These men have by law the status of marine police agents in matters relating to their profession. They are obliged when entering a ship to inform the captain as to the navigation laws, the police regulations of the rivers and roads, the system of lights during the night, signals during hazy weather, &c. All pilots are provided with the river police rules, in which their duties are set forth, and rules for navigation laid down whether for night or day, sailing or steam vessels, in order to avoid collisions or other accidents. These rules are printed in five languages, Spanish, French, English, German, and Dutch, for the convenience of navigators, and a copy can be had free at the Port Captain's by any captain or master of a vessel, in order that he may not be able to plead ignorance. It is not laid down by the rules what remuneration the pilots should receive for their services, which is arranged by the pilots themselves every year, at a meeting held for the purpose, and the tariff once agreed upon it is shown to the Port Captain for his sanction. The tariff at present is more moderate than it has been for some years, as are also the port dues. In 1833 a foreign ship of 300 tons and fifteen feet draught of water, bound for Buenos Ayres, with cargo paid

Pilotage and entrance dues from the Punto del Indio, $420

These enormous expenses frightened away foreign ships. A pilot from Montevideo to the Punto del Indio cost $700; but has since been immensely reduced.

THE RIACHUELO.

This rivulet forms a canal where the rain water from the surrounding flats runs into, and to which the waters of the River Plate penetrate during ordinary tides. Its principal mouth, for it has two, is about a mile S.E. of Buenos Ayres. If by dredging and other hydraulic works, the Riachuelo was a little improved upon, it would, no doubt, be the real port of the

capital. Notwithstanding its shallow entrance and the obstructions of the banks, it is the general refuge of small craft; and once inside there is complete shelter for all necessary operations. Inside the Riachuelo there is from fourteen to seventeen feet at low water, but on the bar there is often not more than three and a-half feet, hence vessels drawing more than ten and a-half feet have to wait for a risen river to enter. In this natural port there is a spacious wharf on its left bank, where the numerous coasting vessels discharge and take in their cargoes. On its right banks are the saladeros, from whence are shipped the staple products of the country, such as wool, hides, tallow, &c. Of course, there are also numerous shops and taverns providing for the wants of the numerous maritime population. Here also small vessels are hauled up for repairs of all kind. The greatest inconvenience of the Riachuelo is the putrid state of its waters in summer, owing to the refuse from the saladeros, the stench being overpowering in warm weather. Years ago there have been projects for the canalization of the Riachuelo, so as to admit ships of all sizes, and the cutting out of docks in its adjacent flats; and in February, 1869, President Sarmiento directed the Government engineer to draw up plans for cleansing the mouth of the Riachuelo.

THE BARRACAS.

This is a point further inland on the Riachuelo, two miles from its mouth, from whence there are two roads to the city, and in connection with one of which a bridge spans the river. Its inhabitants are dependent on the neighboring saladeros and produce warehouses. It is now connected with the city by the Boca and Southern railways.

ENSENADA DE LOS OLIVOS.

On passing the Retiro Point, which is the northern limit of the port of Buenos Ayres, and where the present gasworks are situated, the coast recedes to the west, and forms the bay called as above, having its northern limit at Point Olivos or San Isidro, distant nine miles from the Retiro, bearing N. 40 deg. W.

POINT SAN ISIDRO.

This is a «barranca» of some sixty-eight feet high. Along this coast, about two miles to the west of Buenos Ayres, may be seen the celebrated palace of Rosas, called Palermo, where the Dictator used to reside in the summer months. Some two and a-half miles further on may also be seen the fashionable rising town of Belgrano. The coast is very shallow, and the

canal narrow.

PALERMO BANK.

Is a sandbank in the Ensenada de los Olivos, and near which the rivulet Cobos discharges its waters into the Plate. The towns of San Isidro and San Fernando are close to. The first of these is abreast of Point Olivos or San Isidro, two miles inland, and numbers a good many inhabitants. San Fernando is distant two miles to the N.W. from the former, and is equally well populated. When the new wharves are completed, the port of San Fernando will be of much importance.

RIVER CONCHAS.

Its mouth is about four miles distant from Point San Isidro, bearing N.W. one-quarter W. This river has sufficient water in it during the rising of the tides in the Plate to admit coasting vessels of all classes, numbers of which abandon their anchorage in the roads of Buenos Ayres during S.E. gales to take refuge here. Yet it requires practical experience of the place to run in safely, as the channels wind through the great bank of Playa Honda, and the soundings are very irregular near the coast. There is a good anchorage, with eighteen feet of water, in front of the coast of San Isidro, but it requires pilotage to reach it.

LAS CONCHAS.

Is a small town, similar to the previous ones mentioned, situated on the right bank of the river of same name, about three miles inland. Its inhabitants cultivate their lands and rear cattle. The Tigre may be called its port; a place of rising importance and already described.

DELTA OF THE PARANÁ.

Past the river Conchas the coast stretches to the northward, and its aspect is entirely changed. Low islands, covered with wood, and hemmed in by the great flat of Palmas or Playa Honda, which stretches out twenty miles to the S.E., having one end in the bay of Olivos and the outer roads of Buenos Ayres, and the other at the entrance to the Uruguay, even as far as Martin Garcia. All this accumulation of islands and banks constitute the Delta of the Paraná.

PARANÁ DE LAS PALMAS.

Between the many islands mentioned above are the channels by which the waters of the Paraná enter the Plate. These channels are arms of the river, and their entrances bear separate names, the most prominent ones of which are the Capitan, Mini, and the Palmas, the latter being of good

extent.

This is the name for the principal entrance to the Paraná, distant twentyfive miles from the river Conchas, bearing N.N.E. It is the only channel by which large vessels enter the upper river. The other channels, even when there is sufficient water, are narrow and tortuous, and hence are only frequented by coasters well acquainted with their windings.

LARA AND SANTIAGO BANKS.

These are to the E. and E.N.E. of Point Lara, and to the N. of Santiago. It is not safe to pass between these two banks, as there is scarcely twelve feet of water. There is but little difference on the outer bank, it having some nine feet all over. The bay of Barrangan will be found between the banks near Points Lara and Santiago.

QUILMES BANK.

On passing Point Lara the S.E. end of this bank commences, and stretches abreast of Buenos Ayres, hence one end is called the Quilmes Bank, and the other end the City Bank. It is of sand, or sand and mud, which the lead will indicate sufficiently distinct.

PAMPEROS.

In the River Plate, this is the name for the strong winds which come from W. to S.S.W., and so called from their coming over the great plains called Pampas. They may be classified into two categories-local pamperos and general pamperos. The first is of short duration, and even when it blows strong the sky is clear. The general pampero, on the contrary, comes in squalls and gusts. They have their origin in the Andes mountains, and are the great storms of these latitudes. These are the pamperos proper, called <«<dirty>> in the country, and generally lasting three days. In the first hours, particularly after noon, the pampero is most tempestuous, accompanied by rain and thunder; but when the sky clears, a fresh breeze follows, with fine weather. When the pamperos come in force they last sometimes for fifteen or twenty days, and vessels lying in for the river are much knocked about by the heavy sea which they raise. When the wind shifts to the S. or S.E. and E. in general it becomes clear then, and good weather is established.

But though the pampero is stormy and to be dreaded, it is not so terrible or dangerous as the S.E. gales. If a vessel caught by such a gale is obliged to enter the river, there is no other resource than the anchors, close to a bank, if possible, but even close on shore there is no alternative. As the S.E. gales always bring rainy cloudy weather with them, it is difficult for the navigator to make his port. If a vessel is thus caught outside the river, and not very far, she is in danger of being driven on the coast of Castillos. Thus it is a S.E. gale is more to be feared than a pampero, and experience shows that the wrecks nearly always are caused by winds from the second quarter.

The Approach of a Pampero.

Coming from Europe these winds are not generally met with until.lat. 30 deg. or 32 deg. S. is reached. If the wind freshens during the day from N. or N. W, and continues so after mid-day, there is certain change of weather; the change will be a pampero if the wind veers to the fourth quarter, and a mist rises, with lightning in the S. or S.S.W. It is time then to take in sails, and prepare for the squall. The approach of these storms is also indicated by any webs entangling in the shrouds of a ship, by the prevalence of insects brought by the hot winds, by the rise or fall of the river, and the suffocating heaviness of the previous northerly winds. The barometer shows it by a great fall.

The Commencement of a Pampero.

The sudden coming on of a pampero in summer, is during clear weather and a fresh breeze, when a vivid lightning appears in the S.W. If it is daytime, and the squall may be seen coming, or if the wind suddenly shifts to the N.W. or W., and thence to S.W., no time should be lost in making everything ready. A pampero may also come after a calm day and hot weather, and at times follows after strong N.E. winds, when the sky is overclouded.

Duration of a Pampero.

If, after a pampero has set in, the wind is strong from the second quarter, and it continues to rain, it indicates a lengthened duration. The weather will not settle without many squalls from the S W., which will lighten the atmosphere. If, after the rising or setting of the sun, there is a lull in the wind, it denotes a subsidence or change, and though it may blow strong afterwards it will not last long. When a pampero is about to cease, the wind veers to the W., and the atmosphere clears up; the land breeze will take its place if it be morning, if evening then the N.E. or S.E. sea breeze.