The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-31
l.. Plata.


Ii lS4s-49 that made my visits 10 the Sierra,
lot Mountan the Pampas. lor Plains, and the Pampas
the province OF La Plata. l not thoroughly ac-
quanled with the genera nature the principal features
and remarkable aspect OF the scenery and native popula
tons OF the South American provinces nevertheless in
the course of these visits. was struck with much OF
novelty and interest by the remarkable objects everywhere
around me as II my mind had not been previously I'M
pressed with any ideas of any OF those OBJ
jects by means OF the general information possessed
expected 10 immense river aud many considerable
rivers OF less magnitude, but whose SIZE, IN many u
ropean countries would be estimated as large oul had
conceived expectation OF beboding any 80 Immense
ss the river Plata as the Uruguay OF 'ne
hkewi expected to view a vast extent OF plans pro-
ceeding from along the banks OF La RATA iurher than
eye could reach but not SO vast and charac
teristic rs the Pampas So OF the mountains running in
the interior OF the province had adequate concep
As an old traveller. always feel comfortable it,
before taking journey into any unexplored region,
ascertain much possible OF It's geography. Pos
sessed of such information. some obstacles have been
cleared away from any line OF route may choose and
certainly feel the safer and confidence proceed
through the unknown country Let me- therefore, before
taking you TO the Sierra, beyond just lead you by the
hand and proceed at gentle pace to take blrds-eye
Look first on La Plata much as you can see of its
breadth and its length; and whatever your notion OF il
may be, must confess that the behold in .eality
in memory, in description, of this magnificent river
it, vastness mpresses me more and more with that mex
no even hs wde. sande" Of the highest
tains-so powerfully inspires one with, after the first
view. - the sublime expanre OF waters though peace
fully slumberng in their might commanding the majesty
Of silence around In breadth, La Plata equals that Of
the Amazon and is navigabe by vessels OF considerable
tonnage, the distance of 400 leagues from its
mouth OF its vas,ness. the European traveller will be
able form idea from the fact that OF the many
tributary rivers flowing into La Pata-the Uraguay-is
itself in magnitude that surpasses the Rhine the
Ebe In speaking of the Uruguay, il must not be for
gotten that at its mouth its breadth great that the eye
cannot from any point take IN eoth It's banks At one
proceeding 200 leagues higher up, requires hour TO
cross it,
In another tributary of La Plata the Parana itself an
immense river, The great (stuaed in the
tyfourh degree of latitude, not far from the city OF
Guayra which, the extent OF twelve leagues hurls
itself with increasing rapdity and impeuosty over
and amongst mbeess rocks OF very singular and start
ling FORMS Or all the tributary rivers the largest by far
it ID asserted is the PARMA hence the natural designa
ton Of La Plata by the natives the Parana, comprising
all the aggregate rivers OF La Plata and Its tributaries
The Spanish designation, however appears for geograph
ical purposes the suitable Tor adoption. The
Parana-regarding il as separate though tributary,
river-spngs from the envrons OF V lila del Carmen 10
the north OF Rio de Janeiro and in lis course flowing
through mountainous country, augments itself I'M
mensey receiving in It's downward progress 10 the vast
plains, numerous other streams. 1t likewise there re-
ceives the Paraguay, which, originating plain in the
north, called Campos Paress. that during the rainy
forms the Lake OF xarayes, is greatly augmented be-
fore disembogues itself into the Parana by receiving
the Pilcomayo-itsef large river-which. having It's
Potosi is the channel Of all the inland nav
CATION from the mines The Vermego and the Salado
also flow into La Plata from the side of the Andes, and
the Uruguay from the side OF Brazil
Bearing in mind, lar as you can, this assembage OF
magnificent rivers AL the thousand minor streams per-
petually rolling dow he divers mountains OF The far
extending Sierra, picture apparently interminabe ex
panse OF pampas (or pains not verdan pralrelke IN
appearance. whose scarcely undulating surface forms
line OF horizon scarcely broken by abrupt and al
most perpendicularly rising mountains OF extraordinary
form and aspect and numberless low hills among the
intermediate valleys, nlersected by nnumevable rivers
and streams and covered by muiiIudes Of wild cattle
and you will then have very adequate idea OF the vast
ness the wdness the magnihcence and the dreary and
,f ihusn r1I
OF 20 many of the grandest elements OF picturesque
beauty in lis more savage aspects
The apparently inermnable Pampas OF Buenos Ayres
distance Of hundred leagues Chree hundred
English mes) south from the town OF Bnenos Ayes, al
most equally divided by the remarkable chain OF noun
tans termed the Sierra, which from east to west
Taking the south frontier Of the Panpas to the river
Colorado, it is usually considered, but without sum-
Gent reason we should find that the distance thence 10
the Sierra 10 little than hundred leagues.
Before proceeded to the Sierra had frequently heard
and laughed at of those trivial little superslitons
1t il believed that Immediately the arrival OF every
stranger who before has the Sierra IL will in
faby rain Let the leaIaed in me,eorology discuss this
question il they please can at least, throw IN one
fact, namely: that, for many weeks prior TO my arrival
nj Sierra the weather had been continuously dry APP
preached the Sierra in the afternoon when it de-
theless, very soon after | had reached the Sierra the
heavens became covered with sombre clouds looked
above and around, and showers OF thin ram developed
the whole range OF the mountains
The first sight OF the Sierra is startling. Fatgued with
long journeys through The Pampas which discourage the
heart by their seeming intermInabity, while the
eye, which loves 10 wherever objects OF inter
may be discovered becomes satIaed the sudden ap
peaance and peculiar aspect OF the Sierra starting
existence by magic and stepping forth, were, from
the surrounding Pampas TO meet your approach strike
the traveller with sensation OF and astonshment,
The gigantic eminence, the Sierra already forth i'm
mediately from the surrounding Pampas, alike on the
north aide and the south side There be doubt
that this Sierra is single detachment from the Cordie
ern continent of South America Generally speaking il
much remarkable for its curious formation than
its height for the highest point is not more than between
eleven thousand and Twelve thousand feet
There contiguous 10 Tandll, on the eastern side,
several mountains OF sandstone, which surround
ed by enormous blocks OF the stone. Eve
~ OF them shows evden, signs of the most violent
demolition, probably IN former age, and doubtless by |
volcanic action Immense heaps oil immense stones are
there in various and curious formations. Among this
chaos OF what regarded the dislonted components
OF mighty mountains IN Their throes OF agony, there is
which, although IN It's general structure and nature
may be justly viewed specimen, IN particular pre-
sests phenomenon scarcely again to be found IL is
this; The very summit of a perfectly conIcal noun
tain, about eight hundred feet in height, thus sur
rounded by these multform accumulaoDs, there lies al
the very edge OF the OF the and ncning from
the south side OF II precpice OF nearly SIX hun
dred ieet an enormous stone remarkable for its position
upon mountain eight hundred feet high II measures
forty feet IN height by hundred and twenty feet and
reposes on small base kind OF pedmeni or pedestal
oil only Tour feet IN circumference There ii has been
rocking and balancing itself for ages in defiance of tenn
pests and hurricanes spite OF all the efforts made TO dis
a