Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-08-25
"A 'N0uc in South America,
1890. -............'
To the Editor OF tne FIsaknn Gazette.

sN ONc III SSSNSN ilNSCctC0.
To the Editor OF me Fisaknn Gazsue
i send yon Tor publication, rough sketch of
the FIST journeN performed by a citizen of the
tniivd States acroSS the South AGiericaO con.
tinc"t. Every thing relative tc that portion.
OF tae .lohe is sIchy intrI eSC,ng to the people
fthe uuitrd States and 1t i, 10 be rtgreiteA
that the information we possess, is neither NJ
extensive or accurate as IL ouSht to be-. OF
the resources OF the new government, the NJ
hucai condition OF the people. we have Il great
many cohlec,ureS, aud assertions, aud hopes,
ana expectations, predictions, aud piophe.
cues, bat there is iamcniable Deficiency OF
JdctS. On the return of the commissioners Il
was anticipated that we should, upon all nte-
resting points lie Culi .htcned in ibis exptc-
TALON we have been as yet disappointed, and
the public is as Ignorant of the frame at The
new government, the extent OF its authority
over the people. and the guards which are
placed arosnd the rights OF the inhabitants. as
we were when the Con-ress sailed from iii.
United States We see great MANY Specnla-
tioUs about The op;ajons Of the COMMISSIONERS
but we should prefer Il detailed statement OF
facts anil observations, 10 The judgment oil So
crates hlin,,lt
The writer of this sketch OF 4 Journey from
BncnoS ANtes IN Santiago, has il IN his power
to furnish the public with much valuable in
formation. Residing many Years on the north.
ern continent. respected. t''l> led and beloy ed
10y the most distinguish al persons IN that part
OF our hemisphere, lifted Dt education Tor the
q X,
10 suteiSb the most ai1nie material. 10 enable
the pubic Ia form "a correct estimate ct our
southern breihren.-One of the strongest mo.
'i7es Tor Tie pn"iicatrn of this narration, is
the hope at recalling hts attention 10 the per.
formance of This duty, which he owes To his own
reputation, and to the honor and interest of
his country.
SKETCH, Sc.
Having learnt in the beginning. of November
that the passage over the Cordlieras was prac.
.icahle, prepared Tor nv Journey acros, The
ConiineSt. The dangers aud difficulties an
tendant on tbs undertaking, we've IcureSru;eu
10 be almost insurmOuniable and armed my
sell AT all points 10 encounter them. Under.
standing that the roads were iuerably good 10
the foot of the Cordlllerds. purchased a iarg,
spanish coacn, and cnrac ed Il driver To accom-.
pa"y me to Mcndoza. My conductor informed
mat III Womb he necessary to hire three mere
drivers. Although did not understand the
necessity %! having four positions 10 drive one
carnage, consented, and in Il few da,s all
va" feaIy. hen my eqnipa.e was brought
| 10 The door. II presented a most uncouth ap-
peardncr. Tile body oft,se carriage was large
aud UNIV ieldy ; the wheels were swathed With
STRIPS OF raw hide. and thongs twisted from the
vi" TO tAe nut, 50 as 10 form additional spikes
Each horse WAS haiues>ed TO the carriage by Il
| long leathern thong. leading from the cross,
| bar 10 the saddle giti, and had separate ii.
der. These Positions were accounted van "A
ho"ing RonchO (cIoak)a straw hat, aud sege-
| raj pair OF drawers hanging below their
hrecehcs knees, hich they always wear open.
Their legs were hare and their feet covered
WAN SANDALS, made from fresh hide, thrOnah
winch their toes protrnded, to stick into The lit
TIE wooden tTIaug les that formed their S!irruvs
| with tins unconth eQu:page, | left BueIius
! Ayes, accompa led by two servants aud two
dragons, sent by the Juuta d few hours before
my departure, to serve me aS An escott AZ far
| as San:iago.
The streets Of BIten0s Ayes are not gene raj.
! iy raved. and in the winter season Ihey become
almost impossible. Without stones or wood,
| 10 construct or mend them, they use bones aud
me carcases oil animals To I'LL up the holes The
| effect may be easily imagined. The roads thu I
| lead onSh tie suburbs of the city, are 50
| extremely bad, au,l the sloughs deep, that
| u rs with Great difficulty acarrase can he
drawn through them, and horses are some tunes
stalled, aud entirely lost, in attempting to pass
| them. Several OF ny Creole acauaintances
| accompanied me as tar as Luxan, "a small town
about Twelve leagues from Burnos AyIes, and
| thc hrSi ct the cham of military posts which
| extend INTO Patagonia. 4 hire | laid in sun
ply OF bread, luxury little known amoug Tie
peasantry OF the interior. Animal food is very
| abundant; but the traveller must carry wui,
| him bread, salt and = inr.
A:ier taking leave of MY friends passtd
| me river OF Lnxan, on ii wooden bridge and
| entered on the vast pampHS OF Buenos 4 yres
| Sothing can lie mote dpSOiate aud gloomy than
me view oil the plains al this season ui The year
| MOI shrub nor Il blade Of grass TO he seen .
| all barren and waste; Z" a wild immeasurable
| spiead, which lCngihcns as YOU TO-" Tie
| hoiseS ard cattle were standing IN the pools
10 refresh themselves; the deer were lyiua
| ahOut painting with heat the ostrich alone
| was stalking about, devcuring insects The
ROAD over the plains IS marked by The passa @
| o' the carts, which beer the products of the
| interior provinces TO the capital They 0n n,
! caravans OF fifteen and tvs entv each drawn Inv
four yoke of oxen, fixed With Ion. traces from
| yoke To yoke. long bamboo. oruamen,ed
| WIN ieatteIs,iS suspended from The roof of
| the Gait, so as 10 enable tho driver who siIs nm
| the top of tie load, 10 reach The fartheSt oyen
"a goad hangs perpendicularly from the BAN
| boo directly over the second woke ofoxen &.
| dnd with small goad which he carries il, his
hand Tor the yoke next the cart the driyor
commands the whole. and will drive very dpx
.terously through the stress The caravan.
are accompanied by drove ofc.ftIe In chan
on the road. aud 10 feed the drivers: each cart
, SdiL'es large eafthcn jar fastened behind. to
noid water and'sone wood for fneI fixed nm
| thc top, witch is othide. They are nbli,,od IN
! ne very economical in the use of their wool -
| nave frequently Seenthe drivers srated ,ou,J
| d II, e, maze WITH a ll lie wood and the boups
| dh' I"iO' lheahimal. part ofwlIich was roa sfiu,
OH spit stuck upright in the earth c,,I;n,, 80
| SitsSo' meat as II roasted, aud devoutin., il
| without bieado salt. They travel pri,,r;,,,Il,.
99uiIhg we "i2 at and perform the jonrncy
| rom i'h' rUS hyres 10 Mendoza. a distance of
| Three hundred leagues, in five or six ,yc,.k "
| ihrif'lght Ola cart " BHeuOs : yfes is ei htv
noUaIs. aud some hing less back ts Mend,1,
f Ptihcirsi articles brought in this manner
| I'LL -, ''V'' are Wines and biIndiPs.
u''eu ,Iu',S' IofhS aud talIsw, feathers, skins,
ittuFlhn DARK, copper, and the precious mo
us lhey carry back iron, drv goods. aud
! lhe h'lb OF Paraguay. This herb was first
| cultivated by the Je>uits. who found il in orn
t in' ' nse among The GUARANTEES Indians Ills
| low Snfmb, some wIIdt resembling the tea ,laut
| ~ S't ionnd wild ia ParaqIhy, and isprc
pared ny stripping fhe leaves and driving then,
| ncioIc IRE. They are packed for trsnspor.
.alIot ~ soaked hides. There are tw os6rts;
| once Which j. midq from fire ,oun, tc,r -
which IS the best the other from lie I, %,"
| i.s"i' "Hich Is coarse, and is called Trri,a dc
Ia'os. he JeSniis distinguish three sorts. lie
cdacuHo, ~ stick herb The caamini. and ihe