reach, was a dead-level plain, without bush or tree; the air in the hot, dry season being frequently so full of dust as to be almost insupportable, and the soil of that sticky, clayey character that a slight rain would render it almost impassable for man or animal. And this place was selected by Mendoza as the site of the first Spanish settlement in South America.” Notwithstanding the inconvenience of its harbour, _Buenos Ayres_ soon became the chief commercial _entrepôt_ of the valley of the _Plata_. The settlement was not effected without some severe fighting between De Garay’s force and the _Querandis_. The latter, however, were effectually quelled; the proof of it being their submission, without further resistance, to be parcelled out amongst the conquerors in _repartimientos_. “The registers are still preserved of De Garay’s followers by name, amongst sixty-five of whom he divided in lots the lands extending along the river-side from _Buenos Ayres_ to _Baradero_ on the _Paraná_, as well as the Indian inhabitants of the adjoining territories under their respective _caciques_.” The lines of the new city were laid out about a league higher up the river than the site of Mendoza’s settlement. Under De Garay’s superintendence it was soon sufficiently fortified to ensure protection. It is remarkable that it was not till about three years after the foundation of this settlement that the first vessel was despatched to Spain laden with the produce of _La Plata_--namely, hides and sugar from _Paraguay_, the former being evidence of the increase of horned cattle from the original stock imported from Europe thirty years before. [Sidenote: 1620.] The Spaniards were now nominally masters of the _Rio de La Plata_, but they had still to apprehend hostilities on the part of the natives between their few and far-distant settlements. Of this liability De Garay himself was to form a lamentable example. On his passage back to _Asuncion_, having incautiously landed to sleep near the ruins of the old fort of _San Espiritu_, he was surprised by a party of natives, and murdered with all his companions. The death of this brave Biscayan was mourned as a great loss by the entire colony. The importance of the cities founded by him was soon apparent; and in 1620 all of the settlements south of the confluence of the rivers _Paraná_ and _Paraguay_ were formed into a separate, independent government, under the name of _Rio de La Plata_, of which _Buenos Ayres_ was declared the capital. This city likewise became the seat of a bishopric. [Sidenote: 1658.]