The highest peak of the Ventana range, by Fitzroy's measurement is 3,350 feet above the level of the sea, from which it is distant forty-five miles: it is 2,500 feet above the level of the surrounding plain. Parish mentions a small stream flowing between the ranges of Ventana and Curamalal, which bears the name of Ingles-Malhuida, from the circumstance of an Englishman having been put to death here by the Indians.

The partido comprises the following estancias:---

Name.

Vasquez, family,

Elizalde,

....

The sixteen estancias marked with an asterisk are public lands, the holders having only a squatter's right.

The new town of Olabarria will be 91 leagues S.S. W. of Buenos Ayres, 36 S. of Azul, 18 E.S.E. of Sierra Pilla-Huinco, 305. W. of Tandil, 43 W.S.W. of Laguna de los Padres, 10 leagues N. of the mouth of the Tres Arroyos on the sea-board, and 32 E.N.E of Bahia Blanca.

Justice of Peace, Don Samuel Roseti; Postmaster, Dou Benigno Macias.

Bahia Blanca.

Situate 115 leagues S. W. of Buenos Ayres, may be said to have an area of 200 square leagues, taking its limits as the following: north the Sierra Ventana, west the River Sauce Chico, south the bay of Bahia Blanca and the Atlantic Ocean, and cast the River Sauce Grande. This part of the country, though so remote and little known, offers many advantages to settlers, either in an agricultural or a pastoral point of view. The high grounds are usually about 100 fect above the level plain, the latter being little higher than the sea level. The soil of the high ground is mostly fine and sandy, and beneath this there is tosca, which is useful for limestone, or may be employed instead of stone in building houses or corrals. In the low grounds the soil is rich and alluvial, and well suited for agriculture': irrigation is easily obtained. All the quintas of the town are irrigated by a system of water-works constructed by Rosas in his expedition of 1833, and it still bears the name «Zanja de Rosas.» The cultivation of wheat is now attaining such dimensions that the crop for 1869 is estimated at 5,000 fanegas. All kinds of fruit trees thrive here remarkably, especially grapes, and from these is made the Chocoli wine. Nevertheless, the climate is somewhat cold, though more temperate than at Tandil, where peaches cannot ripen. Snow is seen at rare intervals, once in three or four years. The temperature is dry and windy, and it raius less than at Buenos Ayres: the N.W. wind is the most frequent. On the high and desert camps the grasses are «pastos fuertes,» which grow so wide apart that in wet seasons a soft grass springs up here and there between. The low grounds abound in soft grasses, viz.: alfilerillo, trefoil, trevo de olor, and gramilla: there is not much burr. When land has been three or four years stocked with sheep and cattle the vegetation changes, the «pastos fuertes» gradually disappear, and are replaced by soft grass, thistles, trefoil, &c.

Timber is indigenous; willows of the «sauce colorado» species are found on the banks of the Sauce Grande and Sauce Chico, suitable for building or firewood. In the salt marshes near the coast abounds a shrub called Hatorro, very good for burning; and on the high grounds are found various kinds of brushwood, such as chañar, piquillin, algarobillo, brusquilla, barba de chivo, manco caballo, &c. Near Salina Chica, about fifteen leagues west of Bahia Blanca, there is an abundance of timber, the algarroba being much sought both for firewood and for making corral posts.

This district is one of the most favored in the province as regards an abundance of water courses. A number of fresh water streams flow from the Sierra Ventana through the low grounds, never running dry at any season. The salt bed of Salina Chica supplies excellent salt, which is gathered in summer: fortunately a stream of fresh water runs hard by, for the use of men and animals; there is also fresh water on the road to Salinas.

The town of Bahia Blanca stands two leagues from the port. The entrance to the bay is easy; there was a pilot in the time of Rosas, and one is now much wanted. The communication by sea with Buenos Ayres is a great advantage, the usual freight being $3 to $5 per arrobe. The steamer Patagones, for which Aguirre & Murga receive a subvention, neglects Bahia Blanca, and it is proposed to ask Government for half the subvention and put on a steamer specially for this port. The district of Bahia Blanca has a population of about 2,000 souls, of whom three-fourths reside in the town: they may be estimat d thus-1,200 Argentines, 200 Indians, 200 Italians, 100 Spaniards, 50 French, 50 English and Germans, 200 various. There are 177 azotea houses and only 170 ranchos. The garrison usually comprises 200 soldiers and 120 National Guards, besides which the «friendly Indians» forma company of seventy lances: these last are under the cacique Francisco Ancalas, who ranks as a lieutenant-colonel, and whose eldest son holds a respectable post in the Government-house at Buenos Ayres. The Indians of Salinas Grandes frequently come to the town to barter their home-made ponchos and the skius of animals and ostrich feathers.

The history of Bahia Blanca is quite modern. In 1828 the fort was founded by Colonel Martiniano Rodriguez, who had already founded Tandil. The garrison suffered greatly from privation, sickness, and the Indians, till 1833, when Rosas came into power. The fort was soon changed into a town, a regular service of post-horses was established in all directions, and couriers plied at certain intervals to and from Buenos Ayres. The desert camps were speedily covered with cattle and mares, and all the arable lands up to the Sauce Grande were laid under grain. Business grew up,

and Messrs. Vela and other wealthy estancieros came and founded large establishments. The fall of Rosas in 1852 was attended with a terrible change; the Indians everywhere spread desolation, carrying their inroads into the very public square of the town: they burned tho ranchos, killed the settlers, and carried off the cattle, so that soon the neighboring hillsides were occupied by gamas and ostriches. An attempt was made to get up an Italian Agricultural Legion, but the leader was murdered by his men, and this failed. Mr. Dasso projected an Italian colony on the Sauce Grande; the first families that were brought out refused to go further than the town. It was only in 1863 that the first efforts were made to re-people the estancias around the town. The Naposta valley was the first place settled on, as it was suitable for sheep, and these offer little temptation to the Indians. Instead of ranchos the settlers built substantial brick houses with flat roof and a parapet all round, a ladder from within giving access thereto in case of danger. A man with a rifle can in this manner defend himself and also his sheep corral without the least risk. The settler is exposed to lose his horses unless he tie them up at night, which will oblige him to plant alfalfa and keep a stock of hay.

The first sheep-farmers were: Sig. Caronti, a native of Como: Messrs. Heusser and Claraz, from Switzerland, who settled in 1861, in the Naposta valley, four miles from the town. In 1865 came Mr. Arnold, a North American, also in the Naposta; in 1866 the well-known estanciero Mr. Richard Newton started a farm on the Sauce Grande; in 1868 came also to the Sauce Grande, Messrs. Hentze, of Saxony, and the following Englishmen:---John and Arthur Mildred, Edmund Goodhall, Bryan Smyth, Henry Edwards, Robert Grieve, John Sinclair, Watson, and Shuttle. On the Sauce Chico the first settler was Sig. Bozano, a native of Genoa; on the Saladillo Mr. Philip Caronti; and finally in 1838 the famous Basque estanciero Don Pedro Luro, with his brothers-in-law, F. and T. Prader, started an establishment at the Naposta. There are at present over 100,000 sheep in the district. The climate being dry the wools are light and not very greasy, but the sheep give more grease when killed than in the north, and the increase of the flocks is something extraordinary; severe weather being rare there is little mortality of sheep from this cause, except when a night of hard frost occurs, and then some lambs perish.

In the present time, when wool and sheep are low, while land is so dear in the rest of the province, no district offers better advantages for new beginners than Bahia Blanca and Patagones. The cheap and ready transport afforded by sea renders the price of all necessaries of life, such as provisions and clothing, much cheaper than in any other part of the camp. As soon

as foreign trading vessels can come here direct, and load and unload alongside the wharf, the price of imported goods will be cheaper than at Buenos Ayres. The cheapness of freight to Buenos Ayres also enhances the value of wool, which sells here at double the price obtainable at Tandil. Meantime there is an anomaly in the wheat-trade; the wheat is mostly sent to Buenos Ayres, and flour is brought back thence for use of the inhabitants; there are at Bahia Blanca some «atahonas» or mills worked by mules, and a water-mill ou the Naposta, somewhat out of repair. Near the town of Azul there are some large water-mills which drive a brisk business; it is every way likely that a similar enterprise at Bahia Blanca would pay well: the Naposta has always a splendid water power, and with the outlay of a little capital the annual crop of 5,000 fanegas of corn might be ground on the spot instead of being exported to Buenos Ayres. The district, moreover, offers every advantage to industrious puesteros who would devote their leisure hours to cultivating a patch of wheat, maize, zapallos, or vegetables.

There is at Bahia Blanca an unpretending inn, but Englishmen usually put up at the house of Mr. George Little, a North American, who has one of the best shops in the place. The Comandante, Colonel José Llano, is also very kind to strangers, as well as the Justice of Peace, Don Mariano Mendez, and Captain Coronti. The principal wholesale houses are those of Francisco Bozano, Mariano Mendez, Galvan & Co., Julian Calvente, Miranda, and B. Costa. Parties wanting waggons may apply to Santiago Bonfiglio or Manuel Echagues, the first a Lombard, the second a Basque; both are worthy of all confidence, and their charges are reasonable. There are no livery stables in the place, but if the stranger wish to make an excursion he must look up Hypolito Bramajo, Cayetano Arze, or J. Bustos, who have always fine relays of horses at a reasonable charge: these men are experienced guides and most trustworthy fellows. If the visitor wish to push his excursions some distance into the Indian country he will do well to hire an Indian guide, and the most trust-worthy are Pedro Lucero and José Andres Milipil; the latter is brother-in-law to the Cacique Ancalao. These men also serve as guides in making the journey overland to Patagones, a distance of over forty leagues. The traveller must be careful in hiring any other guide than the above-named, unless well recommended by Mr. Little, Señor Coronti, or the Justice of Peace.

Bahia Blanca is only 15 leagues overland from Buenos Ayres, but the distance by sea is double. The land journey is so tedious and difficult as seldom to be undertaken: there is no mail-coach service. The sea voyage varies according to the weather, and may be reckoned at five days.