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.

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.

CONTENTS.

• ARGENTINA FROM A BRITISH POINT OF VIEW
• HISTORY OF THE SANTA FÉ LAND COMPANY, LIMITED.
• THE VALUE OF LAND IN ARGENTINA.
• REMARKS ON STORMS AND THE CLIMATE OF THE ARGENTINE.
• SOME EXPERIENCES OF WORKING ON ESTANCIAS.
• THE SOCIAL SIDE OF CAMP LIFE.
• CARNIVAL IN THE ARGENTINE.
• HORSE-RACING IN THE ARGENTINE.
• SUNDAYS IN CAMP.
• THE SERVANT PROBLEM IN ARGENTINA.
• POLICE OF A BYGONE DAY.
• A VISIT TO THE NORTHERN CHACO.
• WORK IN THE WOODS.
• CACHAPÉS, AND OTHER THINGS.
• MY FRIEND THE AXEMAN.
• DUST AND OTHER STORMS.
• LOCUSTS.
• CONSCRIPT LIFE IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
• ACROSS THE BOLIVIAN ANDES IN 1901.
• PROGRESS OF THE PORT OF BUENOS AIRES.
• JUST MY LUCK!
• "THE TACURU."

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

• CATTLE TRAIN ON CENTRAL ARGENTINE RAILWAY, BRINGING CATTLE TO BARRANCOSA
• LOADING WHEAT AT ROSARIO FROM THE "BARRANCA"