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Please do not assume that a book's appearance in 'The Builder' library means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe. The Webmaster THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC ^ 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 35J 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 • 343 Glossary . • • • • • • 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.