Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-05
From the ,Nezv- York Euening Post.
LA PLATA OR PARAGUAY.

cluded by the inhabitants OF Buenos Ayres q
Monte Vicdo, towns situated In the Spanish
PROVINCES of La Plata AS this part OF South
America is little known to the people OF the
United States, some account of it may be &C.
ceptable to our readers. The following is ex-
tracted from the Journal of Mr.. Helms who ira
yelled through those countries In the years
1883 s go.
The total distance from the capital of Bue-
nos Ayres to the town of Cordova, is about
5,42l English miles--the most OF this distance
is one extended plain, destitute OF woods
on these immense and beautiful tlelds, iced IN
credible multitudes of horses, cows and oxen,
sheep, ostriches, and deer of all sorts. 10
view them, one would think, that all the anil
mails in Europe, if assembled together, would
appear less numerous than those which cover
the plains between Buenos Ayres, Chill and
Tucuman. As far as the vision OF the eye can
extend, you see herds OF oxen and Groves OF
horses, each from 5000 to 10000 III number,
sporting playfully together on all hands, drove
after drove, at short distances one beyond an
other, and in countless multtudes. One OF
the largest of these oxen may be purchased
for single piastre horse tor two pastries.
For a COW, it is rare TO give even SO high
price. on account Of the extraordinary aoun-
dance of these cattle.
In the charming environs of Cordova. are
many great rattle-snakes, cider-ducks OF OK
traordinary size and beauty, abundance OF par
r0ts, and multitude of other fowls OF the
most beautiful and splendid diversity OF color
ing. Being seldom or never molested, they
cannot but multiply very rapidly. For the
same reason, fowls and quadrupeds are, here,
in general, not at all wilder than if they had
been actually domesticated they avoid not
the approach of men, and hardly even make
way unless they be driven with some degree
Of violence.
tmay besnot improper here to remark,
that all the way from Buenos Ayres to Cordo-
VA. YOU do not find more than single hut,
occupied by family of lazy Creoes, besides
each post-house. These Creoles are well
known to be the progeny of SpanishEparents,
But they differ exceedingly in their temper
and qualities from those of whom they are de-
scended. They shew little or no sense of mo-
raj obligation Their genius is deceltidi, u,,-
tractabe, sluggish and ungratetul This |
can affirm from my own experience In the
school for chemistry and metallurgy at Potosi,
of which was director. They are, with very
few exceptions, utterly neglected as to edu-
cation, lazy, disorderly, disgustingly filthy
What little Instruction they receive is nothing
but the grossest and most unenlightened fa-
natacism. They are hypocritical--and intole-
rant TO degree of blgotry that makes them
regard with the bittsrest rancor, all the man.
ners and principles Of those who are IN any
measure, more enlightened and civilized than
they themselves are To their slaves they
Il Nft
his amours and sensual passions usually sub
jugate the master himself to female negroes
and mulattoes, who, in their turn, dorllneer
over him with the most despotic sway. They
are revengeful and prone to every low pas
sion BY which man can be disgraced: suspi-
cious. and malignant more abherrent OF the
Spaniards from whom they have their descent,
than of other Europeans.
The Creole is Of tawny complexion. His
large black eyes glow with the expression OF
s the ardor and activity of those passions which
inflarne his soul, He is in the highest degree
close and cunning, hiding his malice under
the cuise of smoothness and fattery, and che
rishng his malice in his heart till the hour OF
his desired revenge shall arrive. His under
standing being uncultiyated, and he being a
stranger to the exercise ofany useful employ
rnent, his time consequently hangs heavy upon
his hands and he is the prey ofevery base and
impotent passion. He is faithless to his pro-
misses and engagements, whenever his favo-
rite propensities can be gratfed, or his pri-
vate interests advanced, by peridy, Yet their
native qualities are not such BIT that the pru-
dent care of parents, judicious education
and early impressions ofmoderate and rational
religion, might improve them to become high.
<l<a &c
A pre- eminent characteristic of all these Gre.
oles, however humble in condition, has with
great selF-conceit, a childish partiali,y against
every prodnction of art & every piece of dres.
and furniture that comes from Europe. They
&c mot nun, OF, ob;aci