partly explain the circumstance? We thus have lines of
richly-manured land serving as channels of communication
across wide districts.
Near the Guardia we find the southern limit of two
European plants, now become excessively common. The
fennel in great profusion covers the ditch banks in the
neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, and other
towns. But the cardoon [Cyrmra carduncultts)* has a far
wider range : it occurs in these latitudes on both sides of the
Cordillera, across the continent. I saw it in unfrequented
spots in Chile, Entre Rios, and Banda Oriental. In the
latter country alone, very many (probably several hundred)
square miles are covered by one mass of these prickly plants,
and are impenetrable by man or beast. Over the undulating
plains, where these great beds occur, nothing else can live.
Before their introduction, however, I apprehend the surface
supported as in other parts a rank herbage. I doubt
whether any case is on record, of an invasion on so grand a
scale of one plant over the aborigines. As I have already
said, I nowhere saw the cardoon south of the Salado; but
it is probable that in proportion as that country becomes
inhabited, the cardoon will extend its limits. The case is
different with the giant thistle (with variegated leaves) of the
Pampas, for I met with it in the valley of the Sauce. According
to the principles so well laid down by Mr. Lyell,
* D ’O rb ig n y (v o l. i., p . 4 7 4 ) , s ay s t b a t th e c a rd o o n a n d a r tic h o k e a re
b o th fo u n d wild. D r . H o o k e r (B o ta n ic a l M a g az in e , v o l. Iv., p . 2 8 6 2 ) ,
h a s d e s c r ib e d a v a rie ty o f th e C y n a r a from th is p a r t o f S o u th A m e ric a
u n d e r th e n am e o f inermis. H e s ta te s t h a t b o ta n is ts a r e n ow g e n e ra lly
a g re e d t h a t th e c a rd o o n a n d th e a rtic h o k e a r e v a rie tie s o f o n e p la n t . I
m a y ad d , t h a t a n in te llig e n t f a rm e r a s su re d m e, h e h a d o b se rv e d in
a d e s e r te d g a rd e n , som e a rtic h o k e s c h a n g in g in to th e c om m o n c a rd o o n .
D r . H o o k e r b e liev e s th a t H e a d ’s v iv id d e s c r ip tio n o f th e th is tle o f th e
P am p a s a p p lie s to th e c a rd o o n ; b u t th is is a m is ta k e . C a p ta in H e a d
re f e r re d to th e p la n t, w h ic h 1 h a v e m e n tio n e d a few lin e s low e r d own ,
u n d e r th e t i t l e o f g ia n t th is tle . W h e th e r i t is a t r u e th is tle I d o n o t
k n ow ; b u t i t is q u i te d iff e re n t from th e c a rd o o n , a n d m o re lik e a th is tle
p ro p e r ly so cu lled .
few countries have undergone more remarkable changes, since
the year 1535, when the first colonist of La Plata landed with
seventy-two horses. The countless herds of horses, cattle,
and sheep, not only have altered the whole aspect of the
vegetation, but they have almost banished the guanaco, deer,
and ostrich. Numberless other changes must hkewise have
taken p lace; the wild pig in some parts probably replaces the
peccari; packs of wild dogs may be heard howling on the
wmoded banks of the less frequented streams; and the common
cat, altered into a large and fierce animal, inhabits rocky
hills. I have alluded to the invasion of the cardoon: in a
like manner, the islands near the mouth of the Parana, are
thickly clothed with peaches and orange-trees, springing from
seeds carried there by the waters of the river.
While changing horses at the Guardia, several people
questioned us much about the army,—I never saw any thing
like the enthusiasm for Rosas, and for the success of the
“ most just of all wars, because against barbarians.” This
expression it must be confessed is very natural, for till lately,
neither man, woman, nor horse, was safe from the attacks of
the Indians. We had a long day’s ride over the same rich
green plain abounding with various flocks, and with here and
there a solitary estancia, and its one ombii tree. In the evening
it rained heavily : on arriving at a post-house, w’e were
told by the owner that if we had not a regular passport we
must pass on, for there were so many robbers he would trust
no one. When he read, however, my passport, which
began with “ El Naturalista Don Carlos, &c.” his respect
and civility were as unbounded, as his suspicions had been
before. What a naturalist may be, neither he nor his
countrymen, I suspect, had any idea; but probably my title
lost nothing of its value from that cause.
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 t h .— We arrived by the middle of the day
at Buenos Ayres. The outskirts of the city looked quite
pretty, with the agave hedges, and groves of olive, peach,
and wiUow trees, all just throwing out their fresh green leaves.
I rode to the house of Mr. Lumb, an English merchant, to
t a
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