the United States by the Government of these

publicly exhibited in Secretary of State in

provinces, and which were 1818 in the office of the Washington. A description of that mine was read in the Society of Physical Sciences of Buenos Ayres, in October 1822, and is printed in the 7th number of a periodical work, entitled La Abeja Argentina, published by the Literary Society of that capital in the same year.

TUCUMAN.

This province is one of the principal of this country, as will be perceived from the following particulars. It is the third which is met with on the road from Buenos Ayres to Upper Peru, and is situated in 27° south latitude, and 66° west longitude. The population of the city is not numerous, consisting of about 10 or 12,000 souls; the province may, however, contain an aggregate of about 40,000, including the inhabitants of the country, and of the following towns or parishes; viz. Monteros, Suares, Chiquiligasta, Rio Chico, Trancas, and Burroyaco, each of which contain minor parishes. Its territorial extent is no more than from 58 to 60 leagues from south to north, and 50 from east to west. This town was one of the most famous during the war of Independence in its vicinity a brilliant victory was obtained in 1812 over the Spaniards, and,

ever since that event, Tucuman is called-The Grave of Tyranny. Generally speaking, in that city the Patriotic armies were organized, which, during the whole revolutionary war, carried on operations in Upper Peru. About five cuadras from the city, in the plain which is called Del Honor, a citadel was constructed, after that victory, with large internal quarters, and rooms for officers. But what principally makes it eminent in the history of the revolution is, that in Tucuman was drawn up by the General Congress, in the year 1816, the declaration of the right of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata to become absolutely independent, as well of Spain as of every other foreign power, which had only been the case, de facto, since the 25th May, 1810. The inhabitants of both sexes are affable, amiable, hospitable, honourable in their dealings, and also addicted to labour. This province possesses means of becoming one of the most flourishing in the two most prolific departments of the wealth of this part of America, namely, by feeding of cattle, and agriculture, but chiefly in the last mentioned. The rice, called de castilla, grows here in abundance, and of a superior quality; the country likewise produces wheat, maize, ground pistachionuts, and tobacco, of which thousands of bales are exported to Cordova, San Luis, San Juan, Mendoza, and other cities. Also oranges, which

are equal in size and flavour to those of Paraguay and of Brazil; water-melons, melons, onions, &c. which are esteemed, not only on account of their flavour, but their quantity and size. Potatoes, which are there called camotes, grow to such an immense bulk, that one of seven pounds is by no means the heaviest. In the vicinity of a beautiful elevated tract which lies in this province, excellent cheese is made, which is distinguished by the name of Cheese of Tafi, and is exported in great quantities to Buenos Ayres, where it is much esteemed and sold at a high price. There are also tanneries for hides, which are principally consumed in Buenos Ayres; several water-mills to grind wheat, machines for husking rice, and some to grind it by water. The women occupy themselves, besides their domestic avocations, in weaving cotton and woollen stuffs, the materials for which are prepared in the place itself. To the west of the city is a delightful mountain, the summit of which is covered at all seasons of the year with snow, whence sixteen rivers, some of them of note, descend to fertilize and beautify the territory, and all of which united form the river of Santiago del Estero, of which mention has been made in treating of the city of that name. Along all the lower parts of this mountain are immense masses of trees, and among them many of bitter oranges. The city is sur

rounded by these woody masses, which occupy a space of fifteen leagues. The trees grow very high, and so thick that seven men, laying hold of each other's hands, with difficulty compassed one of them in 1816. The timber is of the best quality used in America. In the years 1811 and 1812, a native of Tucuman, a professor, enumerated fifty-three kinds of useful timber; and in a private cabinet of natural history, belonging to an individual of Buenos Ayres, there are specimens of sixty-four kinds; and lately, among these woods, has been discovered the red ebony wood, (Granadillo,) so much valued in Europe. In a place known by the name of Yerba Buena, there is a considerable mass, consisting entirely of orange trees, and at the bottom of the hill on which they grow, a quantity of springs and streams of most excellent water. The inhabitants of Tucuman derive great emolument from these woods, principally in the building of carts for transport, which in the country are called Carretas; some of which of the larger size are employed in conveying all articles of commerce from Buenos Ayres, drawn by vicunna; and others, drawn by horses, serve for the interior traffic of the cities.

T

CATAMARCA.

This is a city of inferior importance, and is situated about 60 leagues south-east of Tucuman. It was founded 143 or 144 years ago, and is situated in a beautiful valley, which takes the same name as the city-The Valley of Catamarca. Its temperature is of the most genial kind; and its territorial extent somewhat more than 100 leagues, from one extremity to the other, in the two principal directions. The city scarcely contains a population of 4500 souls; but the inhabitants throughout its jurisdiction may be estimated at 35,000, including in that number those of the towns of Piedra Blanca, Sierra del Alto, Sierra de Ancasti, Tinogasta, Santa Maria, Bellen, the population of which is more than 1200 souls, and other inferior places. The feeding of cattle appears till now to have been the principal business of the natives, although, from all accounts, the province possesses every requisite to become an agricultural country. Vicunnas, sheep, and mares, are bred here, and exported in droves on foot to other cities. It also carries on a very regular trade with Upper Peru, by means of mules. But the most valuable production of that territory is cotton; of a quality which, in the opinion of the most intelligent persons, is not surpassed by any in the world. The quantity raised has hitherto