ments also for rearing vicunnas and sheep, where they collect great quantities of hides and skins, which they export to Buenos Ayres. The women of the most needy class weave some of the stuffs commonly used in the interior and exterior consumption by persons of the labouring community. On this road the territory of Cordova is the best stocked with important rivers, which are known by the numerical appellations of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, &c. &c.; and of which the 3rd appears to be the principal. In 1804, and in 1810, attempts were made to remove the trifling impediments obstructing its navigation to the river la Plata, inasmuch as it disembogues itself into the Paraná, and small vessels had often gone as far as its principal pass, which is distant about 25 leagues from the city of Cordova. But, although neither of these two attempts effected their object, at present it is one of the grand plans which occupy the attention of the Government of Buenos Ayres, and with great prospect of success. That navigation would facilitate the means of export, not only for the productions of Cordova, but also of Mendoza, San Juan, and other towns nearer to the 3rd river than to the Bermejo.

RIOJA.

This is one of the least important cities we have yet mentioned. It is situated 290 leagues

from Buenos Ayres, and 114 from Cordova, on one side of the road leading to Peru; and in 30 degrees of latitude, and 311 of longitude. Its territorial jurisdiction, according to the latest information, extends about 140 or 150 leagues from east to west, as far as the ridge of the Andes which separates it from Chile, and 130 or 140 from north to south. The population of the city is little more than 3000 souls; and the inhabitants of the whole territory may form a total of 20,000. The province is divided into four great departments; named, Los Llanos, Aranco, Famatina, and Guandacol. Hitherto, grazing appears to have been the object most attended to by the inhabitants; and it is affirmed that, with the exception of very few places, the generality of the towns and villages have establishments near them for the breeding of all kinds of cattle, without excluding the vicunna, which they also possess. Nevertheless, they have vines, and make wines and brandies, although in smaller quantities than in Mendoza and San Juan, and also of inferior quality. Wheat is produced in some places abundantly, as is the case with fruits and vegetables, which grow in sufficient quantities for home consumption. But Rioja has now begun to attract an equal attention to that paid for so many years to Potosi, in another part of America, on account of the famous mine called Famatina,

which lies, according to a description of it lately given, 35 leagues to the west of Rioja, in the department bearing its name. It is believed, and with sufficient reason, that in this mine, the extent of which in length and breadth is very considerable, not only gold and silver are to be met with, but also various other metals, which the inhabitants have not been able to classify on account of their deficiency in scientific knowledge. Those which have been discovered up to the present time, are silver ore, mixed with lead (plomo ronco); red gold ore (rosicler); silver ore, consisting of brown oxid of iron, and native silver (paco); sulphurated, and indigo-coloured silver ore. -Accounts received from Rioja state, that in the vicinity of this mine there is wood, pasturage, water, and every requisite for breeding cattle. It is also asserted, that, independent of Famatina, there are other mines in the Llanos, which is one of the four departments into which the territory of Rioja is divided.

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO.

This city is met with after leaving Cordova, and travelling by the road which goes to Upper Peru. It has been founded about 274 years, and is situated in 27° 28', south latitude. The city is thinly peopled, but the number of inhabitants within its territorial jurisdiction may be computed

at about 50,000. It is one of the most fertile of these provinces, and is of great extent in all directions. In the country, where the language generally spoken is the Guichua, there are nine curacies or parishes, denominated Silipica, Loreto, Guanajasta, Soconcho, Salavina, Mulacorral, Rio Salado, Petacas, and Sumampa, where there is a chapel destined solely for the conversion and subsequent instruction of the Pagan Indians on the frontier, called Abipones; which, although greatly injured by the repeated attacks of these barbarians, is one of the best of those which were built under the influence of the Jesuits. Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants of this country. Wheat produces eighty fold; although, to raise so prolific a crop, little or no art is employed. All kinds of grain may there be brought to perfection, and to become an advantageous export branch of commerce. At present grain is found in abundance; and yet the inhabitants, although aware of the profit they might derive from the circumstance, turn it to no manner of account. The same is the case with their honey, wax, saltpetre, and other articles of equal importance. They make woollen stuffs, such as are consumed in the interior, and exported to other cities, for the use of the poorer classes. The territory possesses various kinds of timber, and particularly the carob tree (Algarrobo). In

the country there are several rivulets and lakes; and in the immediate vicinity of the city runs a river, called The River of Santiago, the origin of which will be found detailed in the description of Тиситап.

It is worthy of remark, that the inhabitants of the country, while they remain in their respective districts, evince the greatest disinclination to labour, although every year 800 or 1000 of the natives of Santiago del Estero go spontaneously to seek employment in the other provinces, two, three, and four hundred leagues distant from their home, principally during the wheat-harvest, as they are allowed to be the best reapers in the United Provinces. In general they all find employment; and, after concluding their tasks, return to their own province with the produce of their labour. In that country, there is also abundance of vicunnas, sheep, and mares. The proximity of Santiago del Estero to the Great Chaco, a territory inhabited by savages, where there is an important mine of native iron, will, in time, afford its inhabitants a very productive employment for their labourers and capitalists. Already, since the revolution, several parcels of the ore have been extracted; and it is worthy of remark, that, in the manufactory of fire-arms at Buenos Ayres, a pair of pistols were made from it in 1815, which were presented to the President of