[Illustration: MAP OF ARGENTINA AND ADJOINING STATES] ARGENTINA BY W. A. HIRST WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MARTIN HUME, M.A. WITH A MAP AND SIXTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS T. FISHER UNWIN LONDON LEIPSIC ADELPHI TERRACE INSELSTRASSE 20 _First Edition_ 1910 _Second Impression_ 1911 _Third Impression_ 1912 _Fourth Impression_ 1914 (_All rights reserved._) PREFACE In establishing the commercial and industrial greatness of Argentina my countrymen have co-operated with her people for a longer time and more efficiently than any other foreign nation. The land and the people are therefore a subject of lively interest to Englishmen, and it is hoped that this sketch, however inadequate, will help towards a closer knowledge of Argentina. I have received much valuable assistance from many sources, but I do not indicate them, because I do not wish to shift the blame for any inaccuracies that may be found in these pages. For all such mistakes I am solely responsible. _April 22, 1910._ CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION XV CHAPTER I. THE COUNTRY--ITS FOUR DIVISIONS--THE RIVERS--THE CLIMATE 1 II. EARLIEST HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY 16 III. THE EUROPEAN CONQUEST 24 IV. THE SPANISH DOMINION 33 V. THE SPANISH COLONIAL SYSTEM 49 VI. THE ENGLISH FAILURE IN ARGENTINA 65 VII. THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 76 VIII. ANARCHY AND DESPOTISM--THE WAR WITH PARAGUAY 87 IX. MODERN ARGENTINA--SETTLEMENT AND PROGRESS 99 X. THE CONSTITUTION--THE ARMY AND NAVY--GENERAL POLITICAL CONDITIONS 111 XI. CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE--WAGES AND COST OF LIVING--IMMIGRATION 125 XII. BUENOS AIRES 139 XIII. ARGENTINE LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY 152 XIV. RELIGION--EDUCATION--JOURNALISM AND LITERATURE 158 XV. INDUSTRIAL ARGENTINA--RAILWAYS AND MINOR ENTERPRISES 178 XVI. THE PASTORAL INDUSTRIES OF ARGENTINA 196 XVII. COMMERCE AND FINANCE 210 XVIII. AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL PRODUCTS 225 XIX. BAHIA BLANCA AND PATAGONIA 238 XX. ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO MENDOZA UNDER THE ANDES 254 XXI. THE PARANA, ROSARIO, AND SANTA FÉ 265 XXII. THE GRAN CHACO AND THE NORTHERN TOWNS 275