[62] As mining labour was imposed as an obligation upon the Indians by the conquerors, so it came to be looked upon as the occupation of a caste, and of a caste looked down upon by all who boasted of the slightest admixture of European blood in their veins. [63] The "Uninhabited Region." [64] When Soria descended the Vermejo in 1826, it was deemed a good opportunity to send a collection of specimens of the various woods of these region to Buenos Ayres that they might be examined and more properly described, and he told me he had no less than seventy-three different species with him, the whole of which were taken from him by Dr. Francia, in Paraguay, with everything else on board his vessel. [65] In 1834 a series of trials was made at Toulon in order to ascertain the comparative strength of cables made of hemp and of the aloe (brought from Algiers), which resulted greatly in favour of the latter. Of cables of equal size, that made from the aloe raised a weight of 2000 kilogrammes, that of hemp a weight of only 400. [66] Pulqué is described by Mr. Ward as the favourite beverage of the lower classes in some parts of Mexico. The aloe plant, from which it is prepared, is cultivated for the purpose in extensive plantations; and so great is the consumption of it, that before the revolution the revenue derived from a very small municipal duty levied upon it at the gates of the towns averaged 600,000 hard dollars a-year, and in 1793 amounted to 817,739, or about 170,000_l._ sterling.--See Ward's 'Mexico,' vol. i. p. 55. [67] A small iron steamer, which might be had for 25,000_l._ or 30,000_l._, would be quite sufficient to begin with. CHAPTER XIV. PROVINCES OF CUYO. The town of Cuyo formerly attached to Cordova. Value of the old municipal institutions. SAN LUIS, wretched state of the population. The miserable weakness of the Government, exposes the whole southern frontier of the Republic to the Indians. Aconcagua seen from the town. Mines of Carolina. Account of a journey over the Pampas in a carriage. MENDOZA, extent, rivers, artificial irrigation, productions. Mines not worth working by English companies. Ancient Peruvian road. City of Mendoza, and salubrity of the Climate. SAN JUAN. The productions similar to those of Mendoza, Wine, Brandy, and Corn. Quantity of Corn produced yearly. Mines of Jachal. Character of the people. Passes across the Andes. Dr. Gillies' account of an excursion by those of the Planchon and Las Damas. Singular animal found in the provinces of Cuyo named the Chlamyphorus, described by Mr. Yarrell.