
The parasitic round and thread worms Ascaris Lum-
bricoides and Oxyuris Vermicidaris attack human beings
as in other countries. Ascaris Mystax is found in the
cat and occasionally in human beings. Vermis Acridii
is a well-known parasite of the locust. I have seen
one case of Filaria Sanguinis Hominis, but I believe
its involuntary host was an immigrant from Brazil.
N
214 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Strongylus Filaria is at times a terrible plague to
sheep, in one year alone having been responsible
for the death of more than a milHon animals, pro-
ducing in the lungs a disease known as " hronquitis
verminosa." An alHed form {Strongylus Micrurus)
attacks homed cattle. Strongylus Contortus, named
popularly " lombriz del Cuajo," attacks sheep, while
the tricoce'pTudus is almost universal. The flat worms
are very common parasites. The Distoma Hepaticum
or " Saguaype," which produces rot in sheep, is found
wherever sheep graze in damp districts. The Tenia
Solium is foimd with its larval form the Cysticercus,
^nd the unarmed tapeworm Tenia Mediocanellata is
also a well known parasite. Its larval form or cysti-
cercus is found in cattle. In the sheep, Tenia Expansa
is common. But the most serious of all the flat worms,
so far as man is concerned, is the Tenia Echinococcus
of the dog, whose larval stage is passed in man under
the form of hydatid cysts. This tapeworm is exceed-
ingly common especially in the camp where dogs are
fed on offal and the stage passed in man is unfortunately
too frequently seen. There is hardly a day passes
without an operation for hydatid cyst in the hospitals
of Buenos Aires.
CoELENTERATES and Protozoa. — As before stated,
these sub-kingdoms have received little attention.
There are numerous species of Hydrozoa (zoophytes)
and Anthozoa (sea anemones), while at Bahia Blanca
a species of sea pen (pennatula) is found. The micro-
scope is as yet an unknown instrument of observation
in Argentina, except amongst a few speciahsts, and,
as there is an utter absence of popular interest in
science, those objects of the sea shore and of the pond
and stream which are the favourite subjects of amateur
study in Great Britain pass entirely unobserved.
CHAPTER IX
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH OF ARGENTINA
Authorities — Botanical Zones — Zones of Cultivation — Prin-
cipal Plants in each Botanical Zone — List of Trees with Native
Names — Notes on Chief Forest Trees — Resistance of Principal
Timbers — Fruit Trees.
It is impossible to give more than the merest smnmary
of the Flora of Argentina, as the area occupied by
the country is so extensive and embraces so many
zones of vegetation that, a mere catalogue of described
species would occupy ahnost the entire volume. Many
botanists have laboured in classifying the various
plants of the country. Of these should be named
with distinction Dr. Lorentz, who was called from
Germany to occupy the chair of Botany of the Univer-
sity of Cordoba ; Professor Hieronymus, who succeeded
Dr. Lorentz in that chair ; Dr. Francisco P. Moreno,
of world-wide fame as a scientist ; Dr. A. Doering,
also a Professor of Cordoba ; Dr. Speggazini, Dr.
Holmberg, Dr. Gallardo, Prof. Hicken, Sr. Stuckert,
the late S. Betfreund, and numbers of amateur
botanists such as Bunbury, GiUies, etc. The writings
of Darwin, D'Orbigny, Miers, Strobel and others,
also contain important botanical obsei'vations.
For the purposes of an elaborate study of Argentine
botany, the country has been divided into a number
of zones or areas, each with a distinguishing flora.
These are : —
1. The Pampa zone.
(a) zone of hard grasses (pastos duros).
(6) zone of soft grasses (pastos tiemos).
2. The " Monte " zone.
3. The Patagonian zone.
215
216 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
4. The Antarctic forest zone.
5. The zone of the Puna.
6. The Sub -tropical zone.
(a) Warm Sub-tropical zone.
(h) Cold Sub-tropical zone.
7. The zone of the Chaco.
8. The zone of Misiones.
9. The Mesopotamian zone.
These purely scientific divisions must be distin-
guished from the zones of cultivation, which are three :
the zone of the cereals, the vine zone, and the zone of
intertropical products. The first of these zones of
cultivation extends over 100,000,000 hectareas, without
including the valleys of the Chubut and Rio Negro.
It extends between 30° and 40° South Latitude and
is the zone specially favourable for the production of
wheat, maize, barley, oats, hnseed, potatoes, vege-
tables, lucerne or alfalfa, etc. The Vine zone includes
the provinces along the eastern side of the Andes
and the western portions of Cordoba, San Luis and
Neuquen. It is reckoned that here there is an area
capable of cultivation of more than four miUion hec-
tareas, of which only a fraction — some 50,000 hectareas
— is under vine cultivation. The third zone which
extends between 22° and 30° South Latitude includes
the northern provinces and territories. Here, sugar
cane, cotton, rice, tobacco and similar sub-tropical
plants can be cultivated, and here also Ues the great
forest wealth of the country.
It is considered that, speaking generally, the whole
country may be divided into — 104,300,000 hectareas
of arable lands capable of immediate cultivation,
100,000,000 hectareas at present apt for cattle raising
and 90,820,000 hectareas, partly occupied by forests
and mineral areas, partly desert or " salinas," and
partly useless for cultivation for various reasons.
A hasty survey of the territory of the Republic,
commencing from the South, will enable us to point
out, without unnecessary details, the principal botanical
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 217
features of the country, leaving the descriptions of
the portions under cultivation to a special chapter.
In Tierra del Fuego and a portion of Patagonia
are found occasional forests of trees generally belonging
to the Beech family, the Fagus Antarctica, Fagus
Ohliqua and Fagiis Betuloides being specially notable.
The illustration (No. 29) gives an idea of the appearance
of the first named, which furnishes splendid wood for
fuel but cannot be utiHsed for constructive works as
can the other two species,
Patagonia itself, by which of course is meant botani-
cally, the territory South of the River Colorado, is,
as may be imagined from its geographical position,
by no means rich in plant life. Its aspect is varied,
dry table-lands or plains being separated by narrow
" caiiadones." Large areas are covered with boulders
and shingles. Near the Andes, however, there is a
more promising state of things botanically and, according
to Dr. Latzina, there is a belt of forest extending
from Nahuel Huapi to the Straits of Magellan, worth
ten thousand million dollars ! Near the Atlantic there
are large tracts with plenty of grass which are admirably
suited for sheep, to some extent redeeming the territory
from the reproach of " Tierra Maldita," which has been
applied to it and echoed even by such an authority
as Darwin. The principal trees are varieties of beech,
called there Colugue, Roble Negro and Roble Comun ;
a species of pine {Fitzroya Patagonica), the Chafiar
{Gourliaea Decorticans), a species of carob or Algarrobo
(Prosopis Campestris), the Purple Willow or Sauce
Morado (Salix Humholtiana), the Araucaria Imbricata
and the Piquillin {Condalia Lineata).
Most of these plants produce excellent firewood.
In many districts an annual plant, called alfilerillo,
a species of Erodium, furnishes an excellent winter
food for sheep.
The Pampa is the exact opposite of the Patagonian
region. Here the soil is adapted for the growth of
grasses to the almost entire exclusion of trees. The
Pampa is a vast prairie specially adapted by nature
218 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
for the rearing on an immense scale of domestic animals.
Of course, the Pampa in a botanical sense includes the
whole of the province of Buenos Aires and also so
much of Santa Fe as is South of the river Salado or
Juramento. The characteristic tree of the Pampa is
Phytolacca Dioica, the " Ombu/' which is to the poets
of the plain what the lighthouse is to the traveller on
the sea. It is " el faro de aquel mar." With immense
gnarled roots rising high out of the ground, and a good
expanse of leafy shade, the tree is a welcome object
to the wanderer of the plain ; but, from any other
point of view, the Ombu is deemed useless.
In a long list of Argentine trees which I have before
me, whilst every other tree is good for something,
if only for fuel, the " Ombu " figures as good for " nada "
(nothing). But we must not be quite satisfied with
this of!-hand relegation of the Ombu to the limits of
uselessness. The Argentine Pharmacopoeia is more
indulgent than the Agriculturist. In Prof. Dominguez'
book on Medical Botany, we find that the root and
bark have a purgative action and that a' decoction
of these is used in the treatment of ringworm, also
that it is one of the legion of remedies against rheuma-
tism. So that, even the Ombu is not at any rate a
cumberer of the ground. It is at least a welcome
object in the camp and many a story of the Pampa
settles round some solitary tree. Now-a-days, many
kinds of exotic trees, such as the Eucalyptus, the
Paradise tree, etc., have been planted over the length
and breadth of this naturally treeless plain and, where
this has been done, a different aspect is naturally
given to the landscape. Still, this is only to be found
as oases in the wide plain which, for the most part,
bears out its ancient reputation. To give a list of the
grasses found would be a mere list of names, and refer-
ence has already been made to the respective areas
of hard and soft grasses into which the province of
Buenos Aires is divided. The few shrubs that grow
in the Pampa are all of the thorn and thistle descrip-
tions. In one case — the Cumiamoel (Colletia Cruciata)
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 219
— the shrub bears star-shaped thorns instead of leaves.
Other shrubs are the Tala, the Espinillo and the Coro
nilla.
The zone known as the "Monte" extends to the
west of the Pampa and the Province of Buenos Aires,
to the Andes and northwards from the River Colorado
to the South of Tucuman and the river Juramento.
The word " monte " is used in Argentina in a much
wider sense than the word hosque or forest. It corre-
sponds to the word " wood " in English and even to
such masses of plants as would be included in the
idea of thickets. In the " monte " zone, most of the
trees are of low stature and many are furnished with
spines or prickly leaves. The Mimosa, or Acacia,
family is largely represented and includes the Visco
(Acdciavisco), the Lata {Mimosa Carinata), the Aromite
{A. Cavenia), etc. The Algarrobos (Prosopis) are well
represented, especially the white algarrobo (P. Blanco).
There are various Talas of the genus Celtis. The name
Moyes or Molles is given to a number of trees of the
genera Lithrcea and Duvana. One of the common
trees, and one which Grisebach used as the distin-
guishing feature of the zone, is the CJmnar (Gourlisea
decorticans), so called because it annually changes
its outer bark. In the sub-tropical region the Chafiar
becomes a tree of considerable dimensions. The Ccesal-
pinia Gilliesii, called popularly " mal del ojo " or
" mal del perro," because its pollen is considered
poisonous, is a common tree in the zone. Many
thickets, or ** Matorrales," are entirely composed of
Jarillas of the genera Larrea and Zuccagnia, so much
so that they are called Jarillares. The Retama {Bul-
nesia Retama) is a plant resembling the Casuarina.
The Piquillin (Condalia Microphylla) and the Colletia
Spinosa, which for the greater part of the year shows
nothing but immense spines, and is called the Barba
de Tigre or Espina Cruz, are also common trees of the
" Monte." Other trees that should be named are
the Mistol {Ziziphus Mistol), the Coco {Xanthoxylon
Coco). Humboldt's Sauce or Willow, the Sauco {Sam-
220 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
hucus Australis), and the Quenoa {Polylepis Racemosa).
This zone includes the great " saHnas " mentioned in
a former chapter, in which districts the only plants
are those which can grow in a salt-laden soil and are
generally called Jumes. The ashes of these plants
are used in making soap on account of their richness
in potash and soda.
The Tasi {Morrenia Brachistephana) bears an in-
teresting fruit, the seeds being enveloped in a silky
covering. The fruit is used to make a lactiferous
drink. It is the basis of more than one remedy sold
in the drug stores. The " flores del aire," or air plants,
are curious plants of the genus Tillandsia which grow
on other trees as Epiphytes, and seem to be able to
flourish when attached to no other support than a
telegraph wire. Apart from the usual industries of
cattle raising and the growth of cereals and alfalfa,
the principal product of this zone is the grape vine,
which is largely cultivated in the western portion — that
is, the provinces on the eastern slopes of the Andes.
The sub-tropical zone is that comprised in the
North Western provinces. Here, there are portions,
on the western slopes of the mountains, which are
almost wanting in vegetation ; but, speaking generally,
the flora is luxuriant and tending more and more to
a tropical character. In fact a large number of the
forest trees of the Chaco and Misiones are found in
this zone. In the province of Tucuman and along a
belt north of that province, as far as the river Pasage,
is a district to which Dr. Lorentz gave the name of
" Parque," where are wide extensions of grass lands
alternating with woods and thickets. To the west of
the Parque is a large extent of territory where the Cebil
(Piptadenia) is the principal tree. To the west of this
and extending along the western banks of the river
Juramento is an extensive area where the Quebracho
Colorado prevails. Other trees of this zone are the
Tipa {Machcerium Fertile), the Laurel {Nectandrina Por-
phyria) and alhed trees, one of which yields a kind of
camphor ; the Nogal or Walnut {Juglcms nigra, var.
•jr^"--*
Xo. 19. Lapataia, Tierra del Fuego.
Xu. JO. .M(n NT Sah.mikntd, Tiekka del Flego.
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 223
Boliviano), the Cedar {Cedrela Brasiliensis), the Cebils
of the Acacia family, two magnificent species of Myr-
taceas, the Mato {Eugenia Mato) and the Arrayan
{E. Uniflora), the Palo de San Antonio {Myrsine Flori-
hunda), the Urunday and many others, some of which,
as being important from an industrial point of view,
I shall describe more fully. In the centre of this zone
is the sugar district of Tucuman, now the scene of an
important industry, unfortunately, entirely the pro-
duct of a prohibitive and exaggerated policy of protec-
tion. In one part of this zone is found in large quantities
trees of the genus Alnus, popularly called the Aliso
{Alnus Ferruginea), and in another the Quenoa belonging
to the Rosaceoe {Polylepis Racemosa), called in Cordoba
the tabaquillo. In the mountain districts the Grami-
neas are the most notable flora and form vast extensions
of lawn-like meadows interspersed with beautiful
flowers, a mere list of which would be too extensive
for the purpose of this chapter.
The zone of the Puna, or desert of Atacama, ex-
hibits a poor and stunted growth of vegetation as
might be expected from a region of extinct volcanoes.
It is in the northern zones of the Chaco (with For-
mosa) and Misiones that the true tropical vegetation
is found in full luxuriance. The portions of the Chaco,
near the river Paraguay, are pure swamps ; but, once
these are passed, the wealth of the zone is apparent.
There are wide extents of pasture land alternating
with dense forests in which numbers of different trees,
all yielding useful timber, are found in a single acre.
The cultivation of cotton has been commenced in this
zone and sugar is largely grown.
The following list of the chief trees will be found
useful to those who wish to identify these by their
Indian or native names. Those with an asterisk are
more fully described at the end of the list.
Afata, Heliospermum ameri- Alecron, Acacia aroma
canum Anchico, Acacia angico
Aguai'i blanca, Bumelia ob- *Aromita, Acacia aroma
tusifolia Area, Acacia visco
224
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Aratacu, M3n:tus mucronata
Aliso, Alnus ferruginea
Alfiler, Bougenvillia stipata
Algarrobito, Prosopis campes-
tris
*Algarrobo bianco, Prosopis
alba
Algarrobo Colorado, Prosopis
flexuosa
*Algarrobo negro, Prosopis
juliflora
♦Algarrobo amarillo, Prosopis
ferox
Algarrobillo, Prosopis ferox
Arrayan, Eugenia pungens
Ayaku, Maytenus magellanica
Barba de Tigre, Prosopis bar-
bitigris
Boaria, Maytenus boaria
Brea, Cesalpina precox
Caa-ro, Ilex curutibensis
Caa-mi, Ilex paraguayensis
Canalon {see Lanza blanca)
Caoba, Piptadenia nitida
♦Caranday, Copernicia cerifera
Calafate, Berberis ilicifolia
Calafate grande, Berberis
Pearcei
♦Calden (see Nandubay)
Card on, Cereus pasacana
Cedro, Schinopsis Hieronymi
♦Cebil Colorado, Piptadenia
cebil
Cebil bianco, Piptadenia com-
munis
Cedro jaspeado, Cedrela para-
guayensis
Cedro Colorado, Cedrela para-
guayensis
Cedro macho, Cedrela Bra-
siliensis
Cedro hembra, Cedrela fissilis
Cedrillo, Cedrela affinis
Coibo, Erythrina cristagalli
Chanar, Gourliaea decorticans
Chilque, Acniscus paroiflorus
Churqui, Acacia cavenia
Coco, Xanthoxylon coco
Cohigue, Fagus betuloides
Colito, Moya scutoides
Coronillo, Rauwolfia Sellovii
Coronillo, Scutia Buxifolia
Coronillo Colorado, Cythe-
rexylon barbinerve
♦Curupaina, Gladistchia amor-
phoides
Curupaina, Cassia Brasiliensis
Curupi, Sapium acuparium
Curupiai, Sapium marginatum
*Curupay {see Cebil Colorado)
Cupay {see Loro negro)
Espina Cruz, Discaria foliosa
*Espina de corona (see Curu-
paina)
Espinillo, Pilecolobium sca-
lere
Espinillo (see Churqui)
*Espinillo (see Aromita)
Garabato, Mimosa Lorentzii
Guayabo, Feijoa Selloviana
*Guayacan, Caesalpina mela-
nocarpa
Guayaivi (see Peterebi)
Gauyaivi bianco, Pentapanax
angelicifolius
Ibapuita (see Pindo)
Ibara-bi, Ruprechtia poly-
stachia
Ibara-pepe, Ruprechtia salici-
folia
Ibara-pita-mini, Ruprechtia
trifoha
Ibara-vira, Ruprechtia fagi-
folia
*Igope guazu (see Algarrobo
negro)
*Itin (see guayacan)
*Incienso (Ici), Duvana precox
Inga, Inga afl&nis
*Jacaranda, Dalbergia nigra
Jarilla, Larrea cuneata
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH
225
Lamer {see algarrobo Colorado)
Lata, Mimosa carinata
Lanza, Tabebuia nodosa
Lanza blanca, Mysine flori-
bunda
Lapacho Colorado, Tabebuia
avellanedae
*Lapacho amarillo, Tabebuia
flavescens
Lapacho negro, Machoerium
acutifolium
*Laurel negro, Nectandria por-
phyria
♦Laurel amarillo, Strychno-
daphna suaveolens
Laurel bianco, Nectandria
angustifolia
*Loro negro, Copaifera con-
fertifolia
*Loro bianco, Copaifera offi-
cinalis
Loro amarillo, Pterogyne
nitens
Manduvia, Melicocca bijuga
Mariapreta, Chrysophyllura
lucumifolium
Mataojos, Lucuma neriifolia
Mataco, Sambucus peruvianus
Mato, Eugenia mato
*Mbocoya, Acrocomia totai
*Mistol, Zizyphus mistol
Mora, Madura mora
Molle, Schinus crenata
Molle morado, Duvana longi-
folia
Molle dulce, Lithraea Gilliesii
Molle piojito, Duvana precox
*Molle Colorado, Schinus molle.
Nandupati, Cascaronis astra-
galina
5}^andubay, Prosopis algarro-
billo
Nogal, Juglans australis
Ombii, Phytolacca (Porcunia)
dioica.
Palo borracho {see Samohu)
*Palo santo, Bulnesia Sar-
mienti
Palo Cruz, Tabebuia nodosa
*Palo amarillo, Rundis acu-
leata
*Palo rosa, Pterocarpus Rohrii
Panta, Prosopis panta
Pacara {see Timbo color)
Paraiso, Melia azedarach
Pehuen, Araucaria imbricata
*Peterebi, Patagonula ameri-
cana
Pillin, Fitzroya patagonica
Fagus valdiviana
Piquillin, Condalia lineata
Pino, Fitzroya patagonica
Pindo, Cocos australis
Quebrachillo, lodina rhombi-
folia
♦Quebracho bianco, Aspido-
sperma queb. bianco
♦Quebracho Colorado, Schinop-
sis Lorentzii
Quenoa, Polymepsis racemosa
Quino, Calycophyllum multi-
florum
Retama, Bulnesia retama
Roble, Fagus antarctica
Roble negro, Fagus obliqua
Roble (north), Guarea
Balansae
Roblecillo, Fagus pumilio
Sacha limon, Xanthoxylon
naranjillo
♦Samohu (illust. 30) Chorisia
insignis
San Antonio, Myrsine fim-
briata
Sauce morado (crioUo), Salix
Humboldtiana
Sauce Llor6n, Salix baby-
lonica
Sauce comiin, Salix vitelina
226
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Sombra de Toro,
rhombifolia
lodina
Tala, Celtis tala
Taruma, Vitex taruma
Tatane, Holocalyx Balansae
Tatane-mi, Pitecolobium para-
guayense
Tatayubi, Xanthoxylon sorbi-
folium
Tembetare, Xanthoxylon sp.
Tembelari, (see Sacha limon)
*Timbo Colorado (see Pacara)
Tinticaco, Prosopis ades-
moides
Tipa, Machaerium tipa
Tusca, Acacia monilifera or
aroma
Tatigua, Trichilia Hieronymi
Urunday-para, Astronium
fraxinifolium
*Urundey, Astronium juglandi-
folium
Urundey-mi {see Cebil
Colorado)
Vira-pita, Achatocarpus ni-
gricans
Virari, Ruprechtia excelsis
Viraro, Ruprechtia viraro
Vinal, Prosopis ruscifolia
Visco, Acacia visco
♦Yacaranda {see Jacaranda)
Yagua timbo, Lithoncarpus
nitidus
*Yatay, Coco yatay
*Yuchan {see Samohu)
Yucuburu, Acacia atramen-
taria
Yuga, Inga urensis
The Yacaranda {Dalhergia nigra) is a leguminous plant.
The tree grows to a height of 4 to 5 metres with a diameter of
30 to 50 cm. The bark is dark and furrowed. The wood is a
darkish purple and, when placed below the ground for a few
days, it becomes nearly black. Its density is from 0*885 to r905.
The Indians use the wood for the points of their arrows and,
in the Chaco, it is employed also for making the handles of
** rebenques " and also for walking sticks.
The Algarrobo Negro or Igope Guazu {Prosopis Juliflora
DC.) also belongs to the family Leguminosae and is allied to
the Carob or Locust Tree of Europe. It forms a graceful tree,
growing to a height of 8 or 10 metres, with a diameter of 75 to
80 cm. The wood is hard and of a mahogany colour. Its
density is 0'64:6 to 0*730. The wood may be used for building
construction, posts, cart wheels, and in making furniture. The
fruit forms long pods, the seeds from which are employed by the
Indians in the concoction of a drink called "chicha" and a
species of bread called " patay," which is heavy, granular, and
tasting somewhat like bread made from maize flour. From
the algarrobo and other plants is made a kind of sweet paste
called " aloja."
The Algarrobo Blanco {Prosopis alba) or Igope Para is an
allied species, which grows to a height of 8 to 18 metres, with
a diameter of from half a metre to a metre. The wood is lighter
coloured than in the preceding species but, according to Nieder-
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 227
lein, has a density of 0.809. The uses of the trees and its fruit
are similar to those of the preceding.
The !^andubay or Calden {Prosopis Algarrohillo) is the tree
which produces one of the hardest, heaviest and most incor-
ruptible woods in the country. Although it grows to the height
of more than 10 metres, the wood is so tortuous and full of
knots that it can only be used for making the posts of corrals
and fences. Its density varies from r090 to r211. Its fruit
is bitter and disagreeable ; but is eagerly sought for and eaten
by the native ostrich or riandu — hence its name.
The Algarrobo Amarillo or Algarrohillo {Prosopis sp.) grows
to a height of 12 metres. The wood is yellowish and has a
density of 0"650 to 0'766. It possesses the properties of the
other algarrobos.
The Guayacan or Itin {Ccesalpina melanocarpa) is a tree
of the family Leguminosse which grows to the height of 8 to 15
metres, with a diameter of 40 cm. to a metre. The wood is
hard (1"113 to I'Sll), of a dark red colour with dark veins. It is
generally used for objects which require turning. In some parts of
the tree the wood is jet black and shows no grain when polished.
The Quebracho Colorado {Schinopsis or Quebracho Lorentzii)
of the family Anacardiacase is perhaps the most important
tree found in the country. Its value is pointed out in another
chapter. The red Quebracho is a large and elegant tree attaining
a height of 15 to 20 metres, the density of the wood is TSOO to
r392. The quebracho extract used in tanning is a most valuable
product and is largely exported to Europe and North America.
More than 16,000 bags of this extract were sent to Glasgow
alone in 1908.
The Quebracho Blanco {Aspidosperma Quebracho bianco)
belongs to the family Apocinse. The tree is usually about 14
metres in height ; but, in some parts, it attains 20 and even
30 metres. It is an evergreen tree and is exceedingly graceful.
The flowers of a yellowish colour are found from November to
January. The wood is yellowish, inclining to chocolate in
the heart of the tree. It has a density of 0*810 to r080 ; but
is inclined to rot easily and cannot compare with the red
quebracho. The bark is brittle and astringent and has been
the subject of many experiments for the purpose of ascertaining
its value as a remedial agent. A number of valuable alcaloids
have been found and the alcoholic extract has now found a definite
place in the Argentine pharmacopoeia to relieve the spasms of
asthma and cardiac dyspnoea.
The Lapacho {Tabebuia flavescens) is one of the most valued
woods. The tree grows to a height varying from 15 to 25
metres. The rosy flowers appear in the spring before the leaves
which appear in January. The wood is yellowish and of a
density of 0952 to 1*072, and beams of 14 metres in length
228 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
can be cut when the tree is sound ; but too often the centre
of the tree is either decayed or hollow, especially in damp neigh-
bourhoods.
The Cebil Colorado or Curupay {Piptadenia Cehil) is a legu-
minous tree which attains a height of 20 metres and a diameter
of 75 cm. to a metre. The bark is very rugged, covered with
lumps from which the Indian name Curapay (i.e. cascara sarnosa)
is derived. The wood is of a pretty red colour with dark veins
and suitable for furniture, having a density of 0"977 to 1*172.
The bark is used in tanning and is an important article of
commerce. During the spring and summer, the tree exudes a
gum, which is very soluble in water and, according to Prof.
Dominguez, rivals in adhesive power the best Senegal gum.
It contains 80"780 per cent, of gummic acid. The Indians
call the Cebil trees " Curupay na " and " Curupay ala," meaning
respectively white and black.
The Palo Santo {Bulnesia Sarmienti) is an elegant tree of
15 to 20 metres in height and 50 to 75 cm. in diameter. The
wood is strongly resinous, and of a greenish blue shade. It
is exported largely to Germany, where it is known as " Palo
balsamo." It is extremely hard, of a density of P216 to 1303
and has a strong aromatic odour, due to the darkish green resin
which it contains, which yields essential oil called " Esencia
de lena de Guacaco," with an agreeable smell somewhat
resembling tea. An infusion of the wood is used in medicine
in skin diseases and rheumatism, and the Indians use it for
indigestion. The essence is used in perfumery and, amongst
other purposes, it is employed in Bulgaria in falsifications of
attar of roses !
The Espinillo or Aromita {Acacia Aroma) grows to a height
of 5 or 6 metres. Its wood is red and hard (0948), but is not
used in any industry. It serves, however, very well for " lena "
(firewood), for which purpose it is brought down to Buenos Aires,
where it is much appreciated by those who have to use wood
fires. The golden balls of flowers are very beautiful in spring
and have a fragant aroma, which may be permanently obtained
as an essential oil and is used in perfumery.
The Espinillo de Corona, Coronillo or Quillay (Garugandra
amorphoides) is another acacia-like tree, with hard red wood,
used in the manufacture of kitchen utensils, and also in building
construction. The bark is also used in making soap for washing
wool ; and a decoction of the bark and flowers is used as a
remedy against ague. The tree is armed with long spines of
6 inches in length and growing together in bundles. There is
a vulgar legend to the effect that the historical " crown of
thorns " was made of these spines. Of course, geographical
differences count for nothing in the case of legends.
The Timbo Colorado, Pacara or Pacar4 plomo {Enterolobia
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 229
Timhouwa) grows to a height varying from 10 to 30 metres,
with a corresponding diameter of 75 cm. to two metres. The
wood is of a colour not unlike cedar, but with dark veins. It has
a disagreeable odour and is used for canoes, washing utensils
and for building construction, especially roofs. The fruit is
rich in tannin. From this gigantic tree, beams as much as
13 metres may be cut. It is, however, much lighter than any
of the preceding species, as its density is 0'350 to 0*440.
The Incienso or Ici, also called Cabriuda {Myrocar-pus
justigiata ?) grows from 15 to 25 metres. The wood is dark
brown and of a density of 0869 to 0'945. It is used for construc-
tion and carpentry, and the bark is rich in tannin. It also
yields an agreeably smelling resin from which is produced a
balsam called " Balsamo elemi," sold in Paraguay under the
name of " Trementina (turpentine) del pais."
The Petereby or Loro Negro is found on the banks of the
rivers. It yields a hard, almost imperishable brown wood of
a density of 0'755 to 0*928. The trunk is long and straight,
but of slender diameter, and the wood is specially adapted for
masts, as it is flexible in spite of its hardness. It is also excellent
for barrels. The leaves are thick and of a clear yellow colour,
and the tree bears a small white flower.
The Tembetar6 is a name given to a number of allied trees
all species of Xanthoxylon of the family Rutacese. The leaves
are aromatic, those of the Tembetare having a specially agreeable
odour. The wood serves for light articles of furniture and for
the body of carts. The bark when powdered and digested in
oil is used for rheumatism and as a sudorific.
The Samohu, Yuchan, or Palo Borracho {Chorisia insignis)
(illustration 30), is one of the most curious trees in the Chaco.
It grows to a height of more than 30 metres, and is notable
for the curious manner in which the trunk bellies out at some
distance from the soil, and then resumes its natural dimensions.
It is very leafy and assumes the appearance of a gigantic bottle
in which a mass of flowers has been placed. The flowers are
large and of a yellow colour. The wood is light and is used
by the Indians in making their canoes, its density being only
0228. It is said that the large ventricular swelling in the
middle of the trunk is used as a place of interment of the dead ;
but this is not certain. The " tembeta," which the Chiriguanas
use to distend the lower lip, is frequently made of this wood.
The Urundey (astronomium juglaindi folium) is an important
member of the Anarcadaceae. It grows to a height of 15 to
20 metres with a diameter of 150 to 2 metres. It bears small
lanceolate leaves and white flowers. The wood is heavy (TllO
to r270) and the colour varies between black, white and yellow,
all these variegations being found sometimes in the same tree.
It can be used for beams and pillars, also for axles of carts and
230 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
for boat building and is specialy noted for its resistence to
damp and weather.
The Cupay {Copaifera officinalis) is found in all the Northern
Chaco and, with a diameter of 75 cm., rises to a height of 12 ra.
Not only is it an elegant tree but it yields the well known
Balsamo de Copaiba so much used in medicine.
The Moro {Madura mora) must not be confounded with the
imported mora or mulberry. It grows to a height of 10 to 18
metres with a diameter of half to three quarters of a metre.
The wood is red and hard (0"977 to 1*090. ) Wlien cut green
it yields a deep blood coloured secretion. It also produces
an edible berry.
The name Molle is given to a number of trees : but the
chief in importance is the aguaribay or molle del Peru {Schinus
molle), which is widely spread throughout the country and is
frequently found in quintas as an ornamental tree. Its leaves
and fruits have various uses in medicine and its resin forms
the mxistic americano sold in the drug stores. Other varieties
of molle belong to the genus Duvana ; these yield a hard wood
suitable for use by cabinet makers.
The Palo Blanco {Calycophyllum muUiflorum) is a magnificent
tree of 18 to 20 metres in height with a grey bark and a yellowish
white wood of a density of 0'918 to 1*027. The appearance
of these trees rising like graceful columns in the forests is very
impressive. The wood is beautifully grained and might be
used instead of pitch pine for many purposes.
There are several trees whose generic popular name is " palo."
Amongst these may be named the " Palo amarillo " or de lanza
{chuncoa triflora), of density 0*923 useful for many purposes
and an excellent fuel : the " Palo Mataco," which yieds a hard
black wood from which the Indians make their lances and the
points of their arrows : the " Palo de la Cruz " {Tecoma nodosa),
whose wood is good for walkingsticks, etc. : the " Palo de
San Antonio " {myrsini floribunda), the wood of which is good
for making barrels and which bears its leaves all the year ;
the " Palo de laguna " ; the " Palo Colorado," etc.
The Laurel Amarillo {Strychnodaphne suaveolens) grows to
10 to 18 m. in height. Its wood is dark yellow with a density
of 0*570 to 0*750 and useful for making furniture.
The Laurel Negro {Nectandria porphyria) has a yellow wood
with a black heart somewhat superior in value to the preceding
and heavier in density (0*826.)
The Mistol {Zyzyphus mistol) yields a heavy wood (1*274)
of a yellowish red colour useful for buildings, etc. Its fruit is
of an agreeable taste and is used to prepare an alcoholic drink
or aloja. The leaves are used in infusions and from the roots
is extracted a dark brown dye. The bark is used instead of
soap for washing wool, etc.
The Caranday {Copernicia terifera) forms large woods in
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 231
some parts of the Chaco. The Palm trees attain a height of
18 metres. The wood is hard and excellent for roofs, telegraph
posts, etc., but is of slow growth and some of the palms found
are said to be more than 300 years old. On the upper part
of the young leaves is found a substance like wax ; hence the
tree is called " Palma de la Cera." These trees yield a kind
of fecula like mandioca flour.
The Mbocaya {Acro^wmia totai) is one of the most useful of
Palm trees. Its fecula or starch obtained from the centre of
the plant is very nutritive and may be made into bread or
fermented and used as a drink. Tlie fruit is good for cattle and
the " cocos " yield a well known oil.
The Yatay {Cocos Yatay) is also an important palm yielding
similar products to the last named.
The Pindo or Ibapuita [Cocos australis) also is useful in
every part of its structure as timber, forage or for food.
It was during the French Exhibition of 1889 that
the floral wealth of Argentina was first brought pro-
minently before the world. At that exhibition was
shown a collection of Argentine woods such as must
have been a surprise not only to other nations but
even to the Argentines themselves. To Sr. Gustavo
Niederlein, was entrusted the labour of classifying and
describing this mine of wealth, and his reports, issued
in the " Coleccion de informes reunidos," published
at the close of that exhibition, form a standing work
of reference for all who wish to see for themselves how
great and how varied is the flora of the country. Sr.
Niederlein says in that report : " The Argentine has
ceased to be for Europe and the world at large a country
of pure pampa. Our collection of woods, dyeing and
tanning products, textile raw material and medicinal
plants has been considered the first in the exhibition
and has awakened a lively interest, both industrial
and commercial, in a great number of the thousands of
persons who have visited it. A new and important
field of wealth has been opened up, hitherto unknown
and which is of immense extent."
The following table, prepared by Professor Palacio,
of the Faculty of Natural Science in Buenos Aires,
shows the resistance of 22 of the principal Nativ<»
woods used in construction : —
232
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
"S «
000>-.t-.CCCCOOiOeO{NO(MOit^OOCO»0-^C<5QO^»a_
e<5 O* ■^'" r-" ic' cc" "-'5" O* •*" oT r-' o" -^' M<'" o' — o* (n" -h'~ o -; (N
C5 — 050aOOOt^«<Mt:--e«5(M(N>0'^'0«0(N'-H->*000
(JJ ^ ^ ^ P-, rt r-H p-l,-, rt rt -^ rt -I -. ^ _, ^ rt ^
t^»ooo-<ooiO(Moo«i>QOe<5cciceoe<505ooo5
I l^ v^^ -^x ^J t^ TT u^l r^ trj 6»J (JtJ ^;^ t^i r^ f^^ F«-( vi,»
iooiO(MooMi:^QOe<5c*5iceoe<505ooo5(Ne<5
r-HOO— I— lOO-'-^O— '©0000000—00
IS h
tf o
.2 «
■ 03 S
So
00
I
o
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SX!
3
o
04
" rt cc g3
o ; :
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<3jC5«52;o
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o
FLORA AND FOREST WEALTH 233
The Mesopotamian Zone comprises the Provinces
of Entre Rios and Corrientes. This zone is the best
watered of all the Argentine territor}' and is specially
adapted for all manner of agricultural and pastoral
industries. Many of the trees already mentioned,
such as the Espinillos, Algarrobos, Nandubay, as well
as the Viviro, Curupi, Tala, Chanar, etc., are found
here. The Delta of the Parana, although geographically
mostly in the Province of Buenos Aires, is really a
part of this zone. The numerous islands which form
this Delta are the seat of ever growing fruit and timber
industries. The principal trees are willows and poplars,
extensively grown for fuel. On these islands, peaches,
apples, pears and other fruits are cultivated, the peach
trees also furnishing no small portion of the wood
sent to the Capital and district for fuel.
Fruit Trees. — It is necessary to mention the chief
fruit trees cultivated as such in the Repubhc. These
are : the Orange {Citrus Auranciacea) , the Mandarin
(C Deliciosa), the Lemon (C. Limonum), the Lime
(C. Limeta), the Guayabo {Psidium Pyriferum), the
Pomegranate {Punica Granatum), the Carob Bean
{Ceratonia Siliquosa), the Fig {Ficus Carica), the OHve
{Olea Europea), various species of vine {Vitis Vinifa'a,
Riparia Rupestris, Berlandieri), etc. Pears, apples,
the quince or Membrillo {Cydinia Vulgaris), the Nispero
or Medlar {Mespilus Germanica), various classes of
peaches, apricots, plums, the walnut {Juglans Regia),
the Chirimoya or Custard Apple {Anona Cererimolia),
described in all Argentine works as the Queen of fruits,
the coca, which the Indians in the North use to quench
both hunger and thirst, and the Tuna, the fruit of a
species of Cactus.
CHAPTER X
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS, AND MINERALOGY
The Geological Structure of the Country generally — Separate
Formations and their Character : Fossils, Giant Glyptodons —
The Mylodon, etc. — The Tetraprothomo Argentiniis — Mineral
Districts of the Country — Petroleum, etc.
The Geology of Argentina has been studied by Prof.
Stelzner, Dr. Burmeister, Dr. Moreno, Dr. Ameghino
and many others, and formed the subject of many
observations by Darwin in his celebrated " journal."
Special attention has been directed to the soil of Argen-
tina owing to the number of interesting fossils, especially
of gigantic sloths and Armadillos, which have been
found beneath the surface of the vast Pampean plain.
There is no doubt that it was during the Tertiary
epoch that the country received its present configuration,
that of a vast plain bordered on the west by the Cor-
dillera and with isolated mountain systems in various
regions. The essential elements of these isolated
moimtain systems, to which Prof. Stelzner gave the
name of " Sierras Pampeanas," are crystaUine schist
and gneiss and, in the north, mica schist. Horn-
blende schist is also frequently found as well as other
forms. Slate occurs in Tucuman, Cordoba and San
Luis. In Cordoba, marble is found in large quantities.
Granite enters also into the structure of the Pampean
Sierra and forms great masses in the mountains of
Tucum4n, the CapilHtas, Famantina, Cordoba and
San. Luis. In the two latter provinces, there occur
layers of pegmatite, which, on account of the amount
of quartz, are converted into quartzite and from a
distance stand out above the surrounding and more
234
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS AND MINERALOGY 235
easily decomposed strata as white shirting peaks, called
" cerros blancos." These are of great importance as
the source of Wolfram, Columbite, Beryl, etc. The
kaolin found in Salta is possibly due to the decom-
position of pegmatite.
These isolated branches of the Pampean Sierras
have given rise in many parts — especially where
trachytes occiu: — to metalhferous veins with gold,
silver, copper and lead in great quantities. According
to the author just quoted, Laurentian schist forms the
the basic rock of the South American continent. " In
the Argentine Repubhc, however, this schist is not
found continuously as in Brazil. In Argentina, the
surface is broken up in waves in a North to South
direction and, as those waves only are accessible to
our observation, the depressions which separate them
are filled with sedimentary deposits of various epochs.
The Pampa plain, therefore, does not rest upon the
schist but upon the sedimentary formations older
than that to which it belongs, a fact which is of great
importance in considering the question of the existence
of coal in the Repubhc."
The Cordillera consists of a central axis of granite
around which we find gneiss and schists. The central
axis has been perforated by porphyritic quartz to such
an extent as to occupy more space than the original
granite. On the west of the Cordillera is abundant
evidence of the eruption of trachyte, which is also
found, but not so extensively, on the Eastern side.
At the present moment there are no active volcanoes
on the Argentine Andes but, within the Chilean Frontier,
there are such. In the South of the Cordillera there
is an interesting parallel to the Riff valley in Africa.
In Argentina, as in Africa, there is a long valley in a
fold of the Cordillera in which are found the lakes
which are so great a feature of the geography of the
west of Chubut and Santa Cruz. According to geolo-
gists generally, the Tertiary period in South America
was a period of great volcanic activity, in which great
masses were thrown up from the subteri'anean rocks,
236 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
which form the sierras just referred to, and the lofty-
peaks of andesite, trachyte and other rocks not only
in the Andine and central provinces, but even South
in Patagonia.
The Pampean System was so called by D'Orbigny
and extends over thousands of square leagues. The
thickness of the Pampean formation is generally from
15 to 20 metres, according to the observations made
of the river beds, or when sinking wells.
\\niere it is completely exposed it is found to consist
of a reddish or yellowish calcareous clay and, near
the bases of the mountains, are layers and pebbles
of sand. Along with the clay is found the well known
tosca, or " cal del agua," sometimes occurring in isolated
nodules, at others forming layers of greater or lesser
extension. Above this Pampean formation is foimd
in many parts an alluvial formation which is identified
by the presence of fossil shells of salt water origin.
During the Cretaceous epoch, which was the closing
stage of the Mesozoic era, geologists tell us that the
coniBguration of the earth's surface was vastly different
from that of the succeeding era. Then, the South
Atlantic Ocean was non-existent and Argentina was
united on the one hand with Africa and on the other
with the Atlantic regions and even with the distant
islands of New Zealand and Australia. The Northern
Hemisphere was, on the contrary, rather a group of
isolated islands than of a continental formation. '^]
" ""^^ At the beginning of the Tertiary period, the con-
fonnation of the world changed and, as the Northern
Hemisphere became Continental, the Southern Hemi-
sphere began to assume its present form with wide
oceans separating South America from the rest of the
world below the Equator. The animals which had
previously inhabited the Southern Continent migrated
northwards and their descendants are found fossilized
in the Tertiary rocks of the Northern Hemisphere.
The fossiUzed remains, therefore, of the ancestors of
the Northern Fauna of the Tertiary epoch are to be
looked for in South America and possibly in Africa
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS AND MINERALOGY 237
and New Zealand. It is on this account that the
Pampean formation is so rich in fossils.
A word of caution is, however, necessary in speaking
of the numbers of species of fossilized animals found
in Argentina. There has been a deal of " species
making " as it is called.
Years ago Dr. Burmeister sarcastically referred
to the habit of certain Argentine palaeontologists of
considering every fossil bone a separate species, as
if animals of the same species were always of the same
size and never varied throughout their hfe. I am
afraid that Dr. Burmeister's warning has not received
the attention it deserved and this accounts for the
suspicion with which the classifications of Argentine
palaeontologists are received by their more cautious
European brethren. There is a strong tendency to
regard Argentina as the palseontological garden of
Eden and to claim on the authority of a few isolated
bones that the country is the point of origin of most
of the existing fauna of the world and even of man
himself. All this may be true ; but, so far, it is as
well to preserve the Scotch verdict " not proven,"
when these extreme claims are set up. The following
table shows the Argentine formation as accepted by
the geologists of the country : —
Recent
Quaternary
Tertiai-y
f Pliocene
Miocene
Oligocene
^Eocene
f _ ^ T-, ( recent alluvium
I Post Pampean ] pi^t^.^g^
lujanense
Cretaceous ■
Upper Cretaceous
J Lower Cretaceous
Pampean
Araucanian
Entre Rian
Santa Crucian
Patagonian
Guaranitic
Chubtitian
bonaerense
ensenadense
( hermosense
I araucanense
f mesopotaraense
\paranense
( santacrucense
\ notohippidense
J astrapothericulense
\ colpodonense.
(pyrotheriense
astraponotense
notostylopense
pehuelchense
] protodidelfense.
The Chubut formation is found in the central part
of the territory of that name. It consists of a succession
238 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
of hard sandstones of varying colours. A few fossils
are found here and there, both of terrestrial and marine
origin ; but generally speaking no such remains are
met with.
The Guaranitic formation is found in Corrientes
and Misiones, crops out again in the Rio Negro, and
again over the sandstones of the preceding formation.
It is also found still further South as far as San Julian
and Lago Argentino. It consists mainly of red sand-
stone of land or fresh water origin. The Patagonian
formation is found on the shores of Chubut and Santa
Cruz, from Port Madryn to the river Santa Cruz, where
it dips below the Atlantic. It is of great thickness and
contains marine fossils on its eastern side and land
fossils in the western portion.
The Santa Cruz formation is found along the whole
width of that territory from the river Chico to the
river Gallegos.
The Entre Rios formation is found in a succession
of strata mostly of marine origin on the left bank of
the Parana, in the province of Entre Rios, appearing
again in the South at the mouth of the Rio Negro
and do\\Tiwards along the coast to Golfo Nuevo.
The Araucanian formation is a series of strata of
sandstones, brown, green and yellow, covering the
central and South-West Pampas. This formation
also reappears with some hundreds of metres of thick-
ness in the province of Catamarca and Tucuman, also
on the coast near Bahia Blanca in the well-known
locahty of Monte Hermoso, which, according to Dr.
Ameghino, is the true site of the garden of Eden,
as here he has discovered remains of the first man.
The immense deposit of gravel and sand intermixed,
which, South of the Rio Negro, covers most of the
surface of Patagonia and which has been named the
Pehuelche formation, is older than the Northern Arau-
canian formation.
The Pampean formation consists of the great
deposit of Hme and reddish brown clay, which has
been before referred to. In some places, this is said
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS AND MINERALOGY 239
to reach a thickness of one hundred metres. The
Post-Pampean formation corresponds partly to the
Quaternary or the Post-Pliocene epoch and partly to
the alluvium of recent and present formation.
As to the duration of these epochs, that of the
Guaranitic formation is considered to be alone equal
to that of all the Tertiary rocks.
A few words as to the chief fossils found in these
strata will be of interest. A visit to the museums
of Buenos Aires and La Plata, especially the latter,
will fill an observer with astonishment not only at
the immense size of the animals, now represented
by small species, which once roamed over the Pampa,
but with the bizarre appearance of many of them.
While Argentina was still unjoined to North America,
it contained, as its special fauna, gigantic animals
belonging to the group Edentata with large heads,
strange molar teeth and no teeth at all in the front
of the jaw. These are now represented by the sloth,
the armadillos and the ant-eaters. Later, when the
northern and southern continents were joined, the
mastodons, horses, tigers, etc. of North America went
South and the large Edentata disappeared.
The Glyptodons were enormous armadillos as big
as an ox. The earhest known Glyptodons have received
the scientific name of Propaloehophorus. They were
the dwarfs of their race and had the tail surrounded
with knobbed rings. In the intermediate deposits
of Monte Hermoso larger species have been found ;
but, for the giants we must go to the Pampean forma-
tion where the fossil remains of the first creature named
Glyptodon are to be found. The plates of the dome-
shaped carapace of this fossil are nearly smooth, but
those on the margin are raised in a series of bold knobs.
One tremendous monster, the Dcedicurus, or " club-
tailed glyptodon," measured nearly twelve feet in
length. Its plates are pierced with holes, no doubt
to allow the passage of hairs, as in the case of the
modern " peludo." It must have looked like a gigantic
porcupine. This monster had a tail five feet in length
240 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
encircled by immense bony rings and terminated by
a solid bony club, with huge hornlike structures pro-
jecting at right angles from it.
Another gigantic species was the Panochthus, or
tuberculated Glyptodon, which had a smooth carapace
like that of the " mulita," but had a long tubular
horn, at the end of the tail, about a yard long.
The Megatherium Giganteum was a gigantic ground
sloth nearly as big as an elephant. Though greatly
resembling the modern sloths, it could not climb trees,
but pulled their tops down so that it could eat the
branches.
The Mylodon Robustus was another of the ground
sloths, but not quite as big as the Megatherium. Con-
siderable interest attaches to this species, as, some
years ago. Dr. Nordenskjold found in a cave at Ultima
Speranza, in South West Patagonia, near the Chilean
Coast, a large piece of skin covered with greenish
brown hair and studded with little knobs of bone
which he knew to be the skin of the Mylodon, which
had evidently survived to within a comparatively
few years ago. Dr. Moreno, of the La Plata Museum,
went to explore the cave and found more bits of skin
with the hair on, as well as many bones not only of
the Mylodon but also of human beings as well as other
human remains. There was considerable evidence to
show that the Indians had kept numbers of these
animals in the cave and Kved on their flesh. An
expedition was sent out from England, in 1902, to
endeavour to find a living Mylodon ; but Mr. Hesketh
Pritchard, who was in charge of it, was unsuccessful.
Sir Thomas Holditch also tried to reach the cavern
but did not arrive there. It is not impossible that in
some cave on the South-West coast the Mylodon may
be still living, as the remains of skin and hair dis-
covered cannot be above fifty years old at the most.
The Toxodon, whose remains are also found in
Argentina, was a huge rodent like a gigantic guinea
pig.
But the most interesting of all the fossils found
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS AND MINERALOGY 241
in the country are the remains of the earliest human
being, discovered in Monte Hermoso in the Araucanian
formation of the Miocene epoch.
To this ancestor of the present human race — for,
from him, Dr. Ameghino would trace the descent of
mankind in general — geologists have given the name
of Tetraprothomo Argentinus. A full account of the
first remains of this primeval Adam will be found
in the " Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires,"
Series 3, Vol. IX. Homunculus Patagonicus is the name
of another still earher ancestor, not however sufficiently
manlike to be considered a genuine Jicmio. Whether
Dr. Ameghino 's views will be confirmed and generally
accepted is a question for the future ; but his deduc-
tions are exceedingly interesting and well worthy of
careful perusal. The other animals, whose fossil I
have referred to, are beautifully figured in Sir Ray
Lankester's recent work on " Extinct Animals."
It now remains to refer to the minerals found in the
Argentine rocks as their working constitutes one of
the future sources of wealth for the country. The
mining districts of Argentina with the minerals found
in each are as follows : —
Mendoza. — Auriferous quartz, silver, copper, anti-
mony, coal, sulphur, asbestos.
La Rioja. — Silver, copper in conjunction with gold
and silver, gold placers.
Catamarca. — Copper as in La Rioja, argentiferous
galena, auriferous quartz, bismuth, antimony.
Salta and Jujuy. — Auriferous quartz, argenti-
ferous galena, copper, borates of calcium hgnite,
petroleum and gold placers.
TucuMAN. — Copper.
Cordoba and San Luis. — Gold, argentiferous
galena, copper, manganese, wolfram, marble, porphyry,
alabaster, onyx, granite.
Territory of Los Andes. — Borate of calcium,
gold.
Misiones is said to contain copper, iron, manganese,
mercury, nickel and lead ; but, so far, the mineral
242 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
wealth of Misiones is rather a matter of conjecture
than actual discovery.
The Pampa Central. — Copper.
Rio Negro. — Gypsum and hme.
Neuquen. — Auriferous quartz, copper, argenti-
ferous galena, coal and petroleum.
Chubut. — Gold, salt.
Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego. — Gold, lignite,
coal, and turf.
These are the chief mineral areas ; but, as may be
imagined from the structure of the rocks of the Pampean
Sierras, there are many other minerals besides those
named. An interesting study of the mountains of
C6rdoba by Dr. Guillermo Bodenbender, published
by the Department of Mines, shows that in addition
to the minerals above as found in that province, there
are to be found talc, china clay, gypsum, Iceland
spar, fluor spar, mica, beryl, etc.
Gold is undoubtedly to be found in all districts
mentioned ; but, so far, has not been a source of wealth
to its finders to any great extent. In Tierra del Fuego
I am told that gold in good quantities can be obtained
in some parts of the coasts in the crevices of the rocks
after every high tide and that, with judicious working,
the " Land of Fire " contains enough gold to enrich
every inhabitant in the Republic. So far, however,
there are no signs of Tierra del Fuego milHonaires.
Platinum has been found in the island just mentioned.
Silver is found in paying quantities in the districts
before specified. Copper is the most satisfactory
mineral. It is abundant and its workings have so far
given the best results of any mining industry. It is
found sometimes in conjunction with silver and gold.
Magnetic iron is found in various parts, but not in
quantities to justify working.
Lead is abundant in the Central and Andine pro-
vinces, generally under the form of galena, which,
in some parts, contains a small proportion of silver.
Kaohu or China clay is found of good quality and in
considerable amount.
^M^^S^fflS^.:^
No. '21. KuiN's OF Jesuit Moxastery, .Misiones.
v^^
Xo. 'i'i. Alta Cracia, Cokdoua.
GEOLOGY, FOSSILS AND MINERALOGY 245
Coal of all sorts has been found in the Andine
provinces, and companies have been formed for working
it. So far it has not shown any great prospects of
supplying fuel to the country. There are, however,
great hopes entertained of some mines in Mendoza.
Petroleum is undoubtedly to be found in the
country in large quantities. The right oil requires
to be " struck " to make the country independent of
Mr. Rockefeller. At least, that is the opinion of those
who claim to know. Rising in Jujuy and Salta, near
the Chaco, the deposit of petroleum follows the chain
of the Andes in a southerly direction and then turns
eastward in Chubut till it finally reaches Commodore
Rivadavia, on the Atlantic coast, where extensive
borings are now being made with the object of per-
manently working the oil.
Lime is found in large quantities in Cordoba and
other parts, as well as marble. Onyx of great beauty
is found in San Luis and Mendoza. There are immense
quantities of Borate of Lime in the far off Territory
of Los Andes ; but, so far, difficulty of transport has
prevented it being worked.
CHAPTER XI
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS
Agriculture : Cereals, Linseed, Fruits, Cotton, Sugar, Grapes,
Alfalfa, etc. — Relative Importance of Argentine Cereal and
Linseed Crops — Exportation — Pastoral Industries — The
Estancia and its Products — Relative Position of Argentine as
a Stock Breeding Country — Importation of Fine Stock and
Efifects of Crossing — Census of Live Stock — Exportation :
Wool, Butter, etc. — Mining Industries : Notes of Actual
Operations — General Commerce : Imports and Distribution.
The chief Industries of the country may be classified
under the heads of Agricultural, Pastoral, Mining, and
General.
Agricultuke. — The cultivation of cereals and
linseed represents at least 75 per cent, in area of the
territory under cultivation. Owing to the nature of
the soil as well as to the situation of the ports these
products are specially concentrated in the littoral
provinces, Cordoba and a part of the Pampa.
The latest returns of the Agricultural Department
for the agricultural year 1909-10 give the following
areas of cultivation : —
Maize. Wheat. Linseed. Oats.
Provinces. Hectareas. Hectareas. Hectareas. Hectareas.
Buenos Aires 1,470,000 2,119,900 392,400 510,000
Santa Fe 905,000 1,262,650 609,300 15,000
C6rdoba 280,000 1,792,000 218,000 7,400
Entre Rios 45,000 300,000 203,000 18,500
Pampa Central 82,000 301,000 31,600 18,800
Other Districts 223,000 61,000 600 2,900
3,005,000 5,836,550 1,454,900 572,600
In " other districts," in the case of maize, include
Corrientes, 45,000 hect. ; San Luis 15,000 hect. ;
246
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 247
Santiago del Estero 23,000 hect. ; Tucuman 41,000
hect. ; Mendoza 11,000 hect. ; Catamarca 15,000
hect. ; Salta 24,000 hect. ; and Misiones 18,000 hect.
The latest official prognostics, in January 1910,
for the season 1909-10, promise a yield of 3,825,000
tons of wheat, 800,500 tons of linseed and 591,000
tons of oats. It was too early to estimate with any-
thing hke accuracy the prospects of the maize crop ;
but, taking into consideration the actual known facts
as to area sown, prices, etc., the value of the crops
for 1909-10 were officially estimated at :
Wheat $360,000,000 m/n =£31,441,048
Linseed 120,000,000 m/n = 10,480,349
Oats 31,000,000 m/n = 2,707,423
Maize 317,000,000 m/n = 27,685,599
Total $828,000,000 m/n = £72,314,419
It must, however, be said that these statistics are
in the opinion of competent authorities much too
optimistic. In a report presented to the Minister of
Agriculture by Sr. Lahitte, the chief of the Direction
of Rural Statistics and Economy, refers to the year
as a most disastrous one in the Province of Buenos
Aires, asserting that, in many districts, the wheat,
linseed and oats will not cover the costs of reaping
and that many plantations of maize have been destroyed.
This opinion coincides with information received by
the writer from agriculturists in the province, so that
it will not be safe to base any definite calculations
upon the official statistics or prognostications.
In the year 1909, the exports of cereals and linseed
were :— Wheat 2,514,130 tons. Linseed 887,222 tons,
Maize 2,273,412 tons, Afrecho (bran) 184,266 tons,
Oats 421,352 tons, Barley 18,355 tons. In all calcu-
lations as to the value or quantity of the exports to
Great Britain it must be borne in mind that, in addition
to the figures nominally relating to that country,
it is calculated that nearly 80% of the exports " for
orders " ultimately find their way to British ports.
248 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
That Argentina is ambitious of being the food
producer for the world is evident from many writings
and, if area were the only factor to be considered,
there would be a fair probability of this ambition
being fulfilled, as, according to Sr. Tidblom, there
are more than 80,000,000 acres in the Republic that
could be immediately devoted to wheat farming if
there were farmers to do it. But other factors, besides
area, are essential, and Sr. Tidblom has named the
principal one. Until much more is done than hitherto
to attract farmers to the country, the progress will be
slow. In the meantime, Canada threatens to obtain
the supremacy which Ai'gentina covets and is going
the right way to succeed.
The following table shows the wheat crops of the
ten principal wheat producing countries in 1908 : —
United States 17,962,217 tons
Russia 15,364,430 „
France 8,400,000 „
Austria Hungary 6,198,000 „
British India 6,197,000 „
Argentina 5,200,000 „
Germany 3,770,000 „
Canada 3,095,000 „
Spain 3,000,000 „
Great Britain 1,504,000 „
The average yield per acre in the United Kingdom
is 31 bushels, in Manitoba (Canada) 19 bushels, the
United States 13 bushels ; but in Argentina it rarely
exceeds 12 bushels per acre and is, as a rule, nearer ten.
As showing the fluctuations to which the wheat crop
is exposed it may be mentioned that in 1908 Argentina
exported 3,500,000 tons, in 1909 2,514,130 tons, in
1910 it is doubtful if there will be 2,000,000 available
for export.
One of the most important agricultural products is
linseed. It is calculated that Argentina, even at
present, could provide for the entire consumption^ of
linseed throughout the world and, according to Mr.
Lix Klett and other statiiticians, its exports in 1908
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 249
(1,055,650 tons) were sufficient to supply three-fourths
of the world's demands.
Argentine maize is of excellent quality and finds
a ready market abroad, Argentina supplying 45% of
the international commerce in this cereal in 1908,
ousting the United States from the first place as a
maize exporting country. Barley is a crop to which
attention is being drawn at present, not so much
with the object of exportation but of utihsation in
the making of malt hquors. The exportation in
1909 was 18,546 tons. The average yield per hectarea
is a httle over a ton (1-105). Oats are also an important
crop as the figures above given show : the average
yield per hectarea being \\ tons ; but rye only
yielded some 69 tons for export.
Rice is cultivated in the province of Tucuman
where there are about 4,000 hectareas actually being
worked. The yield varies from 2 to 5 tons per
hectarea.
In addition to linseed, the oleaginous plants culti-
vated are the Pistacho, Mani or Cacahuete {arachia
hypogea), called also, in English, monkey nuts, and
Tartago {Jatropha curcas), the latter related to the
castor-oil plant. These are cultivated in the north of
the Province of Santa Fe, in part of Entre Rios and
Corrientes and in the Northern territories, the name
7nani is reserved for the fruit of the plant which yields
it, the plant itself being called Mandubi.
The Yerba mate, Paraguayan or Jesuit's tea {Ilex
Paraguay ensis), grows spontaneously in Misiones ; but
the greater part of the " yerba " consumed in the
country is imported from Paraguay and Brazil, from
which countries were imported in 1909 nearly 47,000
tons. Yerba mate is the warm drink which is almost
exclusively used in the camp. Of late years, tea
has been introduced by British residents and has
invaded the drawing-rooms of the Argentines ; but,
as compared with yerba, only 1,721 tons were intro-
duced in 1909 and this showed a diminution of 160
tons on the previous year.
p
250 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
The Potato, called "papa, is now extensively culti-
vated in the provinces of Buenos Aires and Santa
Fe, as are also the sweet Potato, or Batata^ and Beetroot
or remolacha, and the Topinambur.
In the north, the mandioca replaces the potato.
The root is cooked and eaten like the latter vegetable
and, in addition, it is ground into flour of which a
porridge or polenta is made.
Tobacco is cultivated in the Northern territories
and in the provinces of Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy
and, especially, Corrientes. In the last mentioned
province there are about 12,000 hectareas under this
cultivation.
The sugar cane is cultivated in Tucuman, the Chaco,
Santiago del Estero, Misiones and Corrientes. That
grown in Tucuman and Chaco is mainly destined
for the production of sugar, whereas the produce of
the other provinces is employed in the manufacture
of alcohol. In 1908 the sugar manufactured was
161,662 tons.
The current year (1910) is not expected to be a
favourable one and the government has already issued
a decree reducing, under certain contingencies, the
import duties on that article, which are normally
from seven to nine cents gold per kilo. The average
consumption of sugar per head of the inhabitants
is 15 kgs. per annum.
The vine is cultivated in the Andine provinces,
especially Mendoza and San Juan. In Entre Rios
and some part of the province of Buenos Aires, vines
are grown ; but the Province of Mendoza produces
more than nine-tenths of the grapes grown in the
country. In 1908 there were nearly 270,000 tons
of grapes produced ; according to details furnished
by 1,569 estabhshments, the wine produced being
186,091,092 litres. Towards these totals, the province
of Mendoza with 589 establishments produced 250,000
tons of grapes and 174,297,392 litres of wine.
The various kinds of fruits produced in the country
have been already described in the preceding chapter.
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 251
Experiments were made a few years ago in exporting
fresh fruit, such as peaches ; but the results were not
such as to cause a trade to be developed, and neither
in 1908 nor 1909 was any such exportation carried on.
Canary seed (alpiste) is produced in the httoral
provinces ; and, in 1909, 7,044,095 kilograms were
exported.
The province of Corrientes and the territory of
the Chaco are well suited for the cultivation of Cotton
and between 3,000 and 4,000 hectareas of land in
the Chaco have been devoted to the growth of this
textile plant. In 1901 the production of the Chaco
reached 150 tons, increasing more than twofold in
1902. In 1903, 500 tons were produced. During
some years small quantities were exported, but in
1909 no cotton left the country, except in form of
oil obtained from the seed, of which 8,461 kilos were
exported. At present there is a fair amount of cotton
being grown in the neighbourhood of Resistencia and
it is claimed that a hectarea will yield from IJ to
2 tons of cotton per annum. This is worth 15 to 20
cents per kilo. One colonist claims to have made
as much as $40,000 profit in one year out of forty
squares, but as all the cotton produced goes to two
firms, who have the monopoly, both as to price and
conditions, exact details are difficult to obtain.
Some time ago there was much talk about the
wonderful results to be obtained by the cultivation
of Ramio or China grass {Bachmeria nivea), but so far
nothing has been done of any importance.
The principal forage plant cultivated in Argentina
is Alfalfa or lucerne, known in England as the purple
medic {medicago sativa), which is said to have been
introduced into America from Europe, in 1775, by
Dr. Perez Castellano, of Montevideo. With the ex-
ception of the sterile territory of Los Andes, there is not
a province or national territory where this leguminous
plant is not cultivated.
There are more than 3,500,000 hectareas under this
cultivation. As yasto seco (hay), alfalfa is largely
252 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
exported, the statistics for the year 1909 showing a
total of 27,396 tons under this head. As it yields,
under favourable conditions, several crops in the year
and as, owing to the extraordinary depth to which its
roots penetrate, it is a plant which will continue to give
crops for many years, alfalfa is one of the most profit-
able elements of the agricultural industry of the country.
The only remaining branch of the agricultural
industry of the country which requires notice is that
proceeding from the working of the forests in the
tropical and sub-tropical regions. The trees have
already been referred to in the chapter on flora. The
chief of these exploited for export purposes are the
Quebracho and the Nandubay. Of Quebracho pro-
ducts, there were exported, in 1909, 10,000 kilos of
sawdust, 55,493 tons of extract for tanning and 294,722
tons of logs.
Of Nandubay products there were exported in the
same year 99,710 stakes, 111,062 half posts and 53,605
posts. In addition to these there were exported
849,249 logs of firewood, 71 J tons of wicker and 44
tons of resins. The quebracho furnishes an enormous
quantity of sleepers for railway construction ; but,
on account of the great internal demand for these,
none were exported in 1909. All the other products
of the forests are used in the country.
In summing up the agricultural industry it may be
stated that its products furnish more than 55| per cent.
of the total exports of the country, after providing
for home consumption, and in 1909 these exports
represented a total value of nearly $240,000,000. The
quantities exported to Great Britain were (adding 80%
of those shipped " for orders ") : —
Oats 107,650 tons direct
136,956 ,, for orders
Linseed 161,016 ,, direct
253,553 „ for orders
Maize 243,711 „ direct
1,041,956 „ for orders
Wlioat 362,648 „ direct
1,133,292 „ forord«r«
■; INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 253
Flour 2,480 tons direct
836 ,, for orders
Quebracho extract 14,213 ,, direct
672 ,, for orders
Quebracho logs 151,968 ,, direct
52,129 ,, for orders
Cattle Breeding and Products.
The second great source of national wealth is the
pastoral industry, which, from small beginnings in
the early days of the Spanish colonisation, has now
attained the proportions which are shown in the table
lower down.
The importation of cattle and horses followed the
same currents as the colonists themselves. The littoral
provinces received their domestic animals from Spain
and the interior region received theirs by way of Peru.
The horned cattle and horses, whether received direct
from Spain or through Peru, were of South Spanish
origin and the sheep had the same origin and were of
the " Churra '' race, with long straight wool and little
bone.
These original importations were the source of all
Argentine domestic animals of the farm or estancia
until the beginning of last century, when, slowly and
unostentatiously, Durham and Hereford cattle and
Merino sheep, thoroughbred horses for racing, and
Clydesdales and Shires for draught purposes, were
introduced and, here and there, breeders began to
recognise that by crossing the native races with these,
useful and valuable products could be obtained.
It was not, however, until 1870 that a steady current
of importation of fine stock set in. Since that time,
only those breeders who are of the Rip Van Winkle
type have neglected to improve their stocks. Almost
every known breed of horse, cattle or sheep has been
introduced into the country and the effects of crossing
tried. It would be difficult to name a class which is
not to be found in some part of the country.
Owing to the immense destruction of male horses
during the Paraguayan war — for it is infra dig. for an
254 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Argentine to use a mare for riding — the CrioUo horse,
which was wonderfully adapted to the climate and
conditions of camp life, sank into a very inferior animal,
which only crossing with important sires saved from
becoming almost useless. The establishment of Herd
Books and Stud Books, in which pure animals were
duly registered on proof of pedigree, encouraged
breeders in raising pure stock as well as bettering
the native breeds. The descendants of criollo animals
after eight crosses are considered " puros por mesti-
zacion.^'
The classes of horses introduced into the country
include the British Racehorse, the Arab, the Russian
OrlofE, the American Trotter, the British Clydesdale,
Shire, Suffolk Punch, and Hackney, the French Per-
cheron, the German Oldemburgues, etc. The chief
imported cattle are Durham or Shorthorn, Hereford,
Polled Angus (called Mocho), Jersey and Holstein.
The sheep include the various Merinos, Lincoln,
Leicester, Rodney Marsh as well as Oxford Down and
other black-faced breeds.
In San Luis and Mendoza there is a considerable
industry in the breeding of mules, the sires being
Spanish Jacks. Pigs are not bred with the same
care as the other farm animals.
The native race is a long-snouted, lanky animal
with long legs and possessed of an innate objection
to fattening. The result is that Argentine ham and
bacon cannot compare with the imported article.
Goats are reared all over the country, but Cordoba
has the first place under this head.
In the northern provinces the Llama, or domesti-
cated guanaco, is extensively used for carrying purposes
as well as the smaller alpaca or domesticated vicuna,
which gives the valuable wool known as alpaca.
The increased pains taken in the development of
cattle and sheep have resulted in a large exportation
of beef and mutton. The exportation of hve animals
is seriously affected by the presence of such diseases
as foot and mouth carbuncle, etc., the mere suppo-
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 255
sition of the existence of which is sufficient to close
European ports against live stock.
Before considering the actual commerce in live
stock and its products it is necessary to enquire as to
the actual numbers of animals existing in the country.
In 1888 the census of domestic animals showed
21,963,930 head of cattle, 4,262,917 horses, 66,701,097
sheep and 403,203 pigs. According to the latest
census in 1908 the live stock of the country showed : —
ClasB. Pure. Mestizo. Native. Total.
Bovine 984,897 15,060,446 13,071,282 29,116,625
Chevaline .... 49,000 1,693,637 5,788,739 7,531,376
Mules — — 465,037 465,037
Asine — — 285,088 285,088
Ovine 1,179,482 55,448,749 10,583,523 67,311,754
Caprine 3,324 124,800 3,816,965 3,945,086
Porcine 34,462 589,126 780,003 1,403,591
The value of these is estimated as follows : —
Cattle $413,021,767 gold= £82,604,353
Horses 90,563,807 ., = 18,112,761
Mules 9,926,873 „ == 1,985,375
Donkeys 1,256,178 „ = 251,236
Sheep 126,437,993 „ = 25,287,598
Goats 3,661,609 „ = 732,332
Pigs 6,895,960 „ = 1,379,192
Total $651,764,187 „ = £130,352,847
The following table shows the relative position
of Argentina with respect to the chief stock breeding
countries (1908) : —
Nations. Cattle. Horses. Sheep. Pigs-
Argentina .. 29,116,625 2,531,376 67,211,754 1,403,501
United States 69,438,758 21,216,888 61,837,112 64,694,222
Canada .... 5,576,451 1,577,493 2,510,239 2,353,828
Australia.... 9,349,409 1,765,186 83,687,655 813,569
Cape Colony 2,000,000 300,000 11,800,000 400,000
East India . . 91,700,000 1,300,000 18,000,000 —
Russia 34,000,000 22,600,000 42,900,000 11,200,000
Germany.... 20,600,000 4,300,000 7,700,000 22.100,000
France 14,000,000 3,200,000 17,500,000 7,000,000
Austria 9,500,000 1,700,000 2,600,000 4,700,000
Great Britain 7,000,000 1,600,000 25,400,000 2,300,000
256 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
My authority for these tables is the able Argentine
statistician Sr. Alberto B. Martinez, joint author of a
most interesting French volume, " L'Argentine au
XX^ Siecle." Sr. Martinez points out that the number
of animals does not necessarily imply the value of
the stock, a remark to be specially borne in mind
when comparing, say, the British numbers with those
of Argentina. He also refers to the diminution of
the number of sheep from the figures of 1888, remarking
that this fact is observed in the principal wool countries,
" Authorised opinions assure us that against the 400
million of sheep existing in different parts of the world
in 1873, there are not more than 300,000,000 to-day.
In Germany, according to the ' Journal des Econo-
mistes,' sheep have decreased from 19 milhons to 7
millions in 25 years. Of course, the large numbers
of sheep killed for export by the various freezing com-
panies of the world largely accounts for this general
dimuiution, and this remark is specially applicable
to Argentiua."
The following are the details of export trade in
live stock, frozen meat, wool, hides and other products
of pastoral industry for the year 1909. Horned cattle
were exported to the number of 132,450 animals, of
which almost all went to Brazil or Uruguay. Great
BritaiQ figured with 392 only.
Frozen beef was exported to the extent of 209,435
tons, the whole of which, with the exception of 1,057
tons to Italy, went to Great Britain.
Of salt ox-hides 52,719 tons were exported, of
which 5,680 tons were sent to Great Britain, the chief
takers being Germany, the United States and Belgium.
Of dry ox-hides, the figures show 36,371 tons, of
which 20,113 tons were sent to the United States and
514 tons to England.
The export of fat and tallow reached 54,325 tons,
of which Great Britain took 25,162 tons.
Of the butter produced in the country for export
Great Britaiu received practically the whole of th*^
3,993 tons
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 257
There were 4,765 horses exported, of which 319
went to England and 2,846 to " other destinations/'
This term includes British Colonies such as South
Africa.
Of the 2,732 tons of horse hair exported, Great
Britain received 120 tons : the bulk of this article
went to Belgium, the United States and Italy.
There were 2,826 tons of horse hides exported,
nearly all of which went to Germany.
Coming to sheep and ovine products, we find live
sheep exported to the nimiber of 88,636, none of which
went to Great Britain, the ports being closed against
them. Belgium and Uruguay were the largest takers.
On the other hand, with the exception of 15 tons
to Italy, Great Britain took the whole of the frozen
mutton exported, amounting to 66,495 tons.
Of wool 176,682 tons were exported mainly to
Germany and France. Great Britain received 16,426
tons, and the United States about 2,000 tons more.
Of the wool grown in the country 75% is of Lincoln
and Leicester and 20% of Merino.
France took the bulk (26,236 tons) of the sheep
skins exported, which amounted to 33,587 tons : Great
Britain imported 2,778 tons.
2,991,626 tons of goat skins were exported, more
than two milHon going to the United States and most
of the remainder to France.
It is quite unnecessary to describe in the present
volume the Hfe of an Argentine " estancia " or ranch.
There are descriptions galore in the many books of
travel which have been written about the country.
The work of an estancia is, however, very different
to-day from what it was in former times. It is abso-
lutely requisite now to consider the requirements of
the freezing establishments and a much higher grade
of stock is necessary in every department. All classes
of stock require much more care in every way than
the former crioUo hacienda, and the old description
of an estanciero as a man who lounged about while
his stock reproduced itself, is very much out of date.
258 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Of recent years, there has been a demand not only
for flesh forming but for milk yielding cows and, in
consequence of greater attention being paid to this
class of stock, dairy produce has received an enormous
impulse. It is not many years since, milk, except
from *' lecheros " of the vicinity, was impossible to
obtain in Buenos Aires, and butter, worth calling such,
was a thing unknown.
About twenty years ago an Englishman, Mr. Cobham,
commenced a creamery and tea rooms in Buenos
Aires, and began the making of decent butter on a
small scale. This was the first impetus to the ex-
tensive production of milk and butter, which, taken
up by large capitalists, has become one of the most
promising developments of the pastoral industry. The
milk sold at the " lecherias " in the capital is now
compelled to be pasteurised — that is, raised to a
temperature of 85° centigrade. Good milk under
these conditions is sold at 20 cents a litre, cream
being obtainable at $1-16 to $2 per litre.
The average price of butter is $1*50 per kilo,
equal to Is. 2id. per lb. The chief milk and butter
factories in the country are " La Argentina," " La
Martona,*' the " Granja Blanca " and the " Marina,''
each of which receives and distributes the products
of large numbers of estancias, milkmen and creameries.
There are now about 400,000 Htres of milk consumed
per day in the capital. The Basque " lecheros "
find it now more profitable to deal with the large
estabUshments than to try to compete with them,
so that almost the entire dairy trade seems destined
to pass into their hands.
The Mining industry has been already dealt with
in the chapter on the Geology, etc., of the country,
and only few words are necessary to shew what is
being actually done at present. The exports under
this head do not reach 2 per thousand of the total
exports of the country.
The chief items for 1909 are impure Asbestos 20,400
kgs., Borate of Lime 492,004 kgs., Copper, in bars,
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 259
19,723 kgs., Copper ore 76,536 kgs., Galena ore
56,985 kgs., Lead ore 91,775 kgs., Wolfram ore 753,820
kgs., and Gypsum (yeso) 45,000 kgs. The total value
of the mineral exports for the year was $742,707
(gold)=£148,541.
It may be stated broadly that, so far, Argentine
mining largely consists of the presentation of claims,
the vast majority of which are abandoned. It is only
necessary to consult the " Patron Minero," annually
issued by the Department of Mines, to see how far
performance comes short of promise, as, although the
mineral wealth of the country is great, nowhere is
it more clearly shown that it is possible to buy gold
too dear, as, from absence of means of transport and
other reasons, the cost of working would not be recouped
by the yield of the mines. Another reason for the
difference between the number of concessions and the
number of mines actually worked is that very many
concessions are obtained for merely speculative pur-
poses and the expected " coup " does not come off.
A few bitter experiences, of which the only tangible
remembrances are worthless shares, makes even the
speculator cautious.
Taking the mining districts in detail we find a
general paralysation, though signs are not wanting
that there will be some movement in the near future.
In Mendoza, the Pacific Railway is said to be about
to connect the Main Line with the coal mines of
Salagasta. The salt mines continue to yield a con-
siderable amount of salt. Petroleum is being dihgently
looked for by the " Argentine Western Petroleum
Syndicate, Ltd.," and " The Mining Exploitation
Company " is exploring for copper, a rich vein of
which comes through from Chile.
La Rioja maintains its reputation as the mining
province and, to facilitate the working of the silver
and copper mines, an aerial wireway is being con-
structed to unite the Cerro of Famatina to the railway
from Chilecito. Thirty-four kilometres have already
been constructed by the National Government uniting
260 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Chilecito to La Mejicana, which is the richest copper
district in the province. Here mines are being worked
by the " Famatina Development Corporation " and
the " Forastera Mining Co.," the chief mines worked
are the San Pedro, Upulongos and Atacama. In the Cerro
Negro small quantities of silver are extracted, but the
working of silver as well as gold is practically suspended,
except in this district and in the Sierra de las Minas.
The province of Catamarca contains the famous
mines of CapilHtas, worked uninterruptedly since 1853,
which now belongs to a London Company. In con-
nection with these mines are two smelting works.
In 1908 this company obtained leave to suspend
working for two years.
In San Luis, the chief mines working are those of
Santo Domingo (auriferous quartz), San Roman and
La Puntana (Wolfram) ; the auriferous quartz washings
in the Canada Honda and Los Condores (Wolfram),
one of the most important in the country.
The Onyx quarries, " El Pantano," yield a con-
siderable quantity of the much sought after green
Onyx employed in some of the most luxurious buildings
in Buenos Aires and in the " Grand Palais des Champs
Elysees," in Paris.
In Cordoba, the output of Lime, Marble and Granite
has been continuous, but no details are obtainable.
Other minerals have been little worked. In San Juan
the only mines shewing vitality are the Maria Cristina
(copper, gold and silver), and the Mica Mines of the
" Sociedad de Mica Chilena."
In the other mining districts, there is nothing
worthy of mention except in that of Neuquen, where
the " Neuquen Proprietary Gold Mines Co.," and other
Companies," are seriously working mines of gold and
other metals with considerable prospects of success.
In Chubut, in the vicinity of Commodore Rivadavia,
where Petroleum has been found to exist in large
quantities, wells have been sunk with success, but,
as yet, it is not by any means certain that the
petroleum wiU be profitable either for lighting or fuel,
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 261
although great hopes are entertained that, especially
as a combustible, the Chubut petroleum will repay
extraction. Unfortunately, although petroleum is
plentiful in Commodore Rivadavia, water is exceedingly
scarce, the rainfall being insignificant and there being
a total absence of a subterranean supply, except from
a few springs of doubtful permanence.
Fur and Feathers. — These articles of national
production only require a few words. Those items
which should be named are the so called nutria skins
(really those of the Coypii) of which 190 tons were
exported, and the feathers of the Nandu or so called
Ostrich (43 tons were exported), the Chaja (12 tons),
the Condor (H tons).
General Business.
Beside the distribution of the products of the
agricultural and pastoral industries required for home
consumption, the general business of the country is
mainly occupied with the sale of imported articles,
as the absence of workable coal and iron and many
other circumstances prevent Argentina from bemg a
manufacturing country. Small mdustries, which call
themselves factories, are here and there set up, relying
upon an exaggerated protective tariff which is readily
imposed imder the guise of " protecting national
industry " at the request of anyone who declares
that he is about to endow the country with a new
fountain of riches. The legitimate business — for these
mushroom and protected industries can scarcely be
called by this name — is therefore limited as stated
above, but even with the hmitation its extent is
enormous, considering the number of inhabitants of
the country. Anyone who contemplates the busy
streets of the capital, its crowded ports and the ever
extending network of railways, cannot fail to be im-
pressed by the commercial activity of the country.
The following details of the importation of the year
190y will give some idea of the immense trade whick
262 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
is carried on and of which Buenos Aires is the
main distributive centre : —
Value ill
Class of MerchaQdise. gold dollars,
I.— Live Stock 1,545,853
II.— Food stuffs 23,014,691
III. — Tobacco and accessories . . 6,201,028
IV.— Liquors 13,410,486
v.— Textile fabrics 59,923,699
VI. — Oils, minerals, medicaments
and fats 11,852,943
VII. — Chemical & pharmaceutical
substances and products 10,203,393
Vm.— Dyes 1,997,105
IX.— Wood and by-products . . 7,639,715
X. — Paper and stationery .... 6,638,359
XI.— Leather, etc 2,581,165
Xn. — Iron and its by-products . . 36,575,232
Xin.— Other metals and products 10,210,824
XIV. — Agricultural articles 16,651,610
XV. — Articles used in locomotion 31,711,285
XVI. — Stone, granite, cement, glass
and hardware 21,758,269
XVII.— Building materials 28,365,889
XVni.— Electrical materials 4,216,914
XIX. — Sundry articles and manu-
factures 8,257,635
Total $302,756,095= £60,551, 21 9
Not only has all this importation to be received
and distributed, but the exportation of the products
of the country has to be collected and shipped. This
exportation is, however, not so centrahsed as is the
importation, other ports besides that of Buenos Aires
being engaged in loading vessels for foreign ports.
The exports of 1909 were as follows : —
$ gold.
Pastoral 153,548,356
Agricultural 230,503,996
Forestal 8,927,362
Mineral 742,707
Hunting and Fishing 752,020
Various 2,876,087
Total $397,350,528=£79,470,106
INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTIONS 263
The giant strides being made by the country are
shewn by the fact that, as compared with 1908, exports
show an increase of $31,345,187 (gold), and the imports
an increase of $29,783,359 (gold) equal to a total
increase in international commerce of $61,128,546
(gold) or £12,225,709.
As showing the extent of the trading community
in the country the figures in the following statement are
of great value and interest. They are the results
of an industrial census, and include details of all the
provinces and National Territories, except Tucuman,
Salta, Jujuy, Santa Fe, Corrientes and Mendoza, which
are, however, represented in the final totals by authori-
tative estimates. The date of the census is April, 1910.
264
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
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No. -24. Lake Lacar, Neuquen.
CHAPTER XII
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS
Independent Character of Argentine Literature — Poetry :
Centenera — The Poets of the Revolution — The " Lira Argentina "
— Later Poets — Poets Now Living — Prose Writers : Historians,
Scientific Writers, Medical and Legal Writers, Novelists. — The
" Nacion " Library — Public Speaking — Origin of the Press —
Early Newspapers, 1800-1852 — British Journalism — Leading
Argentine Papers — Politics.
It may be thought that as Argentina is a country
which only boasts of an independence of a hundred
years, it would have httle to show in the way of hterature
and would be dependent upon the mother country for
such books as it possesses. This will be found on
enquiry to be an absolutely erroneous impression.
Argentina is in no sense dependent on Spain for its
Hterature — indeed, if there be any dependence at all on
any European country, it is rather France than Spain
which supphes any want in this respect, even though
acquaintance with French Hterature be made through
the medium of translations. Educated Argentines
are also enthusiastic readers and admirers of EngHsh
books, and it is no uncommon thing to hear an
Argentine say that he wishes his children to learn
EngHsh on account of the wealth of books of all kinds
to be found in that language, especiaUy when the moral
tone of the works is borne in mind. But my object
in this chapter is not to refer to European Hterature,
but to justify the claim of Argentina to the possession of
a Hterature of its own, which is suj3iciently distinctive
in every way from that of Spain.
I shall first glance at the poets whose works are of
sufficient value to merit a permanent record.
Before mentioning the poets who have sung
Q 267
268 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
since Argentina became a nation, it is necessary
to refer to one poet who flourished in the colonial
period. This was the Archdean Martin del Barco
Centenera. The great poem associated with his name
was no mere child's play of versification. It contains
no less than 1,400 stanzas of eight lines each. The
poem referred to is styled " Argentina,'' and this is
the first usage of the name as apphed to the country.
It describes the conquest of the country from the
earhest times to the visit of the famous Enghsh sailor
Lord Cavendish, referred to in a former chapter. That
Centenera was a devout Roman Cathohc is shown in
every line. To him Spaniard was a synonym for
Christian, and an Englishman was anything but a
Christian, as is proved by a reference to San Gabriel
(the island), which he says is so named as well by
" cristianos " as by " ingleses." Sir Francis Drake
was to him a scourge of God. The poet's natural
history is as curious as his pohtical history, both being
full of legends of the most extraordinary character.
Interspersed with the story are numbers of incidents
which are worthy of forming the subject of independent
poems or stories, so interesting are they and full of
incident. A perusal of this poem, in spite of its length,
will well repay anyone who wishes to know what were
the hopes and behefs of the inhabitants of the Spanish
colony about the year 1600.
The History of truly Argentine poetry goes, however,
no further back than the History of Argentina as a
nation. During the periods of colonization of Argentine
territory by the Spaniards, there was no poetry pro-
duced by any of the settlers in the country, the conditions
for such production being entirely wanting. There
may have been, and doubtless were, many " paya-
dores " amongst the gauchos residents of the Pampa ;
but their songs, never recorded, were not only not
handed down to posterity, but never received that
wide circulation amongst their contemporaries which
was accorded to the ballads or folk songs of many
of the European countries. We shall search in vain
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 269
before the period of the Revolution for any equivalents
to these old Scottish and Enghsh ballads, which have
come down to us from remote periods of Scottish
and Enghsh History and been sung as cradle songs
and national odes by successive generations of our
ancestors in both the countries mentioned. Since the
date mentioned, however, many " canciones populares "
have been recorded ; and a fine collection of them
was made by the Editors of the " Re vista de Derecho
y Literatura."
Of these, however, I do notjintend to speak now.
I shall rather give a summary I of the work of the
Argentine poets, some of whom have produced poems,
that will doubtless endure so long as Argentine itself.
The first Argentine poet worthy the name was Manuel
Jose Labarden, whose ■ masterpiece was a tragedy
entitled " Siripo," describing the tragic experience
of Lucia Miranda and Sebastian Hurtado in the fortress
of " Santo Espiritu," already related in Chapter IV.
Labarden's tragedy would not be considered a very
great work to-day ; but it is of interest as being the
first poetical work of a serious nature which can be
really called an Argentine poem.
Following Labarden came the Poets of the Revolu-
tion. Vicente Lopez y Planes with the *' Himno
Nacional " and " La Victoria de Maipii," Crisostomo
Lafinur with his " Canto elegiaco a la muerte del
General Belgrano," and Esteban de Luca with a " Canto
lirico a la hbertad de Lima."
Lopez y Planes commences his ode on the victory
of Maipu with the stirring lines
Oh si hoy mi poderio,
La Esfera de mis votos igualase
Para cantar el belicoso brio
De la legion Maipuana
Que hundi6 en el polvo la soberbia hispana !
and closes with a prayer for the greatness of
Este terreno amigo,
Donde todo extranjero tiene abrigo.
and for
270 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Paz que a todos ofrezca ;
El mercado mas facil y abundante ;
A cuya sombra la opulencia crezca,
Y nazcan relaciones
Que hagan felices todas las naciones.
The Elegaic Ode to Belgrano reminds us, in the
opening stanzas, of Tennyson's " Ode on the burial
of the Duke of WelHngton."
I Por que tiembla el sepulcro, y desquiciadas
Sus sempiternas losas de repente,
Al palido brillar de las antorchas
Los justos y la tierra se conmueven ?
Que el campeon ya no muestra el rostro altivo
Fatal a los tiranos, ni la hueste
Repite de la patria el sacro nombre,
Decreto de Victoria tantas veces.
Hoy, enlutado su pendon, y al eco
Del clarin angustiado, el paso tiende,
Y lo embarga el dolor : ; dolor terrible
Que el llanto asoma so la faz del heroe !
Y el lamento responde pavoroso : —
" Murio Belgrano," \ Oh Dios ! asi sucede
La tumba al carro, el " ay " doliente al " viva "
La palida azucena a los laureles.
The best record of the poems and songs of the
revolutionary period is that contained in a book now
exceedingly scarce, the " Lira Argentina," compiled
and edited by Don Ramon Diaz and pubHshed in
Paris, in 1824. Diaz himseH died at the close of, the
same year at the early age of 24. His modesty equalled
his love for poetry, as his name does not appear on
the title page of the book, and it was by reference to
a useful, but unpretending volume, " Apuntes bio-
graficos," by Dr. Juan M. Gutierrez, that I was enabled
to trace the authorship of the collection referred to.
In addition to selections from the poets mentioned
above are numbers of anonymous pieces and some
extensive examples from Fray Cayetano Rodriguez,
Pantaleon Rivarola and others. Rivarola wrote a
poem of 2,706 verses on the British invasions and
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 271
survived the feat. Fray Cayetano was the first to
write songs with choruses especially to be sung on
patriotic celebrations, such as the 25th of May.
The style of these songs may be seen from the
following extracts : —
Sud Americanos
Mirad ya lucir
De la dulce patria
La aurora feliz.
Al sol que brillante
Y fausto amanece
Ai'omas y cantos
America ofrece
La lobrega noche
De la servidumbre
Huyo de la lumbre
Del Febo de Mayo
Y al ver su carrera
La infame opresion
Siente turbacion
Tristeza y desmayo.
Coro — La patria despierta
Y su rostro hermoso
Bana luminoso
El rayo solar.
Fray Cayetano Rodriguez wrote two sonnets which
were placed in front of the Recoba in great placards
in 1812. One of these is the following : —
Veinte y cinco, feliz hoy tu victoria
Derroco la soberbia de un tirano,
Y levanto con triunfo soberano
A nuestra patria el colmo de su gloria.
La epoca empezaste de una historia,
En que pudo el humilde Americano
Desatar la cadena de su mano,
Llenando de grandeza su memoria.
0 dia grande, heroico y memorable !
0 dia de virtud ! Que regocijo !
Al oir tan solo tu renombre amable.
De la America siente el inclito hijo ;
Tii mereces loores, cuanto es dable.
Pues que el Dios de la patria te bendijo.
272 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
This sonnet may not appeal much to the present
generation ; but a very little in the way of poetry-
went a long way with the people whose hearts were
burning with the same enthusiasm as that which fired
the soul of the poet. The classical allusions in the
poems of the " Lira " are frequent and shew that the
education of the period initiated by the worthy Dr.
Maziel, made the generation of those days familiar with
the divinities appealed to by Greece and Rome in the
days of their might.
An ode, addressed to the " Primera Junta/' tells
us how Jupiter long ago said to Venus that the Vestal
Iha should bring forth twins, one of whom, Romulus,
should found the city of Rome, which should be all
powerful for ages ; but the father of the gods reserved
the right to manifest his still greater power by founding
a much more important city in the then unknown
New World, which men should call Buenos Aires.
It will be seen from this that the poets of the Argentine
heroic'^age did not suffer from excess of modesty where
their patriotism was concerned. As witness the ode
to the memory of Moreno to be sung in chorus :
Oh nobles compatriotas
Cantemos a una voz
Al heroe de la patria
La mas dulce cancion
Cantemos nuestra gloria
Cantemos nuestro honor
Porque Grecia no tuvo
Ni Roma otro mayor.
Dr. M. Mariano Moreno was undoubtedly a great
man amongst the " proceres de la patria ; " but it
would be possible, without much trouble, to find his
superior even in his own country, without exhausting
the Greeks and the Romans.
After these poets of the Revolution, we find Juan
Cruz Varela, from whom I quote a stanza from his
" Ode on the Battle of Ituzaingo " and a verse or
two from his hghter poems.
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 273
After describing the threat of Brazil to dominate
the continent and to bring Argentina itself under
its yoke, he goes on : —
Asi dijo el tirano : pero escrito
Estaba ya en el alto firmamento
Con caracteres igneos su delito,
Con caracteres igneos su escarmiento,
Estaba escrito, y de la voz divina
El fallo irrevocable, el cumplimiento
Confiose a la Republica Argentina.
Ella Uamo a sus hijos y sus hijos
El flamigero acero descolgaron.
Estos mismos aceros que algun dia
Las falanges ibericas segaron,
Cuando otro rey imbecil nos queria
Arrebatar la independencia cara
Y que el baldon de America durara.
In his ode to the " Bello Sexo de Buenos Aires," he
says : —
Buenos Aires, soberbio, se envanecc
Con las hijas donosas
De su suelo feliz, y asi parece
Cual rosal lleno de galanas rosas
Que en la estacion primaveral florece.
Todas son bellas ; y la mano incierta.
Que al rosal se adelanta,
Una entre mil a separar, no acierta
Entre la pompa de la verde planta.
Varela also wrote two tragedies, " Dido " and " Argia "
and translations from the Latin poets, Horace and
Virgil. The next of the great poets of Argentina
was Esteban Echevarria, who first described the
beauties of boundless Pampa, before the estanciero
had come upon the scene with his ideas of property
and his cercos de alambre : —
i Cuantas, cuantas maravillas
Sublimes y a par sencillas
Sembro la fecunda mano
De Dios alii ! — ; Cuanto arcane
Que no es dado al mundo ver !
La humilde yerba, el insecto,
La aura aromitica y pura ;
274 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
El silencio, el triste aspecto
De la grandiosa llanura
El palido anochecer —
i Que pineal podra pintarlas
Sin deslucir su belleza ?
; Que lengua humana alabarlas !
Solo el genio su grandeza
Puede sentir y admirar.
These lines are taken from his description of the Desert
in the poem " La Cautiva/' which is the true Argentine
" poema nacional."
Having contributed many gems to Argentine poesy,
Echevarria died at Montevideo in 1851 ; but, alas !
even the place where his bones were laid is unknown.
Another great poet, contemporary of Echevarria, was
Jose Marmol, whose novel "AmaHa"' is one of the
only Argentine works of Hterature known in Europe,
where it has been translated into several languages.
Of Marmol, I will quote the concluding verses of
his poem " Los tropicos "' : —
Un poco mas ... y el mustio color de las estrellas
A.1 paso de la noche se aviva en el cenit
Hasta quedar el cielo bordado de diamantes
Que por engaste lie van aureolas de rubi.
Brillantes, despejadas, inspiradas, bellas,
Parecen las ideas del infinito ser,
Que vagan en el eter en globulos de lumbre
No bien de su labio se escapan una vez.
Y, en medio de ellas, rubia, cercana, trasparente,
Con iris y aureolas magnificas de luz,
La luna se presenta como la Virgen Madre,
Que pasa bendiciendo a los hijos de Jesiis.
Florencio Balcarce, who died in Europe at the early
age of 24, has left us, among other things, his " Adios,'"
on leaving the shores of Buenos Aires : —
El Dios que la tierra y el cielo domina,
Que alienta la hormiga y el condor y el leon
Me ordena que deje la playa Argentina :
Adios Buenos Aires ; amigos adios.
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 275
Pero j ay ! que a mis oidos el viento que zumba
Es voz que me llama a la otra mansion ;
Do clavo los ojos descubro ima tumba
Y un eco de muerte responde a mi voz.
Amigos, si os llama tal vez el acaso
Al suelo extranjero, do voy a morir,
Por Dios, en mi tumba tened vuestro paso
No todos, no todos se olviden de mi.
Adios, dulce sombra del techo paterno
Adios, companeros de infancia feliz :
Adios, queridos, mi adios es eterno,
Adios, Buenos Aires, mil veces y mil.
Not only a poet, but a critic of poetry, was Juan
Maria Gutierrez, wbo has left his mark on the hterature
of his country, and has preserved for us many valuable
poems of other South Americans writers. Amongst
his best known poems are " El Ombu,'' " La hija del
bosque," " El payador," and his poem addressed to
his horse, which remind us of the weU known " Arab's
address to his steed " : —
Rey de los llanos de la patria mia,
Mi tostado alazan ; i quien me volviera
Tu fiel y generosa compafiia
Y tu mirada inteligente y fiera ?
I Has llorado por mi ? Cuando otra mano
Limpio el polvo de la crin de tus melenas,
I Recibes las caricias siempre ufano
Adviertes, alazan, que son ajenas ?
The creatures of the " gaucho " dialect in Argentine
poetry are Bartolome Hidalgo, Hilario Ascasubi, Jose
Hernandez and Estanislao del Campo.
Gaucho poems are, however, not usually written
for drawing room recitation and I shall not give any
examples, except one verse from Estanislao del Campo's
description of " gaucho government." The " Anastasio
del Polio," referred to in the stanza, is a gaucho, who
276 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
is frequently used by the poet as one of his spokes-
men : —
A ver si hai una persona
De las que me han escuchao
Que diga que he gobemao
Sin acierto con la mona.
Sacquenme una carona
De mi mesmisimo cuero
Sino haria un verdadero
Gobierno, Anastasio el Polio
Que hasta mamao es un criollo
Mas servicial que un yestiquero.
Another poet, who was removed by death all too
soon, was Olegario Andrade, whose most noted poems
are " La Harpa perdida," " El Nido de Condores,"
" El Prometeo," " Canto a San Martin " and " La
Atlantida/'
Ricardo Gutierrez is one of the glories of Argentine
literature. Two of his poems, " Lazaro " (el gaucho
cantor) and " Carta a Lucia,'' are especially known ;
but although " all that he wrote is good," his
" Misionero " stands out as a perfect gem for deep
pathos and poetic feeling. He describes the conditions
of a poor fraile occupied in his sacred calling. Listen
to his description of the Cross of Calvary. When the
world was one vast orgy of iniquity : — ■
Abrio la cruz sus descarnados brazos
Con su gigante sombra cubrio el s'uelo,
Y el hombre en ella al estampar sus pasos
Sintiendo al Dios que el universo encierra,
AIzo la frente al cielo
Y cay6 de rodillas en la tierra !
Asi la humanidad fue redimida
Asi el Cristo en la cruz cambio su suerte ;
Asi desde el espanto de la muerte
A la inmortalidad alz6 la vida !
Desde el polvo humano hasta Dios mismo
Solo la Cruz alcanza:
lElla es la tabla, en que salv6 el abismo
Desde la tierra al cielo, la Esperanza!
LITERATUEE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 277
And then he describes the work of the Priest of Christ : —
Yo soy el fraile que en tu burla humillas,
Yo levanto la cruz, yo muero en ella !
Yo soy su misionero,
Yo soy su combatiente solitario ;
jTodas las sendas sobre el mundo entero
Son para mi la senda del Calvario !
Soy el hijo proscrito
De la familia humana
El hogar de la paz y la alegria
Se cierra siempre al alma mia,
Que ate el lazo bendito
Que el padre al hijo ligara manana.
En la cuna inocente
Donde tu ensayas tu primer respiro,
Pongo el sello de Dios sobre tu f rente.
Y en el lecho doliente
Donde exhalas el utlimo suspire
De la vida precaria,
jYo aliento tu partida.
Te enseiio el rumbo de la eterna vida
Y te levanto al cielo en mi plegaria !
Cuando tu pecho late
Bajo la noble cota del soldado,
Yo te sigo a la brecha del combate
Con la sandalia de mi pie llagado ;
Y entre el liumo y la sangre y la metralla
Que ocultan a los cielos tus despojos
Te hago besar la cruz en la batalla
Y te cierro los ojos.
Soy el primer cristiano
Que recibe del barbaro la fleoha,
Y abre en sus hordas la primera brecha
Al pensamiento humano !
Y sobre el rastro de la sangre mia
Con que el desierto ind6mito fecundo
Tienda la libertad la ferrea via
Por donde cruza el porvenir del mundo.
A finely drawn picture this of the labours of the
true missionary.
Bartolome Mitre is another Argentine poet, but
more distinguished for his translations than his
original poems. His translation of Longfellow's
278 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
" Psalm of Life/* " 0, no me digas que la vida es sueno/'
will be known to most readers of Spanish. He also
translated in a masterly manner into Spanish Dante's
" Divina Comedia."
Still living is the grand old poet Carlos Guido y
Spano, whose beautifully refined verses are so well
known. Universal favourites are his "At home,"
" Bella es la vida que en la sombra pasa, del heredado
hogar " and his " Adelante," an incitation to labour
and its rewards, but perhaps the most beautiful is
" A mi hija, Maria del Pilar," from which the following
lines are taken : —
Tengo en el valle de la vida un lirio ;
Mi dulce hija. Placidez, candor
Luz en la noche acerba del martirio
Perl a del mar en que so hundio mi amor.
Dicen sus grandes ojos : inocencia ;
Su frente : inspiracion ; y es tanto asi
Que de ella emana la divina esencia
Del astro buUidor surgente en mi.
Si envuelto entre sus velos la contemplo,
Me aparecen las virgenes de Sion
Cruzando con sus lamparas el templo
Palpitante en sus labios la oracion.
De sus caricias el tesoro es mio ;
Ella mi lira de marfil templo,
Y con rosas fragantes del estio
Mis nevados cabellos corono.
El habito vital de tu alborada
Refresque puro, halagador, mi sien,
Tu empiezas, yo termino la Jornada
jDios te conduzca al suspirado Eden !
May the white-haired poet be spared for many years
to be one of Argentina's glories.
Other Argentine poets who should be mentioned
are Carlos Encina, author of " Canto al Arte," Martin
Coronado, Cahxto Oyuela, Joaquin Castellanos and
Martin Garcia Merou. There are multitudes of minor
poets ; but many of them prefer to write poems of
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS. 279
the style usually associated with Swinburne's " Ballads
and Songs " rather than to sing of either patriotism
or of that pure love which is "par excellence the theme
of the poet.
Turning now to the prose writers of Argentina, we
find that history is the strong feature of the leading
authors. Sarmiento, the schoohnaster President, left
works which are widely read to-day. His " Facundo "
or " Civilizacion y Barbaric,'' tells the life story of
the " Tigre de los Llanos," as his subject was called.
He wrote many other works chiefly of an educational
character. He may be said to be the Patron Saint
of Argentine Education, of which he is the modern
San Luis de Gonzaga. To Bartolome Mitre, also a
President of the Repubhc, both General Belgi'ano and
General San Martui owe much of the immortal glory
which now surrounds their names. His " Lives " of
of these great national heroes are not mere biographies
but standard Histories of the Country during the
revolutionary period.
Vicente Fidel Lopez left behind him a brilhant
" History of the Revolution " as well as other historical
writings.
Jose Manuel Estrada, Angel J. Carranza, Antonio
Zinny, Lucio V. Lopez, Adolfo Saldias, Clemente
Fregeiro, and many others, must be included in the
list of historical writers which it should be said com-
menced with Dean Funes, one of the earhest Argentine
patriots. A recent work, which tells the story of many
historic events, is " La Vida de un Soldado," by General
Fotheringham, whose bravery as a soldier has won
him the admiration of all who know him.
Dr. Estanislao S. Zeballos is a facile writer on
many subjects ; of him more later on.
The writers on Natural Science have already been
mentioned in the chapters treating of the Fauna, Flora
and Geology of the Country ; but, in addition, special
reference should be made of Dr. Gould, author of
" Historia del Cielo de Argentina," with an accom-
panying astrojaomical atlas, and of Dr. J. J. Kyle and
280 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the late Mr. Hoskold, both authorities on Chemistry
and Mineralogy. The principal writers on the
Geography of the Country are Dr. Latzina and Senores
Carlos Murien and Ezio Colombo, whose works are
monimaental in character. As statisticians, the names
of Gabriel Carrasco, Alberto Martinez, and, again,
that of Dr. Latzina, are in the first rank. A world
statistician should be named here, although not
strictly an Argentine, the late Mr. Michael Mulhall,
one of the founders of the " Buenos Aires Standard,"
whose works were frequently quoted by Mr. Gladstone.
The Medical Profession has produced notable
names, whose writings have received more than local
recognition. Amongst these may be named Drs. Arata,
Rawson, Werniche, Posadas, Cranwell, Ingenieros
(an expert in Psychology), Costa, and many others.
Amongst writers on legal subjects should be mentioned
Dr. Velez Sarsfield, Carlos Tejedor, etc.
Of Educational writers, in the sense of writers of
Text Books, the Hst is an extensive one, it being an
ambition of almost every Professor of the National
College and University to write a text book to suit
one or other of the " Materias," according to some
" programa," issued with the regularity of a recurring
decimal by each succeeding Minister of Education.
It would almost seem that these Ministers alter the
curricula with the object of stimulating the literary-
zeal of the professors.
J!t cannot be said that Argentina is to the fore in
works of fiction as there are few novels that would
bear translation, or really fulfil the design of a first
rate imaginative work, which is, at the same time,
a picture of real life. One of the chief exceptions to
this inferiority in the matter of fiction is " Stella,"
by Cesar Doyen (Sra. Barra de la Barra). This book
is a careful picture of Argentine family life.
While mentioning novels, the " Nacion " Library
should be referred to. The " Nacioh," one of the
leading daihes, founded by the late General Mitre,
issues a weekly volume of fiction at 40 cents. Each
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 281
volume is either a translation from a foreign work —
usually English or French — or an original tale, generally,
however, the former. A writer who can tell a good
story and at the same time is not afraid of exposing
and commenting upon what seems to him wrong in
the administration of the country, is Dr. Reynal
O'Connor, whose " Noches Blancas " and " Paseos por
la Colonia " are well worth careful reading. The
same author is engaged on a voluminous study of
*' Lives of the Argentine Poets."
The art of pubhc speaking comes natural to a certain
extent to an Argentine. Speeches of an hour's length
are by no means uncommon ; but the names of Dr.
Aristobulo del Valle, the " Demosthenes " of Argentina,
and Dr. Carlos PelHgrini, the " Rupert of Debate,"
will long be regarded as fixing the high water mark of
Argentine Oratory. Alas ! in both cases the " trumpet's
silver sound is still."
Journalism. — If the progress of Argentine
Joumahsm during the next centmy continues at the
same rate as during the last hundred years, the prospects
for the generation of 2010 are terrible to contemplate.
There are, at present, at least five hundred journals of
all kinds pubhshed in the country, from the giants of
the MetropoHtan Press to the pigmy sheets of the
camp town. The beginnings of newspaper enterprise
have already been described in the chapter deahng with
the Viceroys, and, although first steps were slow, there
was no want of journalistic talent in the first half
of the nineteenth century. Those who are interested in
the newspapers of the country from 1800 to 1852 can
find all they require in a book published by Sr. S.
Zinny, with the polysyllabic title of " Efemeridografia
Argentimetropohtana," which, being interpreted, means
a description of the daily (press) of the capital of
Argentina. During the latter part of the period
covered by the book there was a distinct diminution
in the papers issued, as journahsm was not a healthy
occupation during the tyranny of Rosas. When Rosas
fell at Caseros, a new impulse set in which has con-
282 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
tinued to the present day. The first EngUsh newspaper
in Buenos Aires was the " Cosmopohte," printed by
Hallet and Co., in 1826. In the same year appeared
the " British Packet and Argentine News," which
continued to circulate as a weekly paper till September
25th, 1858. Its editors were successively Mr. Thomas
George Love, Mr. Gilbert Ramsay and Mr. George
Thomas. In 1827, another English paper, " The
American," issued thirty numbers. Other newspapers
in English were the " Cosmopohtan," 1831-33, and the
" North Star," 1834 ; but the " British Packet " was
the only English paper which continued all through
the critical time of Rosas. On the fall of Rosas the
first " Buenos Aires Herald," edited by Rev. Dr. Lore,
had a short Hfe.
The Buenos Aires " Standard " is the doyen of all
existing daily papers in Buenos Aires. It was founded
in 1861, by the late Mr. Michael Mulhall and his brother
Mr. E. T. Mulhall. It has during its long existence
been a steady supporter of British interests and is
still in the hands of the Mulhall family, its editor being
now Mr. John Mulhall. The second and existing
" Buenos Aires Herald " was founded in 1876 by an
American, Mr. D. Warren Lowe, who some years ago
transferred the paper to Mr. Leopold Grahame. It
is now the property of Mr. Thomas Bell, an Anglo-
Argentine estanciero. The editor is Mr. Cartwright.
In connection with this paper is issued a weekly edition,
with an extensive camp circulation. There have been
frequent attempts to start other papers in English, such
as " The Enghshman in Argentina," the " Monday
Chronicle," and, of a much more serious grade of
opposition, the " Times of Argentina." This paper
still exists as a weekly shipping journal, but abandoned
the effort to rival its contemporaries. It is now pub-
lished by Kidd and Co. For many years a paper
was pubhshed weekly, " Sport and Pastime," edited
by Mr. F. J. Balfour, which should mainly be credited
with the development of sport and manly games in
the country.
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 283
The " Review of the River Plate/' popularly known
as the " Mustard Plaster," from the colour of its wrapper
and the occasional pungency of its contents, is a weekly
paper specially devoted to railway and commercial
interests. Its editor is Mr. Ernest Danvers and its
manager ]\Ir. Arthur Holder. The " Southern Cross "
is an Irish weekly paper which would burn every-
thing British, except coal. The editor was until
recently Mr. W. Bulfiu, whose writings, under the
pseudonym of " Che Bueno," were so racy that his
prejudices were forgiven by his British readers. He
died a few months ago (1910) during a visit to Ireland.
The " Hibemo- Argentine Review," edited by Mr.
Edward Finn, is a much more moderate paper than
the preceding. Its pohcy is largely influenced by the
Passionist Fathers and its supporters are the leading
men of the community to which it owes its name.
The " Illustrated Review " is a fortnightly illustrated
paper the engravings in which are of a notable degree
of excellence ; the managing proprietor is Mr. E.
Stanford Rugeroni. A recent British pubhcation,
edited, however, in Spanish, is "El Comerciante
Argentino." This journal is a trade paper, issued
monthly by Benn Brothers (oversea) Ld., of which
Sir John Williams Benn is the chairman. It is well
illustrated and has for its object that of increasing
commercial relations between Great Britain and
Argentina. The local director is Mr. Medhurst Thomas
and the editor in Buenos Aires Mr. W. R. Macness.
Attempts were made some years ago to pubhsh
an illustrated magazine in English, the writer of these
Hues founding, with that object, " The Arrow," 1893-5.
Mr. J. Monteith Drysdale followed suit with the " St.
Andrew's Magazine." Both these magazines failed
to become permanent, through the impossibihty of
competing with the English monthlies which, in the last
decade of the nineteenth century, began to be known
and sold in Buenos Aires at a price which made local
competition impossible. A recent attempt by the
** English Literary Society " to establish a magazine to
R
284 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
be called the " E.L.S." proved the truth of the statement
just made. The Scotch Church and the Methodist
Episcopal Church pubhsh monthly magazines called
respectively " Life and Work " and the " Christian
Advocate " with full particulars of all matter connected
with these bodies. A number of the Church of England
clergymen issue monthly " Records " of a parochial
character. " Fore and Aft " is a monthly magazine
pubhshed by the " Victoria Sailors' Home/'
Coming now to the Argentine Papers pubhshed in
Spanish, the " La Prensa," founded in 1869, is jacile prin-
ceps. With a circulation far exceeding 100,000, a pub-
lishing office of palatial proportions, a cable service
unsurpassed probably by any paper in the world, and a
host of " consultorios " (medical, legal, etc.) at the dispo-
sition of its subscribers, " La Prensa " is a veritable power
in the land. Not only is all local news fully chronicled,
but its correspondents all over the world send articles
of great hterary merit. The letters from the London
correspondents, Mr. H. Nield and Sr. Ramirez de Maeztu,
show perfect knowledge of all British movements,
the lengthy articles from the pen of the latter showing
a deep acquaintance with all phases of thought in
Great Britain. During the last election, the returns
were fully pubhshed in the " Prensa " as they were daily
known. The director of the " Prensa " is Mr. Ezequiel
Paz and its chief editor Sr. Davila. " La Nacion,"
of almost the same age as the " Prensa," was founded
by the late Gen. Bartolome Mitre. It has a large
circulation, closely approaching 100,000. Its hterary
articles are a strong featm^e of the paper. It is in
connection with this journal that the issue of weekly
volumes of sound and healthy books is maintained, to
which reference has aheady been made. The editor
of " La Nacion " is Dr. Luis Mitre.
" La Argentina " is actively bidding for popular
support as against the two papers mentioned. It is
printed and pubhshed at the same office as the
" Standard," and its founder and editor is Mr. E. T.
Mulhall, formerly editor of the latter paper and well
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 285
known for his writings under the pseudonym of
" Scoevola." " La Argentina " boasts that it is written
" by the people for the people," and it has attained
a great popularity during the few years of its existence.
Its town circulation probably equals that of either of
its older estabhshed rivals.
" El Pais " is another morning paper originally
started by the late Dr. Pellegrini. Though a good
paper, it does not seriously compete with any of the
three already named. The leading afternoon papers
are " El Diario " and " La Razon," both extremely
well edited and with a cable service, which, taking
advantage of the difference of longitude, frequently
permits readers in Buenos Aires to hear of events which
are not made known by European journals till the
following morning. Some of the cables show possession
of unique sources of information. I have a copy of
the " Diario " for January, 1901, with a significant
cable announcing the dangerous condition of Queen
Victoria, which was at least 24 hours before ]the serious
nature of her illness^ was known in England. " El
Tiempo " is another unportant afternoon paper, as is
" El Diario de Comercio." Amongst provincial papers
should be mentioned, " La Capital," of Rosario, which
is an influential journal in the interior, and " El Dia "
and " Buenos Aires," of La Plata. Many of the smaller
camp papers, which usually come out on Sunday, are
extremely outspoken respecting political opponents, and
it is no uncommon thing to see a local celebrity
pilloried week after week in a " permanent " paragraph
m which he is described as far inferior to Ananias and
Judas Iscariot. Sometimes, a similar fate befalls a
subscriber who is " moroso " in paying his subscriptions.
Almost every nation, of which there are any considerable
number of residents in Argentina, has its own newspaper.
The Spaniards have " El Correo Espanol," the French
" Le Courrier de La Plata," the ItaUans " La Patria degh
Italian!," the German " Deutsche La Plata Zeitung " and
the " Argentinisches Tageblatt." The Scandinavians,
and even the Syrians, have also their own organs.
286 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
There are numbers of papers in the interests of
various parties, of which the sociaHst " La Vanguardia "
is one of the principal.
Of pubUcations of a general nature must be named
" The Argentine Year Book," published by R.
Grant and Co., with copious commercial statistics, and
the " Almanaque del Mensajero," published by Mr.
Sundt, both annual publications invaluable to all
the residents in the country. " Caras y Caretas " and
" P.B.T." (that is, " pebete," a name appUed to young
children and to first year's students in the National
College), are weekly illustrated papers containing photo-
graphs of the week's events and of persons for the
time being notable, as well as reprints, on a small
scale, of the engravings in the European Weekly Illus-
trated papers. The " La Ilustracion Sud-Americana "
is after the style of the latter as to size and illustrations.
The leading monthly review is " La Revista de Derecho,
Historia y Letras," edited by Dr. Estanislao S. Zeballos,
who has served his country both as a Diplomatist and
as a Foreign Minister. This Review contains many
articles of interest to English readers. Other reviews
are " El Libro," the organ of the " Asociacion Nacional
del Profesorado," the " Anales," of the Argentine
Scientific Society, the Geographical Institute, etc. In
spite of such a plethora of Hterature, it will, however,
be impossible for any reader to understand the course
of Argentine PoHtics. There are no real principles
separating the parties into which the country and the
individual provinces are divided. All elections turn
upon personahties and the only two parties in any
election, under whatever names they disguise them-
selves, are the " ins " and the. " outs." In national,
equally with provincial affairs, the object of the
Government is to perpetuate itself in its successors
and secure a continuance of the same personahties in
all the influential positions. To this end no effort
is spared to secure the return of the official candidates
even down to the municipal elections of the smallest
town. There is absolutely no hmit to the frauds
.Ci .^^ 5r' m' S" '^'
No. '2o. Tehuelche Indians. 1'atai.i
No. •_'<). Gauchos.
LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, POLITICS 289
practised at elections and, if fraud be not sufficient,
force is resorted to and the opposition frightened from
the polling station by the presence of armed policemen
and even soldiers. The effect of this is to cause the
" outs," in the end, to resort to violent means. Hence
it is that a " revolution " is the equivalent of a general
election in a civilly free country. The " ins " at the
present time, as for many years past, call themselves
the National Party, the " outs " call themselves
" Union Civica," Radicales, etc. ; but the strongest
political microscope could not find any difierence
between the principles of these so-called parties, suffi-
cient to distinguish them as rival poUtical entities.
The Press, in general, is against the Government. That
is natural, as criticism is always easier than defence.
While absolutely intolerant of foreign criticism of the
country, in any shape or form, the Argentine Press
is by no means reticent itself, and the worst enemy
of the country might find aU he wishes to say and much
more in the columns of the Buenos Aires papers.
However, it is no good to give false impressions.
Criticism of the acts of the Government must always
be taken with a grain of salt — though not too large
a one ; but, in spite of all the rhetoric, both oral and
written, about Argentine freedom, although the " Himno
Nacional " is taught to every child and sung by him
in his earliest years, the only civic freedom in Ai'gentine
is to vote for the official party. A man who does not
wish to do this is free — to stop at home.
CHAPTER XIII
THE CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND NATIONAL
TERRITORIES
Chief Towns and Places of Interest.
It is not my intention in this chapter to give statistical
details of the various divisions of the RepubHc. These
have all been given in the previous chapters and can
be found in any of the numerous commercial guides
and year books published annually. I propose to
indicate the various objects of interest to be found in
the country and the chief towns and cities. The name
of city is not limited, as in England, to places which
boast of the possession of a cathedral. A town becomes
a city by decree of the Provincial Government when
it is of sufficient importance to be the head of a district
or partido. A city has certain privileges not possessed
by a pueblo or town ; but these are not of sufficient
importance to need further description. The City of
Buenos Aires became the Federal Capital under the
circumstances set forth in Chapter VII. It has been
much extended since 1881 by the inclusion of Belgrano,
Velez-Sarsfield, Flores, Villa Devoto, Villa Urquiza, etc.,
and now covers an area of 186 square kilometres, and
has a population of 1,242,278, according to the official
estimate on 31st December, 1909. The city is now
healthy in spite of many drawbacks, its death rate for
1909 being 15-26 per thousand. The official details
for 1909 were :— Births, 42,705 or 34-37 per thousand ;
marriages, 11,405 or 9-18 per thousand ; and deaths
18,959 or 15-26 per thousand, the death rate being
slightly less than that of Great Britain.
A visitor to Buenos Aires is struck by the contrast
between the city as a centre of activity and as a place
290
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 291
of interest. He soon finds that, although as a centre
of life and movement of all kinds, it is astomiding
there is Httle to detain a stranger in the city itself.
There are very few places of historical interest ; the
imposing commercial houses are all within a very
limited area, and the pubhc buildings do not detain
a visitor very long. Even the museums are closed
far more than they are open, and any person who has
come to see the country soon escapes to the camp
If, however, a stranger be inclined to go below the
surface, he will find that, in spite of appearances, there
is much to learn about the Hfe of the city. To really
appreciate the value of the capital as a centre, not
merely of commerce but of social, Hterary, artistic,
and political life, it is necessary to be acquainted with
the language ; and few foreign visitors are sufficiently
at home in Spanish to be more than impressed with
the panorama of moving life which they see unfolded
before them. Calle Florida is'^the " hub "' of Buenos
Aires, even more so than the more pretentious "Avenida
de Mayo," which, with lofty buildings on each side,
stretches from the " Casa'^Rosada " or Red House,
which is the Government House and official residence
of the President, to the " Casa Dorada " or Gilded
House, the new Congress Hall, which, when finished,
will be one of the most imposing legislative buildings
in the world (see illustrations 1, 4 and 5). There
is something about Calle Florida which makes it
typical of the country : and the thoughts of all old
residents, who have gone to reside in another country,
turn instinctively to the street along which they have
so often walked with the friends of other years.
What the Strand or Regent Street is to London,rthat
Calle Florida is to Buenos Aires. The City is divided
into squares or blocks of 130 metres on each side, and the
numeration is so simple that a stranger can soon learn
his way about without being lost. The" Government
House, or Casa Rosada, occupies the whole of the Eastern
side of the historical Plazas Mayo and Victoria. On the
North side of these now united squares are to be foun4
292 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the Bolsa or Exchange, the Banco de la Nacion and
the Cathedral (see illustration No. 3). In the Cathedral,
in a side chapel, is the Mausoleum of San Martin (see
illustration No. 8), and in the same chapel is deposited
the urn containing the remains of General Las Heras.
On the West of the Plaza are the Municipal Offices,
and close to these, on the Avenida de Mayo, is the
palatial building of " La Prensa." On Plaza Mayo is
to be erected a stately memorial to the Centenary
of the Revolution. An equestrian statue in front of
the Government House represents General Belgrano.
There are numerous other Plazas in the city. The
Recoleta possesses grottoes, cascades and other beauties.
Plaza San Martin, formerly El Retiro, boasts a statue
of the heroic general of that name. Plaza Lavalle,
formerly called " Parque " on account of the deposit
of arms which existed there, was the central point of
the Revolution of 1890. On one side of the Plaza
Lavalle is the magnificent Colon theatre (see illustration
No. 2). Here also is the Palace of Justice, Plaza Libertad,
adorned with a statue to Dr. Adolf o Alsina. On Plaza
Belgrano, formerly Montserrat, is to be erected a
monument to the art of printing introduced into the
city, as already related, by the Viceroy Vertiz. Plaza
Constitucion contains the terminal station of the great
Southern Railway, and Plaza Once de Setiembre, the
station of the Western Railway.
The Parque Lezama is the home of the Historical
Museum, with a notable collection of objects of historic
interest. Fully justifying its name of " park " is the
" Parque 3 de Febrero," or Palermo, the Hyde Park
or Bois de Boulogne of Buenos Aires. Here are
beautiful woods with winding paths and a long avenue
called the " Avenida de Las Palmas," which is the
" Rotten Row " of Porteno aristocracy. In a portion
of this park is to be found the zoological gardens which,
under the charge of Sr. OneUi, are in every respect
worthy of the object to which they are devoted. At
the entrance to the Park, in Calle Santa Fe, is a massive
equestrian statue to Garibaldi, whilst in the park
CAPITAL, PROVINCES, AND TERRITORIES 293
itself are statues to the great naturalist Burmeister,
the schoolmaster-president Sarmiento, and Dr. Eduardo
Costa. Palermo is on the way to Belgrano, an important
residential suburb. Further north, but really in the
Province of Buenos Aires, although actually as much
suburbs of the capital as is Belgrano, are the picturesque
towns of San Isidro, San Fernando and the Tigre, the
last named having been worthily styled by Dr. Marcos
Sastre " El Tempe Argentine " in a book in which
he described its beauties.
The river front is entirely occupied with the docks
of the Puerto Madero, which stretch from the mouth
of the Riachuelo on the South, to the Retiro in the
North : they consist of a South Basin, four docks, and
a North Basin (called respectively Darsena Sud, diques
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and Darsena Norte). The entire
length of the docks is 3,390 metres, without the North
Basin, which is an irregular polygon of five sides and
having two repairing docks on its north end. The
South Basin is 120 metres wide and each of the four
docks 160 metres wide. The water surface of the
port is 659,200 square metres and the average depth
7 metres. There is also another dock opening from the
Riachuelo caUed the " dock Sud." In spite of this
immense dock area, the port is insufficient for the
commerce of the city, as nearly 30,000 vessels enter
every year, the sailing vessels discharging in the
Riachuelo, whilst the steamships go into the docks or
basins. The Riachuelo itself is a most important part
of the port of Buenos Aires. The docks are well pro-
vided with hydrauHc machinery for discharging and
loading vessels and at docks 2 and 3 there are grain
elevators which discharge 300 to 400 waggons per day,
and are capable of increasing this fourfold. On the
banks of the Riachuelo is an enormous edifice, the
Central Produce Market, which is the largest " wool
dock " in the world. This is the great market for
what are called " Frutos del pais " (produce of the
country) — wool, hides, sheep skins, cereals, etc. The
building is four stories high and covers an area of 152,000
294 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
square metres. It is built of iron and roofed with
glass.
Between the Madero port and the building line of
the city extend the Paseo de Colon and the Paseo de
Julio, laid out in gardens, which, as well as the gardens
in the Plazas, are tributes to the skill of the municipal
landscape gardener and Botanical Engineer, M. Thays.
Unfortunately, the buildings which line the west of the
paseos just mentioned, are not in keeping with the
idea of gardens. Except for a few stately edifices, as
the offices of the Central Argentine Railway and the
Mihanovitch Company, the buildings along the front
of the city are disreputable in appearance, and in many
cases the inhabitants correspond with the buildings.
Near the Retiro Stations, buildings about which the
less said the better — although the absence of a suitable
terminus to the Central Argentine Railway is not the
fault of the company — is to be erected, on the site
actually occupied at the time of writing by the
Primitiva Gas Co., the British Centenary Memorial in
the shape of a gigantic Clock Tower (see illustration 27) .
Not far from the Retiro Station, near the magnificent
Plaza Hotel, is perhaps the only statue in the world
erected by white men to a negro. This is the statue
of " Falucho " (see illustration 7). Falucho was a negro
soldier who refused to haul down the Argentine flag at
the bidding of the Spanish soldiery and was shot down
by the latter. To British visitors one of the most inter-
esting sites of the city is the corner of Calles Reconquista
and Bartolome Mitre (formerly Piedad). Here are to be
found the portals of the London and River Plate Bank,
the British Bank of South America and the London and
Brazihan Bank, all — and especially the first named —
important factors in British mercantile supremacy.
One of the most thrilling scenes in Anglo-Argentine
history was that which took place here on the 3rd of
June, 1891. After an imparalleled run on the London
and River Plate Bank, which had kept its doors open
when every other Bank of importance had had to
close, if only temporarily, a run sustained by the most
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 295
abominable and mendacious statements in the Buenos
Aires Press. Mr. Anderson, the manager, ascended
the balcony at three o'clock in the afternoon and
announced the victory of the Bank over its enemies
amidst the tumultuous applause of thousands of people.
Britons in the River Plate that day felt that the
" Reconquista," after which the street was named,
was amply avenged. The failure of the Bank named
would have meant the ruin of the country and it was
a glorious triumph for the sound methods of British
finance which Mr. Anderson had to announce on that
memorable occasion.
Besides the Cathedral and the churches named in
a previous chapter, the following churches are worthy
of a visit : — La Merced (Cangallo and Reconquista) is
one of the oldest churches in the city and is built on
the site of the former monastery of the Mercedarians,
which dated from the early days of the Colony ; Santo
Domingo (Belgrano and Defensa) shews in its tower
some cannon balls fired during the British invasions
by the defending troops. The position in which these
balls are found does not say much for the aim of the
gallant patricians. In front of this church is a magni-
ficent Mausoleum, in which repose the remains of
General Belgrano, inaugurated in June 1903. This
monument was erected by public subscription. Until
its erection, the remains of the gallant general lay
in a grave near the entrance of the church upon which
the very inscription has been defaced. The Irish
Church (Estados Unidos and Urquiza), dedicated to
the Holy Cross, is a beautiful example of Gothic archi-
tecture. On St. Patrick's Day this church is crowded
with the enthusiastic descendants of the daughter of Erin.
Although there are numerous hospitals in the city,
there is still a great want of hospital accommodation,
especially as numbers of serious cases are sent into
the capital from the camp, where proper medical and
especially surgical assistance is impossible to obtain.
The Hospital de Chnicas is the chief hospital and is
ttended by a staff of the most able practitioners in
296 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the city. The inconvenience of the hospital is the
compulsory post mortem to which anyone who dies
there has to submit. Several nationahties have their
own hospitals. Amongst these are the French, Spanish
and Italian and, of course, the British, the last men-
tioned only too well known to the residents of that
nationality. Many years ago a talented lady writer
in the " Review of the River Plate " wound up a
description of residence in Argentina with the words,
" And we die in the British Hospital." This is only
too true. All classes of the British community flock
to the Hospital for medical and surgical treatment.
The competence of the staff is notorious, and it is
well for hundreds of men, who have no famiUes upon
whose care to depend, that they have such a well
organised institution to rely upon when the inevitable
sickness comes. In case of infectious diseases there
is the " Casa de Aislamiento," which, from having been
called the Lazareto, has become unpopular, but the
writer knows many who have been compelled to go to
this hospital and, almost without exception, they
speak well of the care and treatment they receive
there. Those who are interested in Hygiene will find
that there is much attention paid to pubUc health in
the city of Buenos Aires. There is a well organised
" Asistencia Publica," whose vans with rubber tyres and
tinkUng bells are quickly on the spot in case of accident
and may be obtained for the conveyance of sick persons
to the hospitals. There is a First Aid Society {primeros
auxilios) which is an outcome of the St. John's
Ambulance movement introduced into Buenos Aires
some years ago, but now inactive owing to the estabUsh-
ment of the Argentine Society. At Calle Santa Fe,
3795, is to be found the National Vaccine Conservatory
for the production of the lymph necessary in carrying
out a system of compulsory vaccination and capable
of producing 2,500 charges of lymph per week.
Attached to the Medical Faculty is the " Morgue,"
fully adapted for the purposes for which such a building
is established.
CAPITAL, PROVINCES, AND TERRITORIES 297
Scientific visitors will find much to interest them
in the Zoological Gardens already referred to. The
Botanical Gardens, under the care of Mr. Thays, are
situated in Calle Santa Fe, near the " Zoo," where is
to be found a well arranged collection of indigenous
and exotic plants. The National Museum is at present
in Calle Peru, but is shortly to move to more imposing
premises. There are also various scientific societies
established in the city. The National Museum is
under the care of Dr. Ameghino, the geologist before
referred to. The Secretary and Librarian, who is
always ready to assist enquirers, is Sr. Pendola. The
National Library, under the care of M. Groussac,
contains more than 170,000 books and manuscripts.
It is in Calle Mejico 560 and is open in the afternoon
all through the year and in Winter in the evening
from 8 to 10. There are a number of valuable private
libraries of which the most important and the one
open to visitors is that of the late General Mitre, San
Martin 336. The Museum of Fine Arts (Bellas Artes),
Florida 783, is open every day (except Mondays) and
contains 19 rooms, where some 500 pictures and other
works of art are on view illustrating different schools
and nationahties of painting, sculpture, etc. There are,
however, few Enghsh paintings and these not of the
first order. There are frequent exhibitions of paintings
to which admission is free at the Salon Costa and at
the Witcomb Gallery, both in Calle Florida. Other
pubhc buildings of interest, either from an architectural
point of view or from their importance otherwise, are
the Opera House, Corrientes 860 ; the Jockey Club,
in Calle Florida ; the Pabellon Argentino, in the Plaza
San Martin, which was the Argentine Pavilion at one
of the Paris Exhibitions ; the Water Deposit (Rio
Bamba and Paraguay), the Faculty of Medicine
(C6rdoba and Andes), and the Palace of Justice, in
the Plaza Lavalle.
The Cemeteries of Buenos Aires are the Recoleta
and the Chacarita. The fonner is closed for burials,
except to famihes having vaults. It is an extra-
298 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
ordinary sight to one accustomed to the garden-hke
" God's Acres " in Great Britain. Covering an area
of 50,000 square metres, it contains an exhibition of
statuary of the most elaborate character. Here are
the tombs of many of Argentina's most illustrious sons,
some simple and unostentatious, others displaying a
luxury of adornment often quite out of place with the
characters of those who sleep below. One of the most
imposing monuments is that erected to those who
fell in the revolution of 1890. British visitors will
be most interested in the tomb of Admiral Brown ;
but on wandering along the paved streets from section
to section, they will read many inscriptions which
teU of their fellow countrymen who have written their
names in the records of their adopted country. The
cemetery in use at the present time is that of the
Chacarita, and in one comer of this is the Protestant
section. Here the distinctive character of an English
burial ground is maintained, and those who rest here
do so amidst surroundings which have none of the
ostentatious character of the Recoleta.
Before leaving the city of Buenos Aires, it will
be necessary to name a few of the peculiarly British
institutions and buildings. The oldest institution of
this character is the English Literary Society founded
in 1878. This society has an excellent library and
reading room, though of unpretentious appearance,
in Cangallo 536. Visitors can obtain tickets entitling
them to use the premises for one month on the apphca-
tion of any member. The Victoria Sailors' Home,
foimded to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of
Queen Victoria, is a useful institution with every
necessary accommodation in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of the docks. The Prince George's Hall,
erected as a " recuerdo " of the marriage of the present
King of England, is the property of a hmited company,
but is one of the most favoured Halls in the city for
pubHc meetings. The Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion is lodged at the present time in Moreno 432, but
will at some date, in the near or distant future, remove
CAPITAL, PROVINCES, AND TERRITORIES 299
to a site in Calle Colon, where, in conjunction with
the Railway Clearing House, a sky scraper of the most
approved style of New York architecture, will shelter
these two widely differing institutions. Other institu-
tions, without premises to show, are the Empire League,
the St. Andrew's Society, the Buenos Aires Choral
Union, the British and American Benevolent Society,
etc.
Great Britain has, mainly through the Enghsh
schools, introduced outdoor sports of all kinds into
the country : football, golf, cricket, polo, tennis, rowing,
hockey, etc. All are represented by clubs, and in the
case of football the rage has extended to Argentines,
so that, on a Sunday afternoon, the number of youths
engaged in this game is legion. To detail the various
clubs devoted to sport would be to fill many pages
of this volume. There is no need to do this, as the
Press, both Argentine and British, give daily full
details of all pending events and there is a plethora of
information available for lovers of outdoor exercise.
The same may be said about horse racing, which draws
crowds to the Hippodrome at Palermo.
Buenos Aires is an easy town to get about in, as
there are tramways (electric) in every direction. The
system of tramways is theoretically perfect, but in
practice it is perfectly human.
The Railway lines leaving Buenos Aires are as
follows : — The Southern Railway (stations at Plaza
Constitucion and Casa Amarilla) to La Plata, Mar del
Plata, Necochea and Bahia Blanca and far away to
Neuquen in the territory of that name. The Central
Argentine (with which the Buenos Aires and Rosario is
now united) with, at present, two temporary stations
and the foundation stone of a permanent building at the
Retiro, to Rosario, Cordoba, Santiago del Estero and
Tucuman. The Pacific, starting at present from one
of the Central Argentine Stations at the Retiro, to
San Luis, Mendoza, San Juan and by the Cuevas
tunnel under the Andes to Chile ; it also connects these
provinces named with Bahia Blanca. The Buenos
300 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Aires Western Railway (station Plaza Once de Setiembre)
to Bragado, Lincoln and the west of the Province of
Buenos Aires, also to the Pampa Central. The Central
Railway of Buenos Aires, from the Lacroze station at
the Chacarita to Zarate, Giles and Rojas and (by ferry
at Zarate) joined with the Entre Rian Railway system.
The Provincial (Railway of the Province of Buenos
Aires), from a station in Calle Velez Sarsfield and
Suarez, through Pergamino to Rosario. The Central
Cordoba (Extension) Railway is a narrow gauge hne,
being constructed to hnk the Cordoba and Rosario
Railway with the Port of Buenos Aires. It is expected
to be opened to traffic before the end of 1910.
The Province of Buenos Aires.
The Queen Province, as the Province of Buenos
Aires is called, contains an area of about 125,000 square
miles and is, therefore, 21 times as large as England.
Its features and productions have already been de-
scribed.
La Plata, or the enchanted city, sprang up in an
incredibly short time as the Capital of the Province
during the governorship of Dr. Dardo Rocha in 1882.
It is a modern city, in every sense of the term, with
wide and well paved streets, electric Ughting and a
number of imposing public buildings. It was built
regardless of expense at the time when money was
beginning to be like water. Among the chief buildings
to be visited are the Government House, the Palace
of the Legislature, the Educational Head Office, the
Town Hall, the Museum and the Observatory.
The Museum (see illustration 6) was founded by
Dr. Francisco P. Moreno and is at present under the
direction of Mr. Samuel Lafone Quevedo, M.A. (Oxford).
Its vast and important collections and their orderly
arrangement have made this museum famous throughout
the world, and such British Scientists as Mr. R. Lyddeker
have made the journey to the Plate to see its treasures.
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 301
As is usual with such institutes in Argentina it is only
open to visitors on feast days from 10 to 4.
The Observatory (see illustration 9) is well suppHed
with instruments and was till March, 1910, under the
direction of Dr. Porro de Somenzi, an able Itahan
Astronomer. Unfortunately, the Eucalyptus grove on
the outskirts of the city interferes with the view of the
heavens on one side. In the vicinity of Buenos Aires,
although in the jurisdiction of the province, are a
number of towns which are really suburbs of the capital,
the principal residents being either employed in the
city or having country houses, or " quintas," in the
towns referred to. At Bernal, in the south, there is
a station for wireless telegraphy. The next station,
Quilmes, is a favourite British suburb with an Anglican
church, a Scotch Presbyterian church and an important
boarding school (St. George's College), as well as other
Enghsh day schools, and a resident Enghsh doctor.
Here is the important Brewery, the Cerveceria Argentina.
On the main Southern Hne are Banfield, Lomas,
Temperly and Adrogue. At Lomas there is an AngHcan
church, a Methodist church and English school and an
Enghsh medical man. Near Lomas, are the Santa
Catalina woods. Lomas and Temperly boast of a
well laid out goK links. At Adrogue is the well known
hotel " Las Dehcias," sacred to Hymen. On the
Central Argentine line are San Martin and Villa
Ballesteros and, on the old " Northern Railway,"
along the shores of the River Plate are Martinez, San
Isidro and San Fernando ; at the last named there
is an English school, Queen Victoria College, and also
— what is rare in Argentina — a well ordered water
supply (aguas corrientes).
Just past San Fernando is the Tigre, which is the
centre of all aquatic sports. There are several clubs :
the Tigre, the Buenos Aires, the Teutonia (German) and
the Argentine Club, all having club houses and a good
supply of boats. Here is also the headquarters of
the yachting club. On November 11th and March
25th, every year, international regattas are held and
s
302 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
the sight of the river on these days can only be equalled
at Henley. Both at the Tigre and San Fernando
good fishing can be obtained in the rivers leading into
the Lujan and Parana. Steamers and pleasure boats
can be hired at either of the stations at the Tigre.
A day's outing among the islands of the Delta is one
of the most enjoyable pleasures to be obtained in the
country. At the Tigre there is a large hotel open
during the season and under able management. On
the Pacific line are Villa Devoto, where Mr. J. Hall
has one of the finest gardens in the country, with con-
servatories in which are reared hundreds of species and
varieties of orchids. Near Villa Devoto, at Santos
Lugares and Caseros, is the site of the famous battle
which put an end to the tyranny of Rosas. Hurlingham,
as its name implies, is a thoroughly English village.
Its life centres in its club, which, since its foundation,
has been to the fore in all names of sport. A few
kilometres from Hurhngham is the " Campo de Mayo,"
which is the Aldershot of Argentina.
The chief suburbs on the Western Railway are
within the boundaries of the capital. Leaving the
suburbs of Buenos Aires and following the line of the
great Southern Railway we must mention Chascomus,
where the Scots have for many years had a Minister
and a church. Here is the famous lake which suppHes
the capital with fish. Nearly 500 tons of fish were sent
in 1909 to Buenos Aires from the Chascomus district.
Dolores is an important judicial centre. Tandil is
famous for the " Rocking Stone " (see illust. 18), already
described, and for other famous rocks in the neighbour-
hood. The " Devil's Gate " is formed by two huge
stones nearly 20 metres high. The " Sentinel " is on
the summit of the hill Americo Rossi. " El Carancho "
is a heartshaped rock five metres high on Mt. Fernandez.
Other rocks are " El Pehgro " and " Los Gauchos,"
At Tandil there is also a cascade in the Sierra Tandil.
Tres Arroyos is an important agricultural and pastoral
centre. Bahia Blanca, the " Liverpool of the South,"
is a rising port which has expectations of becoming
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 303
a provincial capital. Every effort is being made to
develop this town as a mercantile and shipping centre
and, although it offers no attractions as a residence
apart from its trade, it is Likely in the near future to
considerably reheve the pressure on the port of Buenos
Aires. The Railway Port at Ingeniero White is being
rapidly developed by the F. C. Sud. Port Belgrano,
in the vicinity of Bahia Blanca, is a mihtary port
of the greatest importance, with proper fortifications
and batteries for its defence. About 20 miles from
the station Tornquist, to the north of Bahia Blanca,
is the Sierra de la Ventana with the mountain which
gives the range its name (see illustration 17).
Mar del Plata is the fashionable watering place of
Argentina and here in the summer months may be
found the elite of Buenos Aires society. Here are
combined the pleasures of Brighton and Monte Carlo.
The month of March is called the month of the
" Ingleses," as Britishers, generally, go when the days
are beginning to cool. Necochea on the South coast of
the province hopes one day to rival Mar del Plata ;
but, though a place of frequent resort, it is not so
popular as the latter, an account of its distance (three
miles) from the Ocean. Other important towns on the
Southern hne are Olavarria, Azul, Ayacucho, Pringles,
Canuelas, Lobos, etc., but there are no striking details
to notice with respect to these. The same apphes
to the majority of the towns on the Western line.
Moron and Ituzaingo are residential suburbs of the
capital. Lujan is famous for its Basihca, erected to
the Virgin of Lujan. This is the Argentine Lourdes
and frequent pilgrimages are made to this shrine,
where there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, which was
brought from Brazil many years ago in the reign of
Phihp II, with the object of being conveyed to Cordoba.
It was placed in a bullock cart and got as far on its
journey as Lujan. Here it became so heavy that the
bullocks could not move the cart in spite of all the
efforts of the drivers. This was taken as a sign that
the Virgin did not want to go any further and the
304 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
image was taken off the cart and placed in the chui'ch,
where it received the worship at first of the villagers
and afterwards, as its fame spread, of the whole country.
A magnificent BasiHca is erected on the site of the old
church. Other towns on the Western fine are Mercedes,
where there is a Wesleyan Methodist College, Chivilcoy,
Bragado, 9 de Julio, Pehuajo, Treque Lauquen, Drysdale
and Lincoln. On the interior fine of the Central
Argentine Railway the only important towns are
Pergamino, Capilla del Senor and Arrecifes, now called
Bartolome Mitre. On the coast fine (the former
Buenos Aires and Rosario Railway) are Campana,
where is the freezing establishment of the River Plate
Fresh Meat Co. ; Zarate, where are the naval arsenal
and important paper works, and from which a ferry
connects the Cordoba and Rosario narrow gauge
railway system with Entre Rios, Baradero and San
Pedro, both small ports, and San Nicolas, a large city,
important as a judicial centre and a port. Besides
the residential suburbs there are no towns on the
Pacific line of importance, except Junin, Chacabuco
and Laboulaye.
Provence of Santa Fe:.
The Province of Santa Fe, as already shown in
the previous chapters, Hes partly within the zone of
the Puna and partly within the forest region of the
Chaco. It has few towns of interest, and it will only
be necessary to name with any details the ports on
the coast of the Parana. The capital of the province
is Santa Fe, with a population of some 40,000 people.
From this city radiate a network of railways North,
South and West, mainly belonging to the French
Company of the Railways of the province of Santa
Fe, but there is nothing to attract attention in the
city itseK, except perhaps the Senate House, where
several national conventions have met since 1828.
Rosario is the chief city of the province and the chief
port for the north of the Repubhc. It was founded
CAPITAL, PKOVINCES AND TERRITOEIES 305
in 1725 and is, next to Buenos Aires, the largest city
in the country, having more than 150,000 inhabitants.
Here may be found, on a smaller scale than in the
federal capital, important hotels, warehouses, shops,
banks, and all that goes to constitute an active business
centre. There is an Anghcan church, a Methodist
church, a Baptist church, two Enghsh schools, a branch
of the Empire League and other British institutions.
Here is the most important sugar refinery in the
country. The movement in the port is constantly
increasing and the network of railways, which unite
Rosario with the interior and with Buenos Aires, is
yearly increasing in intricacy. A suburb of Rosario is
named Fisherton, after a former manager of the Central
Argentine Railway. This was intended to be a British
residential district. The removal of the headquarters
of the Railway to Buenos Aires has defeated this
object.
San Lorenzo, on the Parana, is chiefly noted for
the Franciscan Convent of San Carlos, around which
took place the historical battle of San Lorenzo (3rd
Feb., 1813) in which General San Martin gained his
first victory over the Spaniards, and would have lost
his hfe, but for the bravery of Sergeant Cabral.
Other ports are Coronda, Colastine, Villa Constitu-
cion and Reconquista. The fine joining Santa Fe
with Reconquista via Vera, passes through several
important quebracho districts, where the rich forests
of that wood are worked by the Compania Forestal,
etc.
Other to\vns are Esperanza, one of the first centres
of Agricultural Colonisation in the province ; Rafaela,
an important railway centre ; Moisesville, the head-
quarters of the Jewish Colonisation Association, San
Cristobal, San Francisco, Canada de Gomez, Sastre,
Galvez, etc.
No part of the country is better served with railways
than the Province of Santa Fe, on which account it
is a favourite district for the formation of agricultural
and pastoral colonies of various nationaUties.
306 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
Entre Rios.
As before stated, this province and Corrientes form
the " Argentine Mesopotamia," and their importance
will have been gathered from preceding chapters.
On the R-iver Parana, which forms the western boundary,
are the Capital, Parana, and the ports of La Paz,
Diamante, Victoria, Gualeguay, etc.
Parana is the seat of Government and an important
city with more than 30,000 inhabitants. It is built
mainly on a barranca, or chff, and the port is close
to the city at Bajada Grande.
About 8 miles distant is the great agricultural
normal school named Alberdi, after a celebrated
Argentine.
Gualeguay is an important centre close to Puerto
Ruiz. At a distance, by rail, of 70 kilometres, is Ibicuy,
the point of arrival of the ferry from Zarate connecting
the Entre Rian Railway system with that of Buenos
Aires.
On the River Uruguay, which is the Eastern
boundary of the Province, are the ports of Gualeguay
(only approachable by small vessels) ; Concepcion del
Uruguay, near which is the historical domain of the
Urquiza family ; Colon, where there is an important
" Saladero," and Concordia, an important city with
a good hotel, Anglican and Methodist churches and
a number of elegant quintas. The chief towns in the
interior are Rosario de Nogoya, Tala, Villaguay and
Basavilbaso.
Corrientes.
What has just been said about Entre Rios appHes
also to Corrientes, whose special features have been
fully explained previously. The River Parana bounds
this province in the West and North and the River
Uruguay in the East,
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 307
On the Parana are the ports of Goya, Bella Vista,
Empedrado and the Capital, Corrientes. On the Alto
Parana, in the North, are Itati and Ituzaingo, and on
the Uruguay are Monte Caseros, Paso de los Libres
and Santo Tome. In the interior are Curuzii-Cuatia,
Mercedes and Saladas, on the North-East Argentine
Railway, which crosses the province from North- West
to South-East. Corrientes is an interesting old-
fashioned city in the centre of considerable semitropical
productions. Monte Caseros, with its own port and
the port Ceibo, three miles distant, is a very important
centre with considerable trade with Brazil and Uruguay.
Between Paso de los Libres and Santo Tome is
Alvear, and near this San Martin (Yapeyu), the birth-
places respectively of the illustrious men whose names
they bear. Both the Flora and Fauna of the North
of Corrientes resemble those of Misiones, and true
wild beasts roam the forests, while venomous snakes
aboimd, and yacares, or aUigators, swarm in some of
the rivers.
Province of Cordoba.
Of the provinces of the interior, Cordoba is the
one which contains the greatest number of important
towns, besides being frequently visited for the beautiful
scenery of its mountain districts. The City of Cordoba,
called by Argentines " La ciudad docta " (the learned
city), is situated on the Rio Primero, and lies in a valley.
It has a population of about 75,000 inhabitants. The
name of the " learned city " was given to it on account
of its university, at one time the principal seat of
learning in the country. This institution was founded
by Fray Fernando de Trejo y Sanabria in 1613, and
has numbered amongst its professors and alumni many
famous men. Besides the University proper are a
National Academy of Science and an Observatory,
both due to President Sarmiento.
The labour of Dr. Gould, the first Director of the
Observatory, and of his successor Dr. Thome, in map-
308 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
ping out the Southern sky, have made this observatory
famous all over the world. There is also a Meteoro-
logical Observatory under the care of Mr. Walter R.
Davis. The Cathedral of Cordoba is a building of
great architectural interest. In the neighbourhood of
Cordoba is the mountain region, which is largely visited
from all parts of the country. Access to the sierras
is considerably facihtated by recent improvements of
the Central Argentine Railway, which obviate, what
was until recently, the drawback of a change of stations
in the case of all visitors from the South. The places
of interest in the Sierras are Cosquin, La Falda, where
there is a beautifully situated hotel from which
excursions can be made to a number of interesting
locahties, such as La Quebrada, Las Ventanas, the
Cascades of Los Duraznos, the Molino and Olain, the
Grotto of San Antonio, etc. ; Santa Maria ; the Dique San
Roque, an immense reservoir, which holds 260,000,000
tons of water for irrigation and other purposes ; Capilla
del Monte, the centre of many places of interest, notably
the rock called the shoe {El Zapato), La Cumbre, Ojo
de Agua, etc. ; La Calera, a picturesque village, and
Alta Gracia (see illustration 22). The Sierras of
Cordoba are highly recommended by the medical
faculty of Buenos Aires for consumption.
The other towms in the province need httle in the
way of detail to be set forth as, though important
centres of agriculture or other industries, they lack
special features. Such are Villa Maria, Bell-Ville,
Rio IV, Carlo ta, Cruz del Eje, Dolores, Candelaria
(where there are some interesting caves), Dean Funes,
Monteros, Jesus Maria, etc. At Rio Segundo is the
celebrated Brewery, which suppHes the country with
the beer known as Rio Segundo.
Santiago del Esteeo.
Those who compare the form of this province in
recent maps will notice a considerable change from its
o
- o
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 311
appearance in maps previous to 1903, as, in that year,
a considerable portion of the territory of the Chaco
was added to the province. Except for the unimportant
mountains of Sumampa, Ambagasta and Guasayan,
the province is a plain inclined from North to South-
East. It is crossed by the rivers Salado, or Juramento,
and Dulce. Its natural features have already been
described. The capital is Santiago del Estero, about
which there is Httle to say. It is reached from the main
railway Hne by a short line of 7 kilometres from La
Banda. Loreto is a town which has suffered much from
inundations, as have many districts in the vicinity of
the erratic River Dulce. Somewhere, near the station
Aerohto, is hidden an enormous meteoric stone, which
was the object of several expeditions at the beginning
of the nineteenth century. Its whereabouts are un-
known at the present day ; but it gave rise at the
period mentioned to great expectations, as it was
beheved to be the outcrop of a silver mine !
In the Partido of Rio Hondo are thermal wells of
a temperature of 30° to 40°, recommended for rheu-
matism, etc.
TucumAn.
Tucuman is par excellence the sugar cane province.
In fact, its importance depends on this cultivation.
The province is well watered, numerous streams running
from the Eastern slope of the Aconquija range to
unite their waters with the main streams of the Rio
Hondo and Dulce. Tucuman, the capital, is a pic-
turesque city. It contains one of the few protected
historical buildings in the country, which is the house
in which was signed the Declaration of Independence
in July, 1816. In the Plaza is a statue of General
Belgrano, who suffered here the extremes of glory and
unmerited dishonour. Here it was that the hero of
the victory of Tucumdn was treated as a common
prisoner by the infamous caudillo Araoz. Here also
is preserved the statue of the Virgin upon which the
312 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
same general conferred the title of Greneralisima of
the Argentine Army. In this province is the vale of
Tafi, noted for the manufacture of a cheese of that
name, and for the presence of gigantic engraved stones
called Menhires, not unhke the runic remains in Great
Britain. They are found on the shores of the Rincon
River. There are some 37 " ingenios," where sugar
is made, one of the most important being that of an
Enghsh Company, " La Azucarera Argentina." At
Colalao, in the valley of the River Santa Maria, are
also to be found large rocks engraved with strange
hieroglyphics.
While the cHmate is suitable for sugar, it is also,
aided by the presence of the mosquito anopJioles, pro-
vocative of ague or Chu-chu. Many sufferers from
this disease trace the beginning of their sickness to a
residence in this Province.
San Luis.
The mineral wealth of this province has been akeady
described. The capital, San Luis, is situated on a
table-land about 760 metres above the sea level, at
the end or " punta " of the Sierra de los Venados.
Hence the residents are called " Puntanos." The
view from the city is very extensive : in the extreme
West can be seen sometimes the distant Andes. Villa
Mercedes is an important city and is connected by
rail with Dolores and Rio Cuarto, in the Province of
Cordoba, as well as being on the International route
from Buenos Aires to Chile. It is commercially more
important than the capital of the province. Near the
town of Morro is the peak of the same name, which is
the crater of an extinct volcano (4 kilometres in dia-
meter). Near Villa Mercedes is an important reservoir,
on the River Quinto, for irrigation purposes. In the
arrangement of the reservoir the engineer has copied
to some great extent the great dam at Assouan in
Egypt. Illustration 11 shows the Aqueduct,
CAPITAL. PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 313
Mendoza.
Leaving the central provinces and following the
Andes northward, the first province to mention is
that of Mendoza, whose grape and wine industry
have already been described, as have also the mountain
systems to which the province owes its celebrity.
The capital of Mendoza is a new city, the old city of
that name having been destroyed by an earthquake
on the 20th of March, 1861. The catastrophe took
place during Holy Week and the people had just left
the church. In four seconds the city was a mass of
ruins, with 10,000 corpses buried beneath the fallen
buildings. There are a few ruins of the old town
still to be seen. The present city is exceedingly pretty,
many of its streets being real boulevards. The Avenue
San Martin, with a width of 30 metres and a length
of some four miles, is the principal street and the centre
of life. The houses, all over the city, are hidden under
the luxuriant foUage of innumerable trees. The main
interest of the province of Mendoza to visitors is centred
in the hne leading to Chile, on which are the well known
baths of Cacheuta, which occupy an extent of about
two miles. On excavating anywhere in this area the
thermal water rises within a yard from the surface.
These waters have a varied medicinal action in skin
diseases and rheumatism ; but are contra-indicated
in cardiac and arterial complaints.
Punta de Vacas used to be the terminal station.
Near this point is a mountain called the " Penitentes,"
and not far distant another named Santa Maria, said
to possess a certain likeness to the female human
form divine. Puente del Inca is a natural bridge,
nearly 50 yards long and 30 yards wide, over the river
Mendoza, beside which are a number of saUne thermal
baths, which attract many visitors on account of the
prophylactic powers. There is an hotel, really run by
the Pacific Railway, and travellers who stay a full
week have a substantial reduction in the return fare
314 THE AKGENTINE REPUBLIC
to Buenos Aires. At Las Cuevas, the railway enters
the great tunnel under the Andes which connects the
Argentine and Chilean Railway systems. This tunnel
has already been opened (April 6th, 1910), and is one
of the grandest works of modem engineering. The con-
tractors were the famous firm of Chas. Walker and Co. ;
but the credit of the idea of vanquishing the Andes
belongs to Dr. Mateo Clark, to whose undaunted perse-
verance the Cuevas tunnel will be a lasting memorial.
At the exact spot in the Cumbre, where the
frontier hne between the two countries runs, has been
erected a gigantic statue to " Christ the Redeemer,"
the work of the Argentine sculptor Mateo Alonso.
The monument is in commemoration of the settlement
of the frontier dispute between Argentina and Chile,
which nearly involved those countries in a terrible
war.
Besides the thermal wells mentioned, there are in
this province those of Crucecita, 16 miles South- West
of the capital, and those of Borbollon, 7J miles from
that city.
At Canota, there is a large trachytic rock covered
with inscriptions similar to those on the Menhires of
Tucuman.
San Juan.
There is little to add about the province of San
Juan to what has already been written in previous
chapters, as there is, so far, very httle railway com-
munication. The capital, San Juan, is built on an oasis
in a desert of dust and salt. It is in appearance very
much as it was in the colonial epoch. The houses
are poor and built of " adobe " instead of brick, and are
frequently thatched with straw. About twenty miles
from San Juan are the famous mineral waters of La
Laja, which may be visited or the water may be
obtained by the bucketful from the drug stores of
the city. Near Jachal, are other interesting thermal
springs, one of which, from the strong sulphurous
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 315
odour of its waters, makes its presence felt for a con-
siderable distance, and has received the expressive
designation of " Agua hedionda " (stinking water).
Jachal is a town which trades with Chile. Other
towns are Cahngasta, San Martin and Valle Fertil,
or San Agustin.
La Rioja.
The mines and mineral wealth of this province
have been referred to in Chapters X and XI.
The capital, La Rioja, is, like San Juan, a relic
of colonial times and has nothing to attract travellers.
Patquia is the point of bifurcation of the railway,
which, from that town, goes, on the one hand, to La
Rioja and, on the other, to Chilecito in the mining
district. Here is working, or, rather, was working —
for during the week in which I am writing it has broken
down — the aerial wire way referred to in Chapter XI,
between Chilecito and Famatina. The accident will
probably lead to the closing down of the mines unless
an arrangement be made for the mining company to
take over the repairs, which the Government was bound
to see after, and has neglected. Other towns are
Vichigasta and Nonogasta, noted for wine, and Vinchina
and Guandacol, where cattle are reared for Chile.
Catamarca
The Province of Catamarca is one of the most
picturesque provinces of the Repubhc. Catamarca,
the capital, is reached by rail, a branch line of the
Central Cordoba Railway joining Recreo with Chum-
bicha, whence the Northern Railway continues to
Catamarca. The principal feature of the city is the
temple, called " La Matriz," one of the most sumptuous
churches in the country.
Here, the Virgin is worshipped as "La Virgen del
Valle," and her shrine is covered with votive offerings.
316 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Twice in the year special services are held in her honour.
Belen is a small town, the inhabitants of which hold
their properties as feudatories of the church, to which
they have to pay $2 per square per annum.
This " canon " has been rehgiously collected ever
since the foundation of the church, more than two
centuries ago.
Londres is a small village, so named during the
time when Mary of England was the wife of Phihp of
Spain.
Andalgala is the second city of the province. Other
towns are Fiambala, Tinogasta and Santa Maria.
Sr. Lafone Quevedo, M.A., the Director of La Plata
Museum, has made and written many interesting
observations on this province and the Indian remains
to be found there.
Salta.
The Central Northern Railway runs through a
portion of the province and connects it with the pro-
vinces to the South. At Giiemes there is a branch
Hue to the capital, which line is also being continued
Southward.
The capital, Salta, is an old city in the valley of
Lerma, at a height of 1,000 metres above the sea level.
In the Cathedral is preserved an image of the Christ,
which is supposed to prevent the city from being
destroyed by earthquakes. It is called " Nuestro
Serior de los Milagros " and, on the 15th of each
September, there are great festivities in its honour,
especially owing to the fact that the image was held
to have proved its power when, in 1692, Salta was
saved from an earthquake, which destroyed many
places in its vicinity. Although so far from the actual
centre of Argentine hfe, Salta has played a heroic
part in the history of the country, and there are many
monuments and places which are worthy of visiting
by the patriotic Argentine. Rosario de la Frontera
is visited on account of its mineral waters. The wells
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 317
are about four miles from the town, six of which have
varying mineral actions. A well appointed hotel
receives those who visit the wells. Other important
towns are Oran, the only Argentine city with the
right to display a coat of arms. Rosario de Lerma,
Cafayate, with engraved rocks, Caldera, etc. There are
many grottoes and caves with old Indian carvings on
the rocks. In a grotto, on the River Pablo, are paintings
of tigers, and in the Quebrado del Chuzado are stones
painted with figures and hieroglyphics.
Illustration 28 shews a view on the River Horcones.
JUJUY.
The Central Northern Railway, which formerly
ended at Jujuy, is pushing Northward towards the
Bohvian frontier and has almost reached the limits
of the country.
The city of Jujuy, at 1,200 metres above the sea
level, is another old fashioned city beautifully situated
on the River Grande, over which a graceful bridge has
been erected. The only points of interest are the
house of General LavaUe and the church, where there
is a curious pulpit. Ledesma is the second city of
the province. Near San Pedro, in " el Garrapatal,"
petroleum issues from the rocks, and covers an extensive
area, which it sohdifies. La Quiaca is the terminal
station of the Hne. Near this town are the curious
rocks known as the " Abra de Penas." The whole
district of La Quiaca is arid and desolate.
For a typical scene in Jujuy, see illustration 12.
The National Territories.
It is not necessary to say much about these, as
they contain few important towns and their natural
features have been aheady described. Being far distant
from the capital, only a few persons have time to
318 THE AEGENTINE REPUBLIC
visit them, although, unquestionably, the most beautiful
scenery of the country is to be found there, rather
than in the provinces.
Los Andes is a sterile region with, at present,
no railway communication. It had not even a village
sufficiently important to form a capital, until a portion
of the province of Salta was ceded, in which was the
town of San Antonio de los Cobres, which is the present
seat of Government.
Formosa, which is the northern part of the Argentine
Chaco, has only one town of even relative importance,
namely, Formosa, the capital.
The Chaco is now accessible by rail as well as
by the river, and the interior is being colonized in
various parts. Resistencia, the capital, with its port
Barranqueros, is the most important town. At Las
Palmas is the sugar factory of Hardy and Co., where
several thousands of Indians are employed during the
season. Other rising places are General Vedia, Puerto
Bermejo, ett.
MisiONES. — The chief place of interest in Misiones is
the Cataract of Iguazii, already described. The capital
of Misiones is Posadas. Other towns in the territory
are Candelaria, Santa Ana, and Corpus, at which the
remains of the Jesuit occupation begin to present
themselves. On the Uruguay are the small port of
Ozara and San Javier, the centre of the yerha industry.
Access to Misiones by the Parand is obtained by the
steamers of the Mihanovitch and Barthe Companies,
via Corrientes. By the Uruguay, communication is in
the hands of the F.C.E.R. of Corrientes, but the frequent
interruptions and changes of steamers make this
journey irksome.
Neuquj^n. — This territory can now be reached as
far as the capital by the Great Southern Railway.
To a visitor, the chief attraction is the lake Nahuel
Huapi, already described, to which access is promised
in the future by a railway from San Antonio on the
Atlantic coast. The capital is Neuquen, at the junction
of the Rivers Neuquen and Limay. Other towns are
CAPITAL, PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 319
Chos Malal, the former capital, Las Lajas, San Martin
de los Andes, etc.
La Pampa. — This is the most accessible of all the
national territories. In fact, it may be said to be,
in every respect, a continuation of the province of
Buenos Aires. The capital is Santa Rosa de Toay, and
other to'vvns are General Acha, General Victorica,
Bernasconi, etc. On the hiU " Soledad,'' to the
North-East of Lake Urrelauquen, is a rocking stone
of the same character as that of Tandil.
The Rio Negro is now receiving considerable
attention as an agricultural land of promise. It is
bounded, on the North, throughout its entire length
by the River Colorado, and the River Negro passes
through the centre from Neuquen to the Atlantic. At
the mouth of this river is the Capital Viedma. Further
South is the port of San Antonio, from which is being
made a railway across to Neuquen. Other towns and
colonies are General Mitre (formerly Pringles), Conesa,
Choele-Choel, and General Roca.
Chubut, at the South of the Rio Negro, owes its
importance to the Welsh Colonists who, in spite of
great drawbacks, have persistently striven and over-
come all obstacles and are reaping their reward. The
Colony was founded in 1865.
The capital of the territory is Rawson, at the mouth
of the Chubut River. There is a railway from Port
Madryn to Trelew, which is about twelve miles from
the capital. The time table of this railway is a curiosity.
It is as follows : —
Departures :
Puerto Madryn ] , u ^.u
-r J A . •' leaves when there
Tre^w ^^" J *^® passengers.
The departure and return are signalled by a flag.
This railway belongs to the Port Madryn Estancia
Co., which has just erected a fine steel pier, 450 metres
T
320 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
long, to facilitate operations at the port. Gaiman is
an important town on this railway.
There is also a short railway on the Peninsula de
Valdez, from Piramides to the salt deposits, in the
centre of the Peninsula.
At the foot of the Cordillera, on the mouth of the
River Curru-Leofu, is the Welsh Colony of "16 de
Octubre." At the South of the territory, on the Atlantic
coast, is Commodore Rivadavia. Here, there is a
Colony of Boers, who, decUning to recognise the annexa-
tion of the African States to the British Empire, have
estabhshed themselves here as an agricultural colony.
Santa Cruz. — The beauties of the Santa Crucian
scenery are all on the Western side, near the Andes.
On the coast there are a number of small ports which
present no features of interest. Such are Port Desire
(Puerto Deseado), so named by the Enghsh sailor
Thomas Cavendish ; Port San Juhan, Santa Cruz, the
capital, Port Coile and Port Gallegos. At Santa Cruz
is an interesting fish-breeding establishment.
TiERRA DEL FuEGO. — Only the Eastern portion of
this island belongs to Argentina. Its natural beauties
have been described in the first chapter. The Capital,
Ushuaia, is in the Beagle Canal, and is beautifully
situated at the foot of the Darwin Range. It is the
most Southern town in the world. Near Ushuaia are
Lapataia (see illustration 19), Punta Remolino, the
residence of Mr. Lawrence ; and Port Harberton, the
residence of Mr. Bridges, both well-known in the
Missionary history of the Island.
CHAPTER XIV
LIFE IN ARGENTINA
Feelings of a New-comer — The Weather — Freedom —
Absence of Rank — Salaries — Temptations — Amusements : The
Theatre, Literary Societies, etc., Sports — Observance of Smiday
— House Rent — Cost of Living — Meals — Politeness — Argentine
Customs — Education — The Professions — Marriage Customs —
Funeral Customs — British Trade — Conclusion.
It is frequently said that to know a person well it is
necessary to live with him, and, if this is true of an
individual, it is still more true of the inhabitants of
a country taken collectively. The neglect to recognise
this fact, is the cause of the hasty judgments of men
and manners, which are so frequently found in books
of travel, where the author has only made a short
stay in a country and has either been treated as a dis-
tinguished personage, and seen the best of everything,
or has been an unknown quantity and has only felt
the inconveniences of being in a strange ambient.
A new-comer to Argentina is so struck by the
difference between life in Buenos Aires and Hfe in an
English town that, at first, he finds nothing to his
liking, and begins to criticise unfavourably everything
with which he comes in contact. He endeavours to
turn the prices he pays for his purchases into English
money and considers everything dear. Having no
knowledge of Spanish, he discovers repeatedly that he
is at a loss to get what he wants, even in the way of
information, and inveighs against the country and its
inhabitants in a manner which, a few years later,
he remembers with amusement. When, however, he
has become acclimatised and has ceased to turn up
the bottoms of his trousers because " it is raining in
London," he discovers that, in spite of the many
321
322 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
differences between Argentina and the Old Country,
there are still sufficient factors of existence left to
make life worth living. Then he ceases to indulge in
abuse of the country and, when the time comes for
him to take a hohday and revisit his native land, he
is very glad to return — often before he intended — to
the bright skies and untrammelled hfe of the country,
which he at first thought so strange and inhospitable.
Perhaps, the fii'st thing which makes for contentment
is the weather, for, although, as everywhere else, it
is customary to rail at the celestial meteorological
department, in Argentina there is, especially from the
point of view of the male portion of the community,
little to grumble at. Arrangements can be made for
outdoor games, picnics, or other events which depend
on the weather, with more than a reasonable probability
that the day w^ill be fine. An umbrella is a rare adjunct
to a man's walking attire ; indeed, so httle is an
umbrella found to be a necessity, that many persons
never trouble to carry one ; but, if caught in the rain,
turn into a shop and spend a couple of dollars in buying
a cheap article, which any friend is at liberty to appro-
priate without let or hindrance.
Another thing which soon reconciles a stranger to
residence in Argentina is the freedom which is so
conspicuous an element in everyday life there. The
Argentines are by no means a critical race, where an
Enghshman is concerned, and, unless a man be absolutely
unreasonable, he finds that he can do pretty much
what he Hkes without anyone interfering with him.
Mrs. Grundy is as formidable a personage amongst
native born Argentines as she is in Great Britain ;
but the Englishman in Argentina is very httle troubled
with her. I am afraid that, in one respect, this fact
is one of the most cogent elements in inducing a man to
be content with his surroundings. AVhere at home he has
been expected to go to church regularly, or with some-
thing approaching regularity, he finds that, in Argentina,
no one troubles as to what he does with his spare time,
so long as he turns up to business at the right hour.
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 323
At first also, a new-comer finds some difiterence
in the food, which may not be quite what he has been
accustomed to ; but, after a few weeks' residence, he
will be found eating his puchero with the same relish
as an old resident and when once a man has taken
to " zapallo " (pumpkin) he is lost. The Argentines
say that if a man has once drunk mate and eaten zapallo
he is boimd to return to the country, however far
he may stray from her shores.
Argentina being a Republic, there are none of the
signs of rank which are found in Great Britain, and a
young Britisher soon learns that, even amongst his
own countrymen, a railway or bank manager is the
equivalent of a Duke or a Marquis at home and that,
amongst Argentines, outside the hosts of Doctors of
all sorts, one of the highest grades is a rematador or
auctioneer. He has, therefore, to modify his ideas of
social ranks and to govern his hfe accordingly.
During the crisis times, some years ago, when gold
was at a premium of more than 350 and a clerk who
was paid a gold salary was receiving fabulous sums
in paper, whereas those who received paper salaries
were stationary, the bank clerks were at the head
of the army of the employed, and kept their carriages
and horses in grand style. This fact made employers
wary, and now gold salaries are few and far between.
Salaries are much higher than in England, although
this does not necessarily imply having more money
to spend, unless the salary reach $400 or more a month,
as rents and the ever increasing cost of Hving counter-
balance the higher rate of pay. There is a great
disproportion in the salaries paid to different grades of
employees. A boy of 14, who goes as an office boy,
will usually get $40 to $60 (that is £40 to £60 per
annum), whereas, except in very special cases, the
average salary paid to a clerk, even an adult, is from
$100 to $150. Of course, there are clerks who get from
$250 to $400 per month (£250 to £400 per annum) and
even more ; but salaries such as these are only paid
to men who have been long in an employment, or who
324 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
are skilled correspondence clerks or in some other way
above the average in usefulness. Some firms also
treat their employees generously, others pay as Httle
as they can and, as the emplojnnents in firms of the
former class are limited and vacancies are rare, a man
has to be content to take the best that he can get
when he wants a situation. It may, however, be
said very emphatically that a rehable steady man
need never want for employment and, if the streets
of Buenos Aires are, as elsewhere, full of " deadbeats,"
the fault will, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred,
be found to be indulgence in drink, which is the greatest
temptation for a man in either town or camp.
One of the greatest mistakes is to expect that a
residence in the camp will sober a man, and many
men of good famihes, who have been sent out to situa-
tions in the Argentine camp with the idea that they will
settle down, have very quickly falsified all such hopes,
as a small camp town, with no amusements or attractions
of any kind^ offers nothing but the holiche to one in
search of a place to kill time, and many stories are
told of bright and intelligent men, who have gone to
the camp only to become confirmed drunkards. The
same fate awaits a youth in any of the larger cities,
who spends his evenings in even the most respectable
cafes. This is one of the dangers of Argentine fife.
A young man, who is stranded in such a city as Buenos
Aires, without the constraints of home influences or
fearing the watchful eye of IVIrs. Grundy, is exposed
to spend hours in a cafe or restaurant, at first, inno-
cently enough over a cup of coffee, and, later, to his
serious detriment, over drinks, such as whisky and
absinthe, which are prepared in many alluring ways.
It is pitiable for old residents to recognise, day after
day, in the streets of the city, men, whom years ago
they have known in honourable situations. It is
frequently hard to refuse the request for a doUar made
in a shamefaced manner by one of these failures, and
often equally hard to give the asked for note, knowing
that it will only hasten the inevitable end.
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 325
There are many sources of amusement open to
residents in any of the large towns, especially in the
Capital. The Argentines are a music-loving race,
and there are many perfectly respectable theatres, open
every night, where acting of a very superior character
may be witnessed and the taste of the individual for
opera or the drama or comedy may be satisfied at from
$1-50 to $2. In the Opera and the Colon theatres, the
prices are much higher than in any others, a seat in
the pit costing seven dollars and other seats and boxes
in proportion. There are numbers of Cinematograph
Saloons; but these, which at first showed only
interesting scenes, have largely degenerated into
sensational exhibitions, and in many they are simply
means of popularising crime.
It must be admitted that the opportunities for
intellectual recreation are not numerous, even in
Buenos Aires. The Choral Union is always glad to
receive the assistance of anyone with any claims to
be a " singist." The Young Men's Christian Association
welcomes members and is not aggressively christian.
There are several debating societies which meet during
the winter months, such as the St. Andrew's Literary
and Debating Society, which meets at the Scotch
Church Hall; the Lomas Debating Society, at the
Methodist Church, Lomas ; and the Belgrano Debating
Society, which holds its meetings at St. Saviour's,
Belgrano. There is a NaturaHsts' and Scientific Society
for those who wish to study the science of the country,
and there is an EngUsh Literary Society at Cangallo
536, which contains a convenient reading room and an
extensive Hbrary.
Sport of all kinds is, however, to be obtained to
an unhmited extent, and the best way to lead a healthy
fife in the city is to join one of the numerous clubs,
of which details can be found in any of the daily papers.
There are clubs devoted to all kinds of outdoor exercises,
all with spacious grounds and many with complete
arrangements in the way of pavihons, dressing-rooms,
etc. At the Tigre and several other places — but.
326 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
especially, the Tigre — rowing and yachting clubs are
to be found, although in most of these the entrance
fee is considerable. Fishing can be had at San Fernando,
the Tigre, etc., and in many of the arroyos and streams,
which run between the islands of the Delta a good,
day's fishing may easily be obtained. Those who enjoy a
day's shooting will have to go fairly outside the great
cities to obtain it, but almost anywhere in the camp,
partridges (really tinamous), snipe, ducks and other
game can be found in abundance, and may be shot
between April 1st and September 30th. Except in
the remote regions, in the National Territories, there
are no wild animals, such as pumas and jaguars. Those
who want to indulge in that class of sport will have
to go far for their large game.
Sunday is the great day for all classes of outdoor
games as, except in the banks, which close at two
and the railways which close a httle earher, Saturday
is as much a business day as any other, if not more
so. The Saturday half-hohday has been on the tapis
several times ; but, except in the cases named, does
not exist. As there is no twihght worth mentioning,
and as even in summer it is dark by eight o'clock,
there is no chance for outdoor exercise of any kind,
except on Sunday. And, in spite of all that may
be urged in favour of the sacredness of the Sabbath,
a youth is better employed on that day in the open
air, indulging in his favourite recreation, than in what
would only too often be the only alternative, sitting
in a cafe or similar place wasting his time and money
and ruining his health.
Although Saturday is a full working day, there
are — to make up for this — about twenty whole hoHdays
during the year, as the principal feasts of the church
are rehgiously observed as hohdays, if not as Holy
Days and, occasionally, the Government will decree a
dia feriado or pubHc hohday, on account of the death
of some prominent personage or for some other reason.
Unfortunately, many employers do not fully observe
these hoHdays and, in many cases, offices and shops
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 327
are open, even on holidays, till noon. The practice
of giving annual hohdays to employees is practically
non-existent in Argentina, except in a very few offices ;
so that a man is only too glad to enjoy his Sundays,
as being the only certain hohdays open to him.
With respect to the house accommodation, there
is a great dijSerence between houses in Argentina and
England. In Argentina a house is a building. It has
doors, windows and rooms, but anything in the way
of house fittings is considerately left by the landlord
to the taste and pocket of the tenant. Rarely are
the walls papered, and fireplaces are practically non-
existent. A tenant who wishes to be warm in winter
can buy a kerosene stove. And for these houses
most exorbitant rents are asked, even in camp towns.
To be the tenant of a whole house in Buenos Aires
impHes a considerable income. Even a flat in a
department house costs anywhere from £80 to £500
a year. In the suburbs of Buenos Aires a respectable
house with four or five rooms — all opening on to a
patio, or yard, and communicating internally with
each other — costs from £100 to £150 a year ; and,
as £1 per annum is equal to about $1 per month (an
Enghsh sovereign being worth $11*45 paper), it will
be seen that a very large and perfectly disproportionate
part of an average man's earnings goes in rent. It
is quite common for a man with a salary of $250 per
month to pay $80 to $100 per month in rent.
The cost of living may be judged from the following
items, reckoning a shilling as being equal to 60 cents
paper : —
Beef 40 to 60 cts. per kilo = 4d. to 6d. per lb.
Mutton .... 30 to 50 cts. per kilo =z 3d, to 5d. per lb.
Bread 24 to 26 cts. per kilo = 2d. to 2^d. per lb.
Butter S1.50 per kilo = Is. 2d. per lb.
Potatoes . . 10 to 20 cts. per kilo = Id. to 2d. per lb.
Tea $1.75 per pound = 3s. per lb.
Coffee $2 to S4 per kilo = Is. 6d. to 3s. per lb.
Sugar 38 cts. per. kilo = 4d. per lb.
Milk 20 cts. per litre = 4d. per quart
Coal (average in Buenos Aires $7*50 (gold), or £1 lOs. Od^
per ton.
328 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Although a dollar (paper), which is the universal
currency, is really equal to almost Is. 9d. at the actual
rate of exchange, this is not its general purchasing
value. For practical purposes, a dollar may be
reckoned at a shilling ; and, in the purchase of imported
articles, which bear a duty of almost 45 per cent, and
sometimes more, even this calculation is frequently
too much.
In renting a house, the landlord takes care to be
on the safe side, as unless a tenant be very well-known,
a guarantee is required to be furnished, or a substantial
sum left in the hands of the landlord. Even then,
rents are generally due and paid monthly in advance.
However poor a family may be, the dinner is taken
in the evening. Breakfast (almuerzo) corresponds to
the British lunch, and is a very similar meal to dinner.
On rising, a desayuno is taken in the shape of tea, coffee
or mate, the last named, being almost universally used
in the camp, with bread ; but this meal is an informal
one. Dinner is usually a lengthy meal and, after it
is over, the diners frequently stay for a conversation
soh'emesa for a considerable time.
Frequently, in summer, the dinner will not end till
long after ten o'clock. It is an almost universal custom
to drink v/ine at breakfast or dinner, usually a cheap
claret or similar vino de mesa. The custom of having
afternoon tea has been introduced by the Enghsh
and is widely spreading amongst Argentines as is,
unfortunately, the use (and abuse) of whisky.
Whilst on this point, another important change
has been observable of recent years in the freedom
with which ladies, married and unmarried, go about.
Formerly, it was a rare thing to see a lady unattended,
and still rarer to see her with one of the opposite sex.
Now, there is much greater freedom allowed. One
of the main factors in bringing about this state of
things has been the boating at the Tigre. As Argen-
tines have joined the rowing clubs and seen the freedom
of intercourse between the British members and their
sisters and friends, they have gradually followed the
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 329
example and, to-day, a visitor at the Tigre will find
the old custom absolutely broken down in this
respect.
There is now and then a complaint in the papers
about the rudeness to women in the streets. An
Argentine youth is, perhaps, more outspoken in his
admiration than a young Englishman would be, and
remarks are not unfrequently made as ladies pass
down the street. Rarely indeed are these meant as
insults ; and a lady who respects herself will be respected
in the streets of Buenos Aires as much as in London.
Of course, if a woman venture down the street in a
costume which barely reaches her ankles, and shod
with beetle-crushers that might be used by her football
playing brother, she must not be surprised — especially
if she be lean and angular — to hear someone say :
Qiie Escraclw ! (what a scarecrow !)
The Argentines themselves are exceedingly courteous,
and pohteness will go much further in dealing with
them than anything else. Many Britons, on coming
out to the country, act on the Civis Rotnanus sum
principle of the late Lord Pahnerston, and think that,
because they come from England, they can ride rough-
shod over everything " native.'' They soon find their
mistake. A lengthy experience of Argentines of all
grades warrants the writer in saying that courtesy
and respect will go a very long way with the real
Argentines. He could give many instances where
Argentine officials have gone out of their way to help
those who have had nothing to offer but pohteness
and consideration.
The silver key, undoubtedly, has its influence at
times ; but it would be interesting to find the country
where this rule does not prevail.
The defects in Argentine procedure of all kinds are
due to the influence of Spanish traditions, many of
which, as well as the customs founded on them, still
continue ; but no one is more conscious than the
Argentine himself of these defects ; but, just as in
England it is not easy to substitute the decimal system
330 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
for the old weights and measures, so in Argentina it
is not easy to eradicate secular customs and modes of
thought. The judical procedure is one of the greatest
scandals in Argentine life. The old forms, by which
everything has to be in writing, are still maintained,
and delays of a most harassing character are the rule,
a state of things bad enough in civil cases ; but, where
the question at issue is the guilt or innocence of an
accused person, the actual procediire is nothing short
of cruelty. But, as said before, the Argentines them-
selves recognise this and there is hope that an amend-
ment will be made. —
In real Argentine famihes the Hfe is in many respects
different from that in England. Comparatively few
Britons become really intimate with Argentines, at
any rate until the members of a younger generation
have come to an age to influence the life in the parental
home and, in consequence of their friendship with the
Argentines of their own age, to bring about a mutual
interchange of visits between the famihes to which
they belong. Hence it is that the first generation
of British residents does not try to understand the
Argentines, and is often entirely wrong in its opinions
about them. It must be remembered that there
are thousands of famihes in the country which are
in no sense Argentine, hence the expression real or
true Argentines before used ; and it is not fair to
judge the latter by other nationalities. A real
Argentine has all the courtesy of the original Spanish
race and, in addition, the savoir faire and readiness
of adaptation which contact with other races has
necessarily brought about.
Education is an important feature in Argentine
pohcy. There are thousands of free schools in the
country, where education can be obtained by the poorest
within reach of their doors. From these schools,
entrance can be obtained to the National Colleges
and from these to the University.
The degree of Doctor is much sought after by
Argentines, not so much with the idea (at any rate
Xo. 2'J. The Beech Tree, Tiebea del Fuego.
^M^.-'
^^&^: "
F
mmg^^'Sr^f!^
^
*•
Xo. 'M). The Samohu Tree, Corrientes.
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 333
in the Faculty of Law) of practising, as in order to
obtain a diploma which is the ofen sesame to govern-
ment employment. Unlike the legal profession in
England, a University diploma is essential to the
profession of an Abogado. There are notaries
(escribanos) who prepare deeds and contracts, who have
their own special mode of preparation, but these
do not practice in the courts. The procuradores
are the jackals for the lawyers. Their usual
business is debt collecting. They have much the
same standing and reputation as the debt collectors
in England.
The Medical Profession is usually entered upon in
earnest with the idea of becoming a " medico " or
" cirujano." In the medical faculty, the course is a
long and arduous one and includes, in the case of
good students, residence in one of the hospitals as a
practicante. There is a great tendency to specialise
and the general practitioner is becoming more and
more a rarity, except in camp towns. Many of the
great surgical specialists command extraordinary fees,
$2,000 and $3,000 being by no means an unusual
figure for a comparatively slight operation. The writer
heard of a case, recently, where a doctor sent in a bill
to a wealthy family for $200,000 and, on receiving a
cheque for $150,000, accepted it, but with the remark
that the family must no longer look upon him as
their medical man ! There being so many specialists,
consultations are much more frequent than in
England.
A British doctor, who wishes to practise in Argentina,
must pass all the examinations in the Faculty, as
there is no reciprocity between the Argentine and
British Universities. In order to do this, he must
first learn Spanish, so that to " revahdar "is no
trifle.
British parents who wish to have their children
well grounded in English as well as Spanish have
no need to send them to England or Scotland for that
purpose. There are numerous English schools, with
334 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
University men as their Head Masters and Teachers,
which can give all that is required. Boys who have
been prepared in these schools and afterwards remove
or are sent to England, usually take very good places.
Frequently, however, people talk of " sending their
children to England to be educated," when all that
is done is to send them to some poor relation that
they may attend a board school.
Marriage in Argentina is a civil rite, the subsequent
consecration of the act by a rehgious ceremony being
optional. It is strictly forbidden for any priest or
minister, even of the Estabhshed Church of the country,
to celebrate a marriage without having before him
the certificate of the previous Civil Marriage duly
signed by the Registrar. The Civil Marriage takes
place a few hours before the rehgious ceremony. The
latter is usually performed in the evening at the
residence of the bride's parents and generally terminates
with a ball, at the commencement of which the newly
married couple are present. At about 12 o'clock
these make their escape with the usual accompaniments
of rice and old slippers. The custom of giving the
full list of wedding presents, from the ambiguous
" cheque " to the regulation " pepper duster," in the
daily papers is very common in British marriages. In
Argentine marriages a hst of the guests is the main
pubhcity sought. Marriages between British men and
Argentine women are frequent and usually turn out
very happy. British women do not so frequently
select Argentine husbands.
One of the most unpleasant shocks which an Enghsh
resident receives, on coming to the country fresh from
home, is the haste with which the funeral follows a
death. Between 24 and 48 hours is the utmost interval
permitted. It is soon seen that this is a necessity and,
although at first shocking to the feelings, it is recog-
nised that there is much that is even merciful to the
survivors in the custom. It is, however, rather a shock
to attend, at a few minutes' notice, the funeral of a
man with whom you have dined a couple of days ago
LIFE IN AEGENTINA 335
or even the day before. The short interval between
the death and the funeral causes the latter to be much
less formal than in England. There is frequently no
time to arrange the mourning, therefore ladies never
attend funerals and, if a man has no time to change
into a black suit between hearing of the hour of
the fimeral and going to the cemetery, he does not
hesitate to go in whatever clothes he may be wearing.
Naturally, a man goes in a black suit if he has time ;
but it is thought better to go even in hght clothes
than to stay away. When a person dies, the body,
usually dressed in ordinary clothes, is at once placed
in the coffin and Hes in state in a room entirely draped
in black, and with huge hghted candles round the
coffin. Here it is visited until the moment of the
funeral, friends going in and frequently staying all
through the night preceding the interment. There
are all grades of " velorios/' or wakes, from the reverent
and silent visits of friends to drunken orgies, as in
all countries where the " wake " is the custom. British
residents usually keep up the home custom as to
funerals, and the velorio, if observed at aU, is in a very
restricted form. If the burial be in a grave, it is the
custom to stay until the earth has been filled in and
then all the wreaths and flowers are piled upon it, so
that the last impression of a tomb is usually that of
a heap of flowers. After the funeral, the family send
cards to all who have shown sympathy in any way.
The card is very simple and reads, " La familia de X
agradecida." Whatever haste there may be in burying
the dead, there is no haste in forgetting them. In
Argentine famihes, the mourning period is long and
often very strictly observed. It is no uncommon
thing for the females of a house, where the father or
mother has died, to remain absolutely indoors for at
least a year. On All-Saints' and All-Souls ' Days the
cemeteries are crowded with the relatives of those
who have gone before, bearing flowers and wreaths
to place on the graves or in the vaults where the beloved
remains are at rest.
336 THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
And now one word about the British trade in
Argentina. There was a time when the British were
practically the only traders ; but this is not the case
to-day, nor can it be expected. Other nationahties
besides the British have found Argentina a land of
promise, and have necessarily set up commercial
intercourse with their own countries. Few British
traders also are patriotic when it comes to business,
and although some firms may give a preference to
the sale of a British made article, if they can make
more profit out of a German or American one they
will do it, while perhaps all the time talking in private
life about the ruinous effect of free trade on the com-
merce of Great Britain. It may be said with perfect
truth that, so far as trade with the United States is
concerned, it is British traders in Buenos Aires who
have revealed the possibiHties of the country to their
American cousins and, if the Americans now show
signs of a vigorous competition, the British traders in
Argentina have only themselves to blame. There is
no doubt that all nations, even Japan, look towards
Argentina as a kind of commercial El Dorado. It is
satisfactory to see that Great Britain is also waking
up, as proved by the fact that such firms as Maple and
Co. and Mappin and Webb have opened branch estab-
lishments in the capital. This shows that the Home
houses feel the necessity of protecting themselves,
and not leaving their affairs in the hands of agents
who would sell a foreign article as readily as a British
one if more profit could be made of it. But this is
too large a question for the " Envoi ! "" of such a book
as this.
It would be possible to write much more about
life in the country and I have purposely not dealt
with fife in the camp, since, as I have stated previously,
there are numbers of books which describe it. General
Mitre once said : — " When the Argentine Nation has
existed long enough to give some account to the world
of the use which she has made of her sovereignty,
the name of Great Britain will figure in her statement
LIFE IN ARGENTINA 337
as that of the principal factor of her poHtical, social
and economic progress, the influence of which has been
at all times beneficent to her destiny and should
contimie to be so with even greater efficiency as time
goes on." The writer cannot conclude better than
by echoing this sentiment of the Great Argentine.
APPENDIX A
TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED
PROVINCES OF RIO DE LA PLATA.
Signed at Buenos Aires, Feb. 2nd, 1825.
ExTENsrvB commercial intercourse having been established for a series
of years between the dominions of His Britannic Majesty, and the territories
of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, it seems good for the security
as well as encouragement of such commercial intercourse, and for the
maintenance of good understanding between His said Britannic Majesty
and the said United Provinces, that the relations now subsisting between
them should be regularly acknowledged and confirmed by the signature
of a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation.
For this purpose they have named their respective plenipotentiaries,
that is to say : —
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, Woodbine Parish, Esquire, His said Majesty's Consul-Genera 1
in the Province of Buenos Aires and its Dependencies, and the United
Provinces of Rio de la Plata, Seiior Don Manuel Jose Garcia, Minister
Secretary for the Departments of Government, Finance and Foreign
Affairs, of the National Executive Power of the said Provinces ;
Who, after having communicated to each other their respective Full
Powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon and
concluded the following Articles : —
ARTICLE I.
There shall be perpetual amity between the dominions and subjects
of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, and the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, and their inhabitants.
ARTICLE II.
There shall be, between all the territories of His Britannic Majesty
in Europe, and the territories of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata,
a reciprocal freedom of Commerce ; the inhabitants of the two countries,
respectively, shall have liberty freely and securely to come, with their
ships and cargoes to all such places, ports and rivers, in the territories
aforesaid, to which other foreigners are or may be permitted to come,
to enter into the same, and to remain and reside in any part of the said
territories respectively ; also to hire and occupy houses and warehouses
for the purposes of their commerce ; and, generally the merchants and
traders of each nation, respectively, shall enjoy the most complete pro-
tection and security for their commerce subject always to the laws and
statutes of the two countries respectively.
338
APPENDIX A 339
ARTICLE III.
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland engages further, that in all his dominions situated out of Europe,
the inhabitants of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata shall have
the like liberty of commerce and navigation stipulated for in the preceding
article, to the full extent in which the same is permitted at present, or
shall be permitted hereafter, to any other nation.
Articles IV. to X. refer to dock dues, pilotage, duties, bounties, vessels,
agents, loading, unloading, etc.
ARTICLE XL
For the better security of commerce between the subjects of His
Britannic Majesty, and the inhabitants of the United Provinces of Rio
de la Plata, it is agreed, that if at any time any interruption of friendly
commercial intercourse, or any rupture should unfortunately take place
between the two contracting parties the subjects or citizens of either
of the two contracting parties residing in the dominions of the other,
shall have the privilege of remaining and continuing their trade therein,
without any manner of interruption, so long as they behave peaceably,
and commit no offence against the laws ; and their effects and property,
whether intrusted to individuals or to the state, shall not be liable to
seizure or sequestration, or to any other demands than those which may
be made upon the like effects or property, belonging to the native in-
habitants of the state in which such subjects or citizens may reside.
ARTICLE XII.
The subjects of His Britannic Majesty residing in the United Provinces
of Rio de la Plata, shall not be disturbed, persecuted or annoyed on
account of their religion, but they shall have perfect liberty of conscience
therein, and to celebrate divine service either within their own private
houses, or in their own particular churches or chapels, which they shall
be at liberty to build and maintain in convenient places, approved of
by the Government of the said United Provinces. Liberty shall also
be granted to bury the subjects of His Britannic Majesty who may die
in the territories of the said United Provinces, in their own burial places,
which, in the same manner they may freely establish and maintain. In
tlie like manner, the citizens of the said United Provinces shall enjoy,
within all the dominions of His Britannic Majesty, a perfect and un-
restrained liberty of conscience, and of exercising their religion publicly
or privately, within their own dwelling houses, or in the chapels and
places of worship appointed for that purpose, agreeably to the system
of toleration established in the dominions of his said Majesty.
ARTICLE XIIL
It shall be free for the subjects of His Britannic Majesty, residing
in the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, to dispose of their property, of
every description, by will or testament, as they may judge fit ; and, in
the event of any British subject dying without such will or testament in
the territories of the said United Provinces, the British Conaal General,
or, in his absence, his representative, shall have the right to nominate
340 APPENDIX A
curators to take charge of the property of the deceased, for the benefit
of his lawful lieirs and creditors, without interference, giving convenient
notice thereof to the authorities of the country, and reciprocally.
ARTICLE XIV.
His Britannic Majesty being extremely desirous of totally abolishing
the slave trade, the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata engage to co-
operate with His Britannic Majesty for the completion of so beneficent
a work, and to prohibit all persons inhabiting within the said United
Provinces, or subject to their jurisdiction, in the most effectual manner
and by the most solemn laws, from taking any such share in such trade.
Dated at Buenos Aires, February, 2nd, 1825.
(Signed) Woodbine Parish.
Manuel Josi Gabcia.
MAP
of the
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Scale 1 : 9;l'0().000 ( 148 IMil.'s -J L.,<-li ).
StattLte'Mxles.6915 to a Degree
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Eiloxnetres 111- 3 to a Dpe'iee
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Staima-Hmites ISO CDw.iancw ui yinuiail JKj/csJ
Jlnjjlvts in Unghsh Feci .
50
45
40
any, New York.
THE LONDON GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE
APPENDIX B
EXTRACTS FROM the ARGENTINE CONSTITUTION REFERRING
TO FOREIGNERS AND FOREIGN TRADE.
ARTICLE II.
Things produced or made in the country or abroad, as well as live
stock of all descriptions, passing from the territory of one province to
another, will be free of all taxes called transit taxes, also the conveyances ,
ships or beasts of burden which may be utilized in their transport. No
other tax can henceforth be imposed upon same, no matter what it may
be called, on account of their passing from one place to another.
ARTICLE XIV.
All inhabitants of the country enjoy the following rights, in accordance
with the laws which govern their exercise: to work and carry out all
lawful industries; to navigate and trade; to petition the authorities
to enter, remain in, travel within, and leave Argentine territory ; to
use and dispose of their properties ; to associate with useful objects ;
to exercise freely their religion ; to teach and learn.
ARTICLE XVI.
Tlie Argentine Nation does not admit prerogatives of blood, nor
of birth ; there are no personal privileges, nor titles of nobility. All
inhabitants are equal in the eyes of the law and admissible to positions
without any other consideration but their capability. Equality is the
basis of taxes and public duties.
ARTICLE XVII.
Property is inviolable and no inhabitant of the country may be deprived
of same, except by a sentence based on law. Expropriation on the ground
of public utility must be founded on the law and previously indemnified.
Congress alone can impose taxes as mentioned in Article IV. No
personal service can be exacted except in compliance with a law or a
sentence based on law.
Every author or inventor is the exclusive owner of his work, invention
or discovery for the length of time granted by law,. Confiscation of
property is for ever eliminated from the Argentine Penal Code. No
armed force can make requisitions or exact assistance of any kind.
ARTICLE XVIII.
No inhabitant of the country may be punished without previous
judgment which must be based on a law passed prior 1<» the act which
originate the prosecution, nor can be judged by special committees,
Ml
342 APPENDIX B
or taken away from the judges appointed by a law prior to the act men-
tioned in the prosecution. No one can be compelled to give evidence
against him or herself, nor can anyone be arrested except on a written
order from the competent authorities. No one can be deprived of the
right to defend himself or his rights in a lawsuit. Homes are inviolable,
as well as correspondence and private papers. A law will stipulate in
which cases and on what justifications they can be searched or taken
possession of. The death penalty for political reasons is abolished in
perpetuity, as well as all sorts of tortures or chastisements. The Nation's
prisons shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition for the custody and
not for the punishment of persons detained in same. Any step taken
on the ground of precaution but tending to make them suffer in excess
of what is intended will render the judge authorizing same liable.
ARTICLE XIX.
Men's private actions which do not offend public order or morals
or which do not prejudice third parties, are subject only to God, and do
not fall within the authority of magistrates. No inhabitant of the country
can be compelled to do what tJie law does not order, nor can he be deprived
of what the law does not forbid.
ARTICLE XX.
Foreigners enjoy in the territory of the Nation all rights of the citizen ;
they may exercise their industries, trade or profession ; possess landed
property, purchase and sell same, navigate the rivers and coasts ; exercise
freely their religion ; bequeath and contract matrimony in accordance
with the laws. They are not compelled to admit citizenship, nor to pay
extraordinary compulsory taxes. They may become naturalized after
a residence of two consecutive years in the coimtry, the authorities being
empowered to shorten this period in favour of those who ask for this,
alleging and proving services to the Republic.
ARTICLE XXVI.
The navigation of inland rivers is free to all flags, land subject only
to such rules as may be laid do^vn by the National Authorities.
GLOSSARY
Abogado. — Advocate ; pleader.
Acogerlas en sus brazos que obedecerdn sua leyes y que
seria medio de esperar de la sabiduria de esa nacion, una
existencia pact/ica y dichosa. — To receive them (the Pro-
vinces) in her arms which would obey her
Government and accept her laws, hoping, from the wisdom
of that nation (England), to obtain a peaceful and happy
existence.
Acuerdo. — Agreement ; compact.
Adelantado. — An appellation formerly given to the Governor
of a Province, invested with administrative and military
powers.
Adobe. — Unburnt brick dried in the sun.
Alcalde. — Mayor .
Asiento. — A contract formerly entered into between Spain and
England for the importation of slaves into South America.
Audiencia. — Courts of Justice.
Autonomistas. — Home-rulers.
Bafiados. — Ponds.
Banco. — Shoal ; bank.
Banda Oriental. — Uruguay.
Baqueano. — Guide.
Bebia con conciencia. — He drank with a conscience.
Benemirito de la Patria. — Well-deserving of the Country.
CabaUeros Racionales. — Reasonable Gentlemen.
Cabildo. — Corporation of a town.
Cacique. — Indian chief.
Cal del agua. — See Tosca.
Caleta. — Creek.
Calle. — Street.
Casa de Contratacidn. — Bureau of Trade.
Casa de Ninos ExpdsitoS. — Foundling Asylum.
Caudillos. — Leaders .
CMula. — Order, bill, decree.
Cercos de alambre. — Wire enclosures.
Cerros blancos. — White Hills.
Chiripd. — Square blanket used by Gauchos.
Cirujano . — Surgeon .
Cordillera. — Chain of mountains.
Cristianos. — Christians.
Cuchilla. — Chopping-knife.
848
S44 GLOSSARY
De soberania Argentina. — Under Argentine sovereignty.
Dorado. — Gilded.
Ejido. — Common, public land.
Empapelado . — Papered .
Enemigos colorados. — Red enemies (Red Jackets).
Esfancia. — Small farm.
Estanciero . — Farmer .
Flota.— Fleet.
Fraile. — Friar.
Oaucho malo. — Wicked Gaucho.
Oringo. — Nick-name given in South America to foreigners
generally.
Hacienda. — Estate ; ranch.
Hijo del pais. — Son of the soil.
Idioma Nacional. — National language.
Impuestos. — Taxes, imposts, duties.
Ingenios. — Sugar plantations.
Ingleses. — Englishmen, English.
Intendencia. — Administration .
Jueces Letrados. — Learned Judges.
Juez de Paz. — Judge of the Peace.
La familia de X. agradecida. — The grateful family of X.
Laguna. — Lagoon .
Lecherias. — Dairies.
Lecheros. — Milkmen.
Los Ingleses en la conquista del Rio de la Plata. — The English
in the Conquest of the River Plate.
Maese de Campo. — Commander.
Mala gente. — Wicked people.
Malon. — An attack made by Indians.
Matrero. — Artful knave,
MSdico. — Medical Doctor.
Moroso. — Slow, tardy, laggard.
Muera Cisneros ! Ahajo los godos ! — Death to Cisneros ! Down
with the Goths ! (Spaniards).
Nacionalistas. — Nationalists .
Notas Secretas de AmSrica. — Secret Notes from America.
Ohrajes. — Mining Districts.
Orejudos. — Flap-eared .
GLOSSARY 345
Partidos. — Districts.
Paseo. — Promenade.
Pastor. — Shepherd.
Pastos Duros. — Hard grasses.
Payador. — IVIinstrel .
Peon. — Labourer.
Piezas. — Pieces .
Piloto Mayor.~Cb.iei Pilot. •
Plateado. — Silvered.
Plaza. — Place, or square.
Potro.—CoM.
Practicante. — Practitioner.
Prdceres de la Patria. — Nobles of the Country.
Procuradores. — Attorneys .
Puchero. — Dish of boiled meat and vegetables.
Punta. — Point.
Que huenos aires son los de esta tierra ! — What fine air there is
in this country !
Ranckeria. — Settlement ; camp.
Real CSdula. — Royal Decree.
Recado. — Saddle.
Recuerdo. — Souvenir ; memento.
Reglamento. — Ordinance ; bye-laws.
Revalidar. — To ratify ; confirm ; to be admitted in a higher
faculty.
Salinas Orandes. — Great salt marshes.
Salto. — Rapid.
Saltos Argentinos. — Argentine Rapids.
Saltos Brasilenos. — Brazilian Rapids.
Sierra. — Ridge of mountains.
Sociedad. — Society ; association.
Suertes. — Lots.
Tierra Maldita. — Accursed land.
Tolderia. — Lidian camp.
Tosca. — Calcareous tufa.
Una buena pieza ! — A fine rascal !
Vida de un soldado. — The life of a soldier.
Vino de mesa. — Table wine.
Vivo. — Alive.
Verba. — Herb,
INDEX
PAGE
Abrego 56
Aconcagua Peak 17
Aconquija Range 17
Acuerdo de San Nicolas 59
Adelantados 80
Agricultural Industry, Sum-
mary of 252
AgriculturalReturns forl909-10 246
Agriculture 246
Aguirre, Francisco de 55
Alcabala 97
Alcedinidae (KingfiBhers) .... 187
Alfalfa, or Lucerne 251
Algarrobo Negro, or Igop6
Guazu 226
Amarillo, or Algarrobillo . . 227
Blanco 226
AlmirantfiZgo 97
Almojarifazgo 97
Alonso de Vera 53
Alsina, Dr. Adolf o 163
Alsina, Dr. Valentin 161
Alvear 143, 155
Alzaga 135
Amphibia 194
Amusements 325
Anatidae (Swans, Ducks, and
Geese) 190
Andes, Cordillera de los .... 14, 318
Andrade, Olegario 276
Ants 208
Aphides, or " Pulgones " .... 212
Apodes (Eels) 196
Aptenodytidse (Penguins) .... 192
Aptera 213
Arable Land 216
Araucanian Geological Forma-
tion 238
Ardeidae (Herons) 189
Argentina, Table of Geological
Formation of 237
Argentine Politics 286
Argentines 135
Arredondo, Don Nicolas .... 123
Arribenos 47
Articulata 202
Artigas, Treachery of 145
Asistencia Publica 296
Atherinidsa (Sand Smelts). ... 56
PAGE
Autonomistas 163
Avellanda, Dr. NicolAs 163
Averia 97
Aves (Birds) 184
Aviles, Marques de 125
Ayolas 85
Azara, Don Felix de 125
Balcarce, Florencio 274
Balcarce, General 140
Banda Oriental 54
Banks 294
Baqueano 46
Barrows' ' ' Argentine Orni-
thology " 177
Batrachid89 (Frog Fishes) 196
" Beagle," Voyage of the .... 168
Bear Tribe 181
Belgrano, Manuel 124, 146, 151
Ode to 270
Beresford, General 129
Occupies Buenos Aires .... 129
Surrenders 130
Bermejo, River 26
Bermejo-Desaguadero 30
Bivalves 201
Blistering Beetles 205
Bolivia, Expedition to 139
Botanical Zones 215
Bouchard, Hipolito 149
Brazil, War with 155
Brazilian Diplomacy 163
Brazilians Defeated 155
British Residents 151
Institutions 298
Invasions 127
Trade 336
Brown, Admiral .... 145, 155, 157
Captures Spanish Fleet off
Montevideo 145
Death of 160
Tomb of 298
Bruce, Dr 15
Bucarrelli y Ursua, Don Fran-
cisco 107
Buenos Aires, Lake 29
Buenos Aires, Population of
Province and City of ... . 33
646
INBEX
347
Buenos Aires — ^ page
Attacked and destroyed by
Indians 83
Cemeteries 297
Death Rate 290
Description of Province . . 300
Important Towns 303
Docks 293
First Aid Society 296
First Consulate 123
First Newspaper 126
Foundation of 53
Origin of Name 81
Parks 292
Paseos 294
Places of Interest 297
Plazas 291
Railway Lines 299
Second attempt to colonize 80
Social Conditions 124
Zoological Gardens 297
Butter, Price of 258
Cabarrus 146
'Cabildo, The 135
Cabot, Sebastian 76
Cabrera, Don Luis Geronimo . . 56
Camp Papers 285
Camp Life 324
Campo, Nicolas del 122
Character of 122
Canary Seed, or Alpiste 251
Canning, George 152
Caranday 230
Cariamidae 191
Carangidae (Horse Mackerels) . . 195
Carnivora (Flesh-eating Mam-
mals) 180
Casa de Contratacion 95
Casa de Comedias 121
Caseros, Battle of 160
Catamarca, Province of 315
Cavendish, Sir Thomas 100
Cebil Colorado, or Curupay . . . . 228
Centipedes 204
Cepeda, Battle 59, 150, 161
Cereals, Export of 247
Cetacea 183
Chaco 14, 223, 318
Champaqui Peak 18
Characidae (Southern Carps) . . 199
Charadriidae (Plovers) 191
Ch6, Meaning of 49
Chelonia(Tortoi8e8 and Turtles) 193
Chimaoridae (Spooks) 194
Chinos 47
Chiroptera 180
Cholos , 47
PAGE
Chubut 29, 319
Churches 50, 295
Cicada, or Chicharra 212
Ciconiidae (Storks) 189
Cisneros, Baltasar Hidalgo de 135
Clubs 301, 325
Clupeidae (Herrings) 199
Coal 245
Ccelenterates and Protozoa .... 214
Coleoptera (Beetles) 205
Colonia, La 112
Colorado, River 28
Columbidae (Doves) 190
Congress of Santa Fe 161
Constitution 58
Consuls 72
Contraband and Bribery 98
Cordilleras 16, 235
Cordoba, Province and City . . 307
Corrales 164
Corrientes 159, 306
Cor\dd3e (Crows and Jays) .... 186
Cottidae (Gurnards) 195
Cotton 251
Council of the Indies 91
Coyle, River 29
Cracidae (Curassows) 190
Crickets 207
Criollos 47, 94
Crocodilia 193
Crustacea 202
Cuculidae (Cuckoos) 188
Cupay 230
Customs Duties 97
Cuyanos 47
Cyclostoma (Lampreys) 199
Daily Press 281, 284
Darwin, Charles 168
Davis, John 100
Dean Funes 141
Dendrocolaptidae (Wood-Hewers
or Creepers) 187
Deputies, Chamber of 61
Deseado, River 29
Diaz, Don Ramon 270
Diodontidae (Globe Fishes) 196
Diptera 212
Director Supremo 145
Doctor, Degree of 330
Dog Tribe 181
Domador 46
Domestic Animals (Census of
1908) 255
Estimated value of 265
Dorrego, Don Manuel .... 165, 156
Dragon Flies 207
348
INDEX
PAGE
Drake, Sir Francis 99
Drawing School 125
Dulce, River 30
Durnford's Works on Argentine
Birds 173
Echeneidae (Sucking Fish) .... 195
Echevarria, Est6ban 273
Edentata 183
Education 330
Educational Writers 280
Edward VII as Arbitrator 165
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and
Rays) 200
Eleginidae 195
Elio, Colonel 135
Encomiendas 103
English Schools 306
Entre Rios 238
Espinillo de Corona 228
Espinillo, or Aromita 228
Estancia 257
Executive Power 60
Exports (1909) 262
Exports and Imports, Increase
of 263
Extent and Boundaries 13
Fabre, Don Antonio 126
Falconidae (Hawks) 188
Falkland Islands 15, 100, 105
Falucho, Statue of 294
Famatina, Range 17
Family Life 330
Fauna 167
Federales 152
Fenton, Edward 99
Fiction, Works of 280
Figueroa, Dr. Alcorta 165
FireFlies 205
Flora 215
Food 323
Foreign Press 285
Formosa 318
Fossils 236,239
Francisco Solano, San 104
French Exhibition of 1889 231
Fringillinse (Finches) 185
Fruit Trees 233
Funerals 334
Fur and Feathers 261
Gadid® (Cod) 196
Galan, Francisco Ruiz 83
Gallego 48
Gallegos, River 29
PAGE
Garay, Don Juan de . . . . 63, 86, 90
Garcia, Don Manuel Jose .... 147
Garcia, Martin 75
Garibaldi 160
Garro, Don Jose de 112
Gastropods( Snails, Whelk8,etc. ) 20 1
Gaucho Poems 275
Gauchos 42
Geographical Position 13
Geology 234
Gibson's Notes on Argentine
Birds 174
Glyptodons 239
Gold 237
Government 52, 63
Gran Chaco 19
Great Britain and Argentina,
First Treaty of Peace 152
Great Britain, Offer to 147
Gringo 47
Guanaco 254
Guarani Race 39
Guaranitic Formation 238
Guayacan, or Itin 227
Guayra, Cataract of La 24
Guido y Spano, Carlos 278
Gutierrez, Juan Maria 275
Gutierrez, Ricardo 276
Haplopomi 199
Hemiptera 212
Heredia, Nicolas 55
Hernandarias de Saavedra . . 54, 1 04
Hirundinidae (Swallows) 185
Historical Writers 279
Holidays 326
Holland's Notes on Argentine
Birds 177
Holy Alliance 151
Home Popham, Sir 129
Horses 254
Hospitals, Foreign 295
House Accommodation 327
House Rent 328
Huaquin, Battle of 140
Hudson's Notes on Argentine
Birds 172
Human Remains 241
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps,
and Ants) 212
Ibera, Lake 31
Icteridse (Cow Birds, or Trou-
pials) 186
Iguazu, River 25
Importation (1909) 261
Incienso, Ici, or Cabrjuda .... 229
INDEX
349
PAGE
Independence 148, 150
Indian Tribes 35, 94
Indian Women 42
Industrial Census (April, 1910) 264
Insects 204
Inaectivora 180
Intendencia 119
Intervention, Right of 64
Invertebrata 200
Irala 85
Jesuit Missions 103
Jesuit Colleges 107
Jesuits, Expulsion of 105
Jordan, Estanislao 156
Ju&rez Celman, Dr. Miguel. ... 164
Judicial Power 63
Judicial Procedure 329
Juncal 17, 317
Jujuy 52,317
Lacar, Lake IC
Lacertilia (Lizards) 193
Language 48
Lapacho 227
Lara, Don Nuno de 78
Laridae (Gulls) 191
Las Heras, General 102, 152
Las Piedras, Victory of 140
Laurel Amarillo 230
Negro 230
Lavalle, General 155
Lazareto 296
Lead 242
LecheroB 258
Legations 72
Legislative Power 60
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and
Moths) 208
Lerma, Hernando de 57
Limay, River 28
Lime 245
Liniers 130, 135, 140
Linseed 248
Live Stock, Details of Export
Trade 256
Living, Cost of 327
Lobo, Don Manuel de 112
Locusts 207
London and River Plate Bank 294
Longitude and Time 13
Lopez y Planes 135, 269
Lopez, Don Vicente 155
Lopez, Vicente Fidel 279
Luj4n, Diego 83
Lyddeker, Professor R 178
Lyra Argentina 270
PAO£
Maciel, Canon Juan B 122
Macnamara 101, 105
Maipii Peak 17
Maize 249
Maldonado, Story of 84
Malhoyo, Lake 31
Mammalia 180
Manners 329
Mar del Plata 303
Marbrough, Sir John 101
Marmol, Jos6 274
Marriages 50, 334
Marsupials 184
Martens 181
Matacos 40, 41
Mate 249
May Flies 207
Mbocaya 231
Meals 328
Medical Profession 333
Medical Writers 280
Megatherium Giganteum .... 240
Melo de Portugal 125
Mendoza, Death of Diego de . . 83
Mendoza, Don Pedro de 79
Mendoza, Francisco de 55
Mendoza, Garcia Hurtado de . . 56
Mendoza, Province of 313
River 30
Mercedario Peak 17
Merlucidae (Hakes) 196
Mesopotamia, Argentine . . . 23, 233
Mestizos 94
Mete de Luna 67
Milk 258
Millipedes 204
Minerals and where to be found 241
Mining Industry 258
Miranda, General Francisco . . 142
Miranda, Lucia 79
Misiones 18, 223, 318
Missionary Colonies 104
Mistol 230
Mites 203
Mitre, Bartolom6 (the Poet) . . 277
Mitre, General 162, 165
MoUe 230
Mollusca 201
Money 328
Monopolies 98
" Monte " Botanical Zone. . . . 219
Montevideo 133, 145, 157
Monthly Magazines 283
Montoya, Father 105
Moore, Commodore 128
Moreno, Dr. M 272
Moro 230
Mosquitoes 212
Motacilladn (Wagtails) 186
350
INDEX
PAGE
Moths , Nocturnal 210
Motin de Fontezuelas 148
Mountain Systems 16
Mugilidae (Grey Mullets) 195
Museum of Fine Arts 297
Musters, Lake 29
Mylodon Robustus 240
" Nacion," Library of La .... 280
Nacionalistas 163
Nahuel Huapi, Lake 16
fjandubay, or Calden 227, 252
National Anthem 69
Arms 71
Flag 70
Library 297
Musemn 297
Territories 62
Vaccine Conservatory 296
Natural History, Writers on. . 170
Natural Science Writers 279
Nautical School 125
Negro, Rio 28, 32
Negroes 94
Neuqu6n, River 28
Territory of 16
Neuroptera (Nerve Winged In-
sects) 207
Nieto, General 136
Nunez del Prado 55
Ocampo 139
Olaguier Feliu, Don Antonio . . 125
Ombu 20,218
Once de Setiembre 161
Ophidia (Snakes) 193
Orkneys, South 15
Orthoptera 206
Pacto de San Jos6 162
Page, Captain John 178
Palamedeidae (Screamers) .... 189
Palo Blanco 230
Palo Santo 228
Pampa Botanical Zone 215
Pampa, La 319
Pampas, Las 19
Pampean Formation 236, 238
Paraguay, Expedition to .... 139
River 26
War with 162
Parani, City of 306
Parana, River 24, 28
Parridae ( Jacanas) 191
PAGE
Patagonia 15, 19
Botanical Zone 216
Payador 46
Paz, Jos6 M 155
Pellegrini, Dr. Carlos 164, 165
Pennington's, Dr., Botanical
Expeditions 179
Perciformes (Perch-like Fishes) 194
Percophidae 195
Petereby, or Loro Negro 229
Petroleum 245
Pezuela 148
Phalacrocoracidae 189
Picidae (Woodpeckers) 187
Pilar, Treaty of 150
Pilcomayo, River 26
Pindo, or Ibapuita 231
Pinnipedia 181
Pino, Don Joaquin del 129
Pinzon, Vicente Yanez 74
Pisces (Fishes) 194
Pistacho 249
Plains 19
Plata, Province de La, Governors
of 91, 92
Plata, Rio de La 24, 27
Viceroyalty 57
Plataleidae (Ibis) 189
Platinum 242
Pleuronectidae (Flat Fish) 196
Podicipedidse (Grebes) 192
Poets, Argentine 268
Population 34
Porongos, Laguna de los 30
Port Egmont 115
Port Madryn to TrelewRailway 319
Porteno 47
Posadas, Gervasio Antonio . . 145
Potato, or Papa 250
President, Power of the 60
Primates 180
Primera Junta 139
Printing first introduced .... 105
Pritchard, H. Hesketh 178
Provinces 52
Prose Writers 279
Protestant Cemetery (Buenos
Airfes) 298
Psittacidae (Parrots) 188
Pubhc Speakers 281
Puente Alsina 164
Pueyrredon, General 149
Puna, Botanical Zone 223
Puntano 47
Purvis, Admiral 158
Quebracho 227, 252
INDEX
351
Quilmes 1^^
Quintans, Dr. Manuel 169
Quinto 97
Races 35
Rallidae (Rails) 190
Ramio, or China Grass 251
Raptores 188
Rastreador 45
Rawson 319
Religion 50
Religious Toleration 50
Reptilia 192
Republic established 138
Revolution 136
Prominent Men of the .... 136
Rhamphastidae (Toucans) .... 188
Rheidffi (Rheas) 192
Rice 249
Rioja, Province of La 315
Rivadavia 141, 146, 152
Roca, General 163, 165
Rocha, Dr. Dardo 160
Rocking Stone 18
Rodentia 181
Rodriguez, General 152
Rodriguez, Fray Cayetano ... . 271
Rojas, Diego de 54
Rondeau 150
Rosario 304
Rosas 156, 160
Saavedra, Cornelio 139
Saenz Pena, Dr. Roque 165
Saenz Pefia, Dr. Luis 164
Salaries 323
Salcedo 114
Salinas Grandes, District of . . 23
Salta, Battle of 144
Province of 316
Samohu, Yuchan, or Palo Bor-
racho 229
San Carlos, College of 120
San Juan 314
San Lorenzo 305
San Luis 312
San Martin 142, 144, 149
Sancti Spiritus, Colony of . . 76, 79
Santa Cruz, Formation of ... . 238
River 29
Territory of 320
Santa F6 304
Santa Rosa, Battle of 1G3
Santiago del Estero 56, 308
Sarmiento, Mount 17
Sarmiento, Domingo Faus-
tino 163, 279
Sarratea, Don Manuel 150
Sciseniformes 195
Scolopacodse (Snipes) 191
Scomberidae (Mackerels) 195
Scombresociformes 196
Scorpions 203
Seasons 14
Secret Societies 142
Segunda Junta 141
Senguer, or Chico River 29
Senate 60
Shooting 326
Silm-idse (Cat Fishes) 196
Silver 242
Slave Trade 102
Sobremonte, Rafael, Marqu6s
de 127, 133
Soli's, Juan Diaz de 74
Soli's, River 77
Spanish " Indies," The 91
Treasure Ships 95
Spiders 203
Sports 299
State of Siege 67
Staten Island 15
Stirling, Rear- Admiral 133
Stock Breeding 255
Strigidae (Owls) 188
Sub-Tropical Botanical Zone . . 220
Sugar 250
Suipacha, Battle of 140
Sunday 326
Syngnathidae (Sea Horses) ... . 196
Tanagridae (Tanagers) 186
Tandil Hills 18
Tape- worm 214
Tasi 220
Tejedor, Dr. Carlos 164
Teleostomi 194
Tembetar^ 229
Tetrodontidae (Sea Hedgehogs) 196
Tierra del Fuego 15, 37, 320
Timbo Colorado 228
Tinamidae (Tinamous) 192
Tobacco 250
Tobas 40, 41
Tonelage 97
Toxodon 240
Trade Monopoly 93
Trade Route 93
Tramways 299
Trees, Description of some .... 226
Trees, List of, Indian and Native ■
Names 223
TrichiuridsB (Hair Tails) 196
352
INDEX
PAGE
Triumvirate, First 141
Second 144
Trochilidae (Humming Birds) 187
Troglodytidae (Wrens) 185
Tucuman 54, 144, 31 1
Turdidae (Thrushes) 184
Twenty-fifth of May 137,139
TyrannidsB (Tyrant Birds) 186
Ungulates 182
Unitarios 152
Uriburu, Dr. Jo86 Evaristo ... 164
Urquiza, General 160, 163
Uruguay, River 24
Urundey 229
Vaca de Castro 54
Valdivia, Pedro de 55
Varela, Juan Cruz 272
Ventana, Sierra de la 18
Vera y Aragon 53, 90
Verde, Battle of La 163
Vermes 213
Vertiz, Don Juan Jo86 de 119, 121
Viceroys 118
FAGS
Victoria, Cataract of La 26
Vicufia 254
Villaroel, Diego de 56
Volcanoes 17
Vulturidae (Vultures) 188
Weasels 181
Weather 229
Weekly Papers 283
Welsh Colony 320
Wheat, Crops in 1908 248
\Vhite, on Argentine Birds ... . 174
Whitelock, Lieut. -General 133
Wine Production JJ250
Woods used in Construction,
Table of 231
Yacaranda 226
Yatay 281
Zapiola 143
Zavala 114
ZeballoB, Don Pedro 114, 118
Zeballos, Dr. Estanislao 279
Zurita, Juan P6rez 55
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