ARGENTINA FROM A BRITISH POINT OF VIEW AND NOTES ON ARGENTINE LIFE. With Photographs and Diagrams. EDITED BY CAMPBELL P. OGILVIE. LONDON: WERTHEIMER, LEA & CO., CLIFTON HOUSE, WORSHIP STREET, E.C 1910. PRINTED BY WERTHEIMER, LEA & CO., CLIFTON HOUSE, WORSHIP STREET, LONDON, E.C DEDICATED To _all_ THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE SANTA FÉ LAND COMPANY, LIMITED, _who take a real interest in the Company_. PREFACE. In May last I was asked to read, towards the end of the year, a paper on Argentina, before the Royal Society of Arts. The task of compiling that paper was one of absorbing interest to me; and though I fully realise how inadequately I have dealt with so interesting a subject, I venture to think that the facts and figures which the paper contains may be of interest to some, at any rate, of the Shareholders of the Santa Fé Land Company. It is upon this supposition that it is published. Whilst I was obtaining the latest information for the paper (which was read before the Royal Society of Arts on November 30th, 1910), several members of the staff of the Santa Fé Land Company aided me by writing some useful and interesting notes on subjects connected with Argentina, and also giving various experiences which they had undergone whilst resident there. I am indebted to the writers for many hints on life in Argentina, and as I think that others will find the reading of the notes as engaging as I did, they are now reproduced just as I received them, and incorporated with my own paper in a book of which they form by no means the least interesting part. The final portion of the book--Leaves from a journal entitled "The Tacuru"--is written in a lighter vein. It describes a trip through some of the Northern lands of the Santa Fé Land Company, and it is included because, although frankly humorous, it contains much really useful information and many capital illustrations, I should, however, mention that this journal was written by members of the expedition, and was originally intended solely for their own private edification and amusement; therefore all the happier phases of the trip are noted; but I can assure my English readers that the trip, well though it was planned, was not all luxury. To the many who have helped me in this work I tender my most sincere thanks. CAMPBELL P. OGILVIE. LAWFORD PLACE, MANNINGTREE, ESSEX, _December, 1910_. CONTENTS. PAGE ARGENTINA FROM A BRITISH POINT OF VIEW 1 HISTORY OF THE SANTA FÉ LAND COMPANY, LIMITED 33 THE VALUE OF LAND IN ARGENTINA 45 REMARKS ON STORMS AND THE CLIMATE OF THE ARGENTINE 51 SOME EXPERIENCE OF WORKING ON ESTANCIAS 57 THE SOCIAL SIDE OF CAMP LIFE 69 CARNIVAL IN THE ARGENTINE 75 HORSE-RACING IN THE ARGENTINE 79 SUNDAYS IN CAMP 87