Importance of the rivers of the United Provinces. The Paraguay and its tributaries. The Pilcomayo. The Vermejo. Soria's expedition down it from Oran, proving it navigable thence to Assumption. Periodical inundations of the Paranã, similar to those of the Nile. The Uruguay and its affluents. Surveys by the Commissioners appointed to determine the Boundaries laid down by the Treaty between Spain and Portugal of 1777. Original Maps obtained Page 179 CHAPTER XII. THE LITTORINE PROVINCES. SANTA FÉ--ENTRE RIOS--CORRIENTES--THE OLD JESUIT MISSIONS--PARAGUAY UNDER DR. FRANCIA. De Garay founds _Santa Fé_, and meets with Spaniards from Peru. His subsequent Deeds and Death. The Government of the Rio de la Plata separated from that of Paraguay, and Santa Fé annexed to Buenos Ayres. Its former prosperity, and great capabilities, especially for Steam Navigation. _The Entre Rios_--constituted a Province in 1814, its Extent, Government, and Population--chiefly a grazing Country. _Corrientes_--its valuable natural Productions--mistaken ideas of the people as to Foreign Trade. The Lake Ybera--Pigmies, Ants, Ant-Eaters, Locusts, and Beetles. _The Missions_ now depopulated--their happy and flourishing state under the Jesuits. _Paraguay_--some Account of its former Prosperity and Trade, and the establishment of the tyrannical rule of Dr. Francia Page 195 CHAPTER XIII. THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. CORDOVA, LA RIOJA, SANTIAGO, TUCUMAN, CATAMARCA, SALTA. CORDOVA. Government. Pastoral Habits of the People. Productions. LA RIOJA. Population, &c. Famatina Mines. Evils arising from the present subdivision of the Provincial Governments. SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO. The Sandy Desert or Traversia. Quichua Language. Productions, &c. The Salado navigable to the Paranã. The Chaco. Mass of native Iron found there. Theory of its Meteoric Origin questionable. Account of the native Iron from Atacama. TUCUMAN. Delightful Climate. Mines--little worked. Richness of the Vegetation. Declaration of Independence of the Provinces made there in 1816. CATAMARCA. Population, &c. Original Inhabitants--their long Wars with the Spaniards. SALTA. Divisions, Population, Government, Climate, Rivers. The Vermejo, and its Affluents from Tarija and Jujuy. Valuable Productions of this Province. Labour of the Mataco Indians obtainable, and preferable to that of Europeans in such Latitudes. Importance of inland Steam Navigation urged Page 238 CHAPTER XIV. PROVINCES OF CUYO. SAN LUIS, MENDOZA, SAN JUAN.