Uruguayan roads--A comparison with those of Argentina--The benefits of stone--Some fine metalled highways--The road to San José--On the way to Pando--The journey as effected by motor-car--A smiling landscape--Distant sand-dunes--A spotless range--The mountains of Minas--The town of Pando--A typical minor urban centre--The ending of the macadamised road--The track beyond--An abrupt change in the order of going--The bumps of the Campo--Piriapolis--A budding pleasure resort--Completeness of the enterprise--Eucalyptus forests--A vehicular wreck by the way--Unsuccessful Samaritans--The work of Señor Piria--The Castillo--An imposing home--View from the spot--The Pan de Azucar--A landscape of mountain, valley, forest, and sea--Architecture of the Castillo--Piriapolis Bay--A centre of future bathing--Preparations already effected--The hotel and casino--A wonderful feat of private enterprise--Afforestation--Encouragement of the industry by the Uruguayan Government--The work of Mr. Henry Burnett--The transformation of arid soil into fertile land--Commercial success of the venture--The Maldonado sand-dunes--Fulgurites--A curiosity of the sands--Discoveries by Mr. C. E. R. Rowland. A feature that is not a little remarked upon by those who have entered Uruguay from the stoneless Pampa of Argentina is the excellence of the roads that surround Montevideo, and of several, indeed, that penetrate for a considerable distance inland. The highway to the town of San José, for instance, that extends for ninety-six kilometres is macadamised throughout its length, and is, moreover, excellently constructed and sustained. The benefits of convenient deposits of stone are strikingly emphasised here. Now that a start has been made, there is no reason why efficient roads of the kind should not pierce the countryside in all directions. For, notwithstanding the natural fertility of its soil, there is scarcely a corner throughout the whole length and breadth of the Republic that is not seamed to a smaller or larger extent with these layers of useful stone, the eruption of which frequently marks the surface itself of the land. The road to San José, as a matter of fact, is by no means the only important one of its kind. There are various similar specimens, equally well constructed if of less imposing length. A very admirable road leads from the capital to the small town of Pando in the neighbouring province of Canelones. The journey by motor-car is an easy one, and renders an admirable insight into the nature of the country in this particular district.