The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-02-09
tLetter to the Edgcfleld ohronicle.)

(LctUef 10 JtlC Ent5CllClu CntOnlCl0.)
STEAMER SAN MARTIN, ON THE PARANA
RIVER, September 3, 18S7.-Five days
ago, just as your summer began to wane,
and our spring to set in, we quilted
Montevideo in tho beautiful steamer
"Farfaletta, and sped GO miles across
the great bay which forms tho mouth of
the Rio de Ia Plata, to Buenos Ayres,
the immense and magnificent capital Of
the Argentine Republic, of which inter
esting city Twill give you somo account
in future letter. Here, after q night
and day, we take larger steamer, the
"San Martin" bound for Assuncion, the
capital of Paraguay, 1000 up the river,
In the extreme heart of South America.
First, as this mammoth river ncars the
sea, it is called tho Rio do 10 Plata; q
hundred miles farther up, it becomes
the Parana; and FINELY it divides into
two great streams, one keeping the namo
Parana, the other taking that Of Para
quay. AS wo steam, rather slowly, up
into the land of the monkey and boa
constructor, scat myself on the deck of
tho ''San Martin" to writc you letter.
The first three days Of our Journey up
the Parana are rather monotonous. The
waters continue turbid and muddy, and
the shores mostly barren and woOdless,
given up to huge herds of cattle which
8razo on the natural growth, and with
but few signs of cultivation. We pass
several hourishing towns, the most
notable being Rosario, recently and
rapidly developed into city Of 60, GOO
inhabitants, many Of them English, who
have introduced modern comforts and
the luxuries of civilization, gas, tclo-
graph, telephones, tramways, &c., and
founded Protestant church. IL is also
the focus of tho most extensive railroad
system south of tho Isthmus Of Panama,
and the commercial centre of the sur
rounding country. There is largo
foundry at Rosario, belonging to an
American, besides two others, and facto-
rles, saw mills, breweries, hospitals.
libraries and schools of note. The schools
arc undcr the direction Of IN American
lady, who is appointed Superintendent
OF public instruction, WAS brought out
by the Argentine Government, and re-
ccives salary Of $3, 600 YEAR, q house
and dperquisites.
The next city Of Importance is Parana,
once the capital of the Argentine Repub-
lie. Its old government buildings, now
coffee houses, stand out on tho elevated
ridge in snowy array. On the opposite
bank, miles distant, con be seen Santa
te (holy faith) one of the oldest towns
on the River Plata, once Jesuit centre.
Further up the river, Bella Vista shines
out, worthy of its name, where white
houses and orange trees crown the high
cliffs, which overlook the mighty river,
whose grandeur and beauty now begin
to strike tho most casual observer. Tho
glossy lcaved orange groves increase,
varied by lighter foliage of water oak
and willow, with q few picturesque palms
here and thcro. Tho water seems to cx-
pand into succession of limpid lakes,
whose shores and islands minglc, with q
continual change of scenery, as we glide
along our tranquil course, now aud then
meating various craft and sails.
The fifth morning of our voyage finds
us before tho quaint old Spanish town
of Corrientes, settled in 1883 by tho
planting OF the Holy Cross Of the Jesuits.
LIT presents charming picture as we ap-
proach, tho steeples and towers of to-
four churches and the columns of public
buildings glistening under the dazzling
rays of South American sun. Cor
rientes was formerly Jesuit stronghold,
and relics of that fearless and indefatiga-
bic sect are still pointed out. Tho mas
sive doors of the "Madriz" wero carved
by the friars out of hard Paraguayan
wood, nearly three hundred years ago,
and are, even now, as solid and hard ag
iron. There arc also an organ and altar
ornaments mado by the same friars
This city is 852 miles from Bucnos
Ayres, and receives its namo from the
many currents uniting here. Even at
this great distance from it's mouth, this
immense river is said to be threo miles
wide.
10 the right we now leave tho Parana,
which extends to the shores Of Brazil,
while we pursue the Paraguay, noble
and beautiful stream. Here we begin to
notea q decided change in scenery wrought
by our 800 miles voyage from south to
north, and nearer approach to the
tropics. On the eastern shore VIC behold
the dense cool forests of Paraguay, with
it's woods of brushy, outspreadinp
branches, varicgated with sparing foliage
of lighter hue, and pink blooming trees
LA Bracho) and the yellow Quabracho
whose hard wood mover rOts. There arc
guaVas and bamDOos, and exquisite pam
pas grasses covered with thousands OF
teathery blooms, and palms and palmct.
tos and plantains.
The western shore, which presents q
striking contrast, is bordercd by low
bushes and abundant grasses, for here
stretches back for hundreds Of miles
from the waters edge, to tho great Andes
cordillera, the "Grand ChncO, =" the great
unexplored region of South Amcricn,
whose mysteries, from the days of Soils,
have baflled the most adventurous traY,
elers, and from whose "undiscovcred
bourne" but few have returned. For the
most part, the "Grand Chaco" is dense
forest, but, in the vicinity of great
rivers, is low and swampy. Thougl
nominally belonging, chiefly, to tic
Argentine Republic, it is still in posses
sion of the native fierce tribes of In
Na, as we'll as other native animals ot
laeses. However, L look in vairf
8ild beasts and birds, monkeys anC
constrictOrsI / discover nothing
81 % strange or formidable than slimS
cfocodiles, which slip into thoir watorJ
beds as we puff and steam along, and al
occasional wild hog (carpen choro)
There are also Immensely tall long Legged
L.. II