name is identified with all the material interests of the country. The Araza estancia has a population of 250 souls, including several Irish and German families. On this estancia we find the lagoons of Campamento, Salada, Lastra, and Troncosa.

The Saenz Valiente estancia is at the Rincon de Lopez, between the Rio Salado and the sea-board, with a coast line eight leagues in length. There are some large montes, called Riojaños Grandes and Riojanos Chicos, besides that of San Antonio. There are two passes across the Rio Salado, communicating with the Miguens estancias in the partido of Biedma; they are called Las Piedras and El Rubio Tiburcio, the latter about four leagues up from the mouth of the Salado.

Don Martin Alzaga has a large estate at La Postrera, on the Rio Salado: the estancia-house is a fine building, surrounded with a natural plantation of tala trees. The lands are washed by the Salado for four leagues, and there are four passes across the river, viz.: Postrera, Conchas, Villar, and Callejon. It is proposed to put a bridge over the river, which will be a great gain to all the districts lying southward. In the far south of this estancia is a large lagoon called Lake Almiron.

The partido of Castelli, though comparatively little known, has an institution that other wealthier districts cannot boast of, namely, an orphan asylum. This is partly supported by Government, partly by the local revenues, and partly by the neighbors: it was founded by Don Federico Martinez de Hoz, the present, Justice of Peace, and is under the dedication of Santa Isabel: there are 18 boys and 16 girls, who are cared and educated by a master and his wife.

Tordillo.

Situate about forty leagues S.E. of Buenos Ayres, has an area of fortysix square leagues, and comprises ten estancias. The estancias comprised

Previous to the new demarcation of 1864 this partido had an area of 100 square leagues, comprehending the territory which now forms the district of Castelli.

The partido lies along the coast, in a S.E. direction, for a distance of six leagues, from the Arroyo de Vivoras to the Cañada de Ajó, all which territory belongs to Don Tomas Anchorena. Going inland we find about five leagues from the coast the forest of Tordillo, which extends S.E. from the town of Dolores for a length of six leagues. Most of the Anchorena property is low and marshy, but inland there is a gentle slope running due south. The estancias of Vallejo, Ramirez, and Morete are on the borders of the Tordillo wood: those of Laferrière, Madrid, and Boer are adjacent to the Cañada de Ajó, and near its mouth is a small holding belonging to one Fulcos. The land is valued at $250,000 per square league. The returns of valuation, stock, population, &c., are according to the old division of the partidos. The total landed valuation in 1865 was $12,000,000, against $6,000,000 in 1862. Coutribucion tax, $18,000. Stock returns-85,874 cows, 32,280 horses, 4,800 fine sheep, 150,830 mestiza sheep, 15,300 creole sheep, and 1,425 swine. There are 10 houses and 725 ranchos, including 58 pulperias. Population-1,048 Argentines, 22 Spaniards, 16 English, 21 Italians, 4 French, 3 Germans, 2 various, 1 Indian: total 1,117. The foreign settlers have, however, much increased since the above returns. There are 6 alcaldes, 12 tenientes, 9 police, and 410. National Guards. As yet there is no attempt to establish a town in this partido. Municipal revenue $24,000. Justice of Peace, Don Mariano Mendiburo. The western part of this partido is only four leagues from the town of Dolores. Some land in this partido was sold by auction in the early part of 1869 at $150,000 me per league.

Ajó.

Situate forty-six leagues S.E. of Buenos Ayres, has an area of 103 square leagues.

The partido has a coast-line of 20 leagues from the port of Tuyu, round Cape San Antonio, to the Montes Grandes beyond the Saladas lakes. The lands here have been settled in the last few years, and are now overstocked; several people have moved off with their flocks for the Sierra Baudrix and other places. The principal estancia is that of Gibson Bros., which goes by the name of Los Ingleses: it lies between the Arroyo de Ajó and San

Clemente on the sea-board. The town and port of Tuyú, otherwise called Lavalle, is on this ground: the town consists of a wooden church, three wooden houses and five or six pulperias. Gibson's estancia is often visited by strangers from England: the stock comprises over 60,000 sheep, and the establishment is conducted in a most orderly manner. The estate has a diversified superficies, the parts near the sea being low and marshy, while those inland have some thick montes, such as Zalazar, Palenque, and Cisneros: there are also some lagoons, and besides the Arroyo de Ajó are the smaller streams of San Clemente and Fijëras. This fine property covers over 50,000 acres English, and there is a good number of our countrymen here.

The partido comprises the following estancias:

Mr. Gilmour's estancia forms the Rincon de Ajó, between the cañada of the same name and the port of Tuyú. It is much smaller than the Gibson estate, but also worthy of a visit: Mr. Gilmour has another property at Cañada de Boreja, also in this partido. The Leloir territory lies along the ocean, at Cape San Antonio, about seven leagues in length by two in width the surface is diversified by sand hills called Medanos del Plata, sundry lagoons and cañadas, and a dense thicket at the Rincon de Carnero. Messrs. Leloir have 60,000 sheep.

Six leagues inland is the large estancia of the Pardo family; it is a quadrangle, four leagues on each side: the camps are wild, woody, and thinly settled; southward is a hill called Espuela Verde, and there is a

lagoon called Dos Talitas. The adjoining estancias of Don Juan B. Peña were formerly in this partido, but they are not included in the new demarcation. Manuel José Cobo's lands stretch along the sea-board, from Cape San Antonio to Montes Grandes, and are bounded westward by the Saladas lakes; this property is about seven leagues long by two and a-half wide, and contains the lagoons of La Limpia, Barrancosa, and Mate, and the arroyos of Espiritos, and Cangrejal. The coast-line from Medano Blanco to Rincon de Hormito consists of sand hills. Most of the inner parts of the country are covered with woods. The land in this partido is valued at $150,000 per square league. Total valuation $17,000,000, against $10,000,000 in 1861. Contribucion tax $68,000. Stock returns-164,970 cows, 34,669 horses, 920 fine sheep, 579,234 mestiza sheep, and 78,533 creole sheep; being an average of 1,600 cows, 350 horses, and 7,000 sheep per square league. There are 30 chacras, covering an aggregate of 1,500 acres. Population-2,498 Argentines, 97 English, 92 Italians, 66 French, 84 Spaniards, 30 Germans, 55 various: total 2,922. There are 132 houses and 668 ranchos, including 36 pulperias. There are 6 alcaldes, 30 tenientes, 12 police, and 346 National Guards.

The port of Tuyú or Lavalle, is good for coasting craft, being just two leagues up the Ajó river, from the ocean: the trade returns show seventyfour vessels arrived during the year, with an aggregate tonnage of 3,079 tous. It is very convenient for passenger and goods traffic from Buenos Ayres to this part of the south, as the journey overland is much more tedious and expensive. There are two graserias here doing a large business, and the neighbors speak very highly of the proprietors for honorable and straightforward dealing. At Messrs. Rubio's office all information as to sai ing of vessels can be obtained.

Tuyú is 38 leagues S.S.E. of Ensenada, 17 S. of the mouth of the Rio Salado, 12 E.S.E. of Dolores, and W. of the ocean at Cape San Antonio. Justice of Peace, Don Gervacio Garcia.

Tuyệ.

Situate about sixty leagues S.S.E. of Buenos Ayres, is a new and thinly settled district, nearly 100 square leagues in area. It extends along the Atlantic for twelve leagues, from Montes Grandes to Mar Chiquita, with au average width of eight leagues.

LL

These lands were formerly included in the department of Monsalvo, and the partido is not yet fully organised; there is neither Justice of Peace, municipality, township, curate, schools, nor church, and it is necessary not to confound this partido with the town of the same name in the district of Ajó. We have no returns of population, stock, or other statistics. The land is valued at $250,000 per square league: total valuation, $22,000,000; Contribucion tax, $88,000.

Alzaga's estancia of Montes Grandes extends southward from the Saladas lagoons, along the sea-board as far as Monte Oliva on the borders of Leloir's estancia. The country is wild and thickly wooded; there are numerous lagoons, and the coast-line consists of sand-hills. Leloir's lands are bare and desolate; the Arroyo Chico flows through the southern part, which goes by the name of La Argentina. The rest of the coast-line is occupied by Anchorena's lands near the Laguna de Gongora; the Arroyo Gallinas also waters this part of the district. Messrs. Anchorena have another and larger estancia west of Montes Grandes: it lies between Isla Redonda and Laguna Mostazas. The estancias of Lastra, Subiaurre, and Peña, lie between Montes Grandes and the borders of Monsalvo. Madame Anchorena de Aguirre has a large property at the Tres Lomas; Treiles Brothers at Los Patos; the Herrera family at Avestruces: all these are in a southerly direction near Mar Chiquita. The estancias near Montes Grandes are famed for raising the best creole horses in the country, and Don Benjamin Subiaurre is said to have 500 tame horses on his land. Montes Grandes derives its name from the thick forest that covers this part of the country.

Mar Chiquita.

Situate about seventy-five leagues south of Buenos Ayres, is another large and newly-settled district, with an area of about 110 square leagues.