Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-21

of pine, oak and fir is singular in q temper
ate zone, but those trees utterly refuse to
grow in Uruguay, though often planted
and nursed by foreigners Within the
last quarter-century the eucalyptus has been
introduced from Australia; and now In the
environs of Montvideo there are hundreds
Of groves and hedges of this ugliest tree on
earth--gaunt, scraggy, worm-dropplng,
their long roots upturning paVements and
foundation walls, and impoverishing the
soil for yards around so that nothing else
will grow in their neighborhood. There is
also tbs algarroba tree, from whose pod the
natives distill q kind of chicha, not at all
like the chicha of Peru and Chile made
from corn, wheat or grapes. The tree Is
said to make excellent timber, and cattle
thrive upon itsleaves and buds. Then there
is the limbo tree, in great demand Tor
canoes, its big trunk, which is generally
hollow, being easily scooped out, when the
rude boat is ready for the fisherman. The
black and white urunday is near relation
to rosewood. furnishing logs often 80 feet
long. It is said to resist decay In most
remarkable manner, posts and beams OF II
remaining sound after two centuries OF use.
It is capable of beautiful polish, as is also
the mimosa and aloe. The quebrache Is
akin to sandal wood; the guayabo is sub
s1itutc lOT DOA WOOu, anu tuo PsAho "a
several varieties furnish the poorer classes
with thatch for their houses. The long,
tough leaves make excellent roofing, she'd
ding rain perfectly.
Spiders, Snakes and Game.
There are no scorpions, centipedes or tar
antulas here to frighten unwary travellers,
but enormous spiders are alarmingly COM
mon, and are said to be venemous The
nn1r loff or
and they are chiefly confined to the stony
lands of Las Minas; and a queer little viper
called "la vivora de Ia Cruz" because on
its head are marks in the form Of cross.
Pumas are found near the Brazilian frontier
and along the banks Of the larger rivers
The ounce pronounced ween-ce), small
tiger, roams the wooded islands, and there
are wildcats, water hogs, tapirs, deer,
foxes and millions of the little armadillos
C'ant-esters," here called mulitas, of 'little
mule" sole remnants of the ancient mas
todons and mylodons. The ostrich (Rhea
Americana), roams the plains. There are
paroquets in the thickets and water fowl on
the lagoons; partridges, quail, several spec
linens of the vulture tribe, and tall, lean,
ruf1ed crows. The streams are full of fish,
and it is asserted that 130 species are found
on the seacoast
Politically, the country is divided into 10
that of Montevideo being
smallest, though it contains one-quarter Of
the total population. The original Indian
element has almost disappeared from Uru-
quay; and so has the negro population,
which at one time was considerable.
Best Civilization of the Continent.
The present mixed race ofUruguayans are
famed for physical beauty, and also for
mora enerov pe-revarence and true courapa
than most South Americans possess Their
of morals is also exceptionally high;
and for commercial integrity hospitality
and refinement and courtesy, tho typical
Montevidian is surpassed by none. Defor-
mites are almost unknown in Uruguay, and
there is hardly mendicant in all the land
an agreeable contrast to the loathsome
and importunate swarm of the blind and
halt, lame and the lazy of other portions of
Spanish-America
During the last two or three decades
number of agricultural colonies have been
established in different parts Of Uruguay,
q Board Of Immigration, and good deal of
money was spent in inducing foreigners to
come here, but pine times out Of ten, soon
as they had realized little money, they
back to Fathcrland to enjoy 1t.
Notable exceptions are the prosperous
Swiss and italian colonists in the province
of Colonia, and the thrifty Basques and
Canary Islanders who have carried agri-
culture to high grade in the department Of
Canelones. OF late years there has been no
direct attempt made to induce immigration,
the Government wisely preferring volun-
tary recruits Of the better sort, though their
numbers be fewer. The prosperous colonies
long ago outgrew the space allotted to them,
H. L.
of public lands, little remains to bestow on
settlers, native or foreign, except at the ex--
orbitant rates demanded by SPECTATORS.
FANNIE B. WARD,