New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-29

uSusIJ COhsiueteu, uut without Suffclent reh-
son, we should find that the distance thence
to the Sierra rs little more than 100 leagues
Before | proceeded to the Sierra | had fre-
cuently heard and laughed at one Of those trivial
little supeTstilous which the gossips OF eyerv
country delight IN circulating |, 10 believed
that Immediately on the arrival of every s.saa.
ger who never be ore has seen the Sierra 1t will
Inialhby rain Let the learned IN meteoroosy
discuss this question II they please can. at
least, throw IN one fact, namely, that for maay
weeks PRIOR 70 my arrival al Sierra, the weather
had been continuously dry | approached the
Sierra In the afternoon when II was decidedly
hne and dry. as the glass would indicate. never
theless. very soon after had reached the Sierrs.
the heavens became covered with sombre clouds
looked above and around, and showers q
thin rain enyeloped the whole range OF the noun
tslrS.
The first sight OF the Sierra il startling. Pa
tigued with long Journeys through Psnpas, which
discourage the heart by their seeming intermina-
bility, while even the eye, which, loves 20 rove
wherever new objects Of interest may be dis
COY cred. becomes satisted-the sudden appear
ance and peculiar aspect OF the Sierra, starting
INTO existence by magic, and stepping forth. as It
were. from the surrounding Pampas TO meet your
approach, strike the traveller with a sensation OF
awe and asionlshment The gigantic eminence,
the Sierra, already rises forth Immediately froA
the surrounding Pampas. alike on the north side
and the south SIDE There can be no doubt that
this Sierra is a single detachment from the Cor
dilleras. which, IN various forms. traverse the
whole Southern Continent OF South America
Generally speaking. 1t is much more remarkable
for its curious formation, than It's hight Tor the
highest point Is not more than between eleven
thousand and twelve thousand feet.
There are, contiguous TO Tandil on the eastern
side, several conical mountains OF sandstone.
which are surrounded by enormous blocks OF the
Ivory fhpm shDAs evident
signs OF the most violent demolition n probably.
former age, and, doubtless, by volcanic action.
Immense heaps OF immense stones are there N
various and curious formations Among this
chaos. OF what | regarded as the dlSolnted com
poneniS of mighty mountains m their throes oi
agony. there Is one which although IN It's general
structure and nature II may BE Justly viewed as
specimen, IN one particular presents a phe-
nomenon scarcely again to be found 1t Is this
on the very summit OF 4 perfectly conlcal moun-
tam about eight hundred feet IN height, thus sur
rounded 10y these multIiOm accumuations, there
lies at the very edge OF the top of the cone, and
lnclinlng from the south side OF It over preci-
pice OF nearly SIX hundred feet an enormous
stone, remarkable for Its position upon a noun
tam eight hundred feet high II measures forty
feet in hight by one hundred and twenty feet, and
reposes on small base. kind of pedIment or
pedestal, OF only four feet IN circumference.
There 1, has been rocking and balancing itself
for ages IN defiance OF tempeSts and hurricanes.
spite OF all the efforts made 10 disturb Its equi-
lbnum by every person who climbs up TO see t.
Unlike a similar stone In Cornwall. which was
thrown down BY naval officer, who at great
cost was made to replace 1t, nearly every strong
wind moves 1t on It's small base, always shifting
1t toward the preclplce and back again. The
north wind particularly, which blows under the
longest side OF 1t, lncllneS It so much, that whea
| viewed u under the action oi the wind, every
one OF our party expected TO see, st every mo
ment, the gigantic mass hurled down the pre-
ciplce.
The whole range OF the Sierra ls, what Is there
called, populated that Is 10 say, It belongs to
various persons, and forms many Estancias.
which are generally situated IN valleys, on the
banks of the numerous small rivers A long and
very hard grass covers the whole district OF the
Sierra The grass Is found there only, and al
though 1t Is the abode Of the great and small game,
which abOunds there, no animal touches II as
food Deer are not numerous there but there
are, Ia abundance, partrdgoS OF various sizes.
woOdcOcks Of several classes ducks and geese
IN great variety, ostrlches, hons foxes. snakes.
The Bui,ta is an armadlllo which lives IN small
holes and appears To require many such habit
tatons. The number of such holes Is so great
that the greatest caution is necessary IN riding
quickly through the valleys. The peiuds Is
another species OF the same class differing from
the former Ohe nmI,ta) IN respect Of 1t being
larger latter, OF lighter color, and covered with
shaggy hair under the belly The petudo IA
found also in the Pampas. and throughout the
South American provinces /, but the tauhta lives
only IN the Sierra. 1t is much esteemed through
out South America on account of the decacy
It's flesh IL may be easily taken IT attacked IN
front while facing you but otherwise It's capture
alive Is extremely difficult and improbable The
lion or puma is only lerOclous when protecting its
young ieroclty sprnglng solely from It's natu
raj affection for the young. This Is strongly
exempllhed IN Its behaviour while hunted
under circumstances which do not excite the
protective energies of its natural affection Pur-
sued by the dexterOus Guachos, mounted On
horseback, II is singular spectacle to behold an
animal so powerful, when hOtly pressed, after
swift and perhaps long pursuit, suddenly lie down,
turn his head IN the direction opposite ~ that OF
its pursuer, like dog expecting to receive the
whip OF his MASTER or, as II having resolved
upon an unconditional surrender, thus places
itself Ia the best possible position 10 be enmeshed
in the tolls Of the asso. OF course the Guachc
throws the neyer.enlng lasso over the willing
neck of the lion, thus crouchIng-a single turn
OF his horse and the wretched beast dies In
deed, few wild animals IN this country can be
designated "game, IN the sporting sense. Par
trdges are almost easily 10 be captured In
the districts Of the Sierra scarcely a fowng-
piece is to be found. Mounted on old horses
the older the better, because 1t Is desirable that
when you dlsmOunt, tor the purpose OF your
"sport" your horse should remain standlng-you
proceed, in company, armed with only long
stuck. You will soon find yourself among
lnnumerabe coveys You get of your horses
this movement may cause some OF them 10
rise a little but it Is rather probable that
neither the approach Of yourselves, on horse
back, nor the subsequent movements OF your DIS
mounting, have had any other effect on the part
ridges than causing few Of them Just to run
little farther of at their ordinary pedestrian
speed Even if one or two should take the
trouble 10 fly, do not fancy the birds will escape
YOU they do not wish to escape, and only hys
little way TO save themselves the trouble OF
walking; they soon fall again. only little way
of As you approach, one or twO may choose 10
exert a few more flaps OF their wings, and there
fore fy few PAGES further You may be sure
none OF them Will take that trouble third time,
.om q secnnd Ann annrnach s0On as one