OVER THE ANDES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1924, Page 4

OVER THE ANDES.

A VISIT TO THE ARGENTINE

The English community of Chile always says that one oi the compensations of living in that part of the world is the facility for visiting the grandeur of the magnificent Andes. Valpairnso is only a short distance away really and we left by the traits* Amil's railway on the express one afternoon and reached f.os Andes, at ih" foot of the' mountains, 2000 ft, in three hours. The first part of the journey is not so interesting, hut one passes through some rich agricultural valleys and vine-growing holdings, all being irrigated by the Aconcagua river during the summer by the melting snows. Poplars outline the roads, and M’ow-ilad peaks appear to block the reed at the other end. [hat night all pa-seugers had to turn out ad .-l:-o;> at Ike Transancline’s Co's i i r,• novel than comfortable, perhaps. I'aviv next morning «c hoarded the e vc-gauge train in the court-yard which was most convenient. The road follows the river along a most delightful valley, with flowering trees, led la nov-gckio, and wild luchsias everywhere. Von see primitive life hero; the wheal and corn being threshed by means ol horses attached io a post tn t.he cotiLre, and ill the top, is fixed it rawhide rope. The si.x-ahrenst horses walk round and round in a circle, and (Im grain is holtlcn out: they appear t„ tcm -1 to the wind io blow away the straw. If very I urn of f!ie mad reveals a grander view and .sight. I' l '#' railwav-. In flic world afford such a variety el .-ono as the C liili-Argeiitiiie overland rent '. As the altitude increases the vi-g* alioo ! . oiii'- - : eais i-r. nil ail one sees is the gin li! i actus. Coining through -llu* valley, I was overjoyed to see ill" Indians corral ling their ponies i.isl a-. I had Im-cii led In expect to m.-c, ami cunt rolling the unbroken ones by means el a lasso. The Indian women piel lire ijilely sal at I lie camp making leather whips, and horsehair baskets and souvenirs, also heiiutilnl rugs and blankets. I'p higher and higher we crawled, up the rock tracks, and past tin- oiKivslivds. Then l.aigo-del-Jnea, that In e.utifid lake, amidst such a forbidding and barren surrounding ot rooks, thauxnmis ol teef higher than the Switzerland lakes, and endless peaks, ridges, gorges, and valleys were ms n. and one large Condor eagle i irclcd overhead. Leaving the lieauti--111! lake you pass through valleys and notice- glacial heights and morr,'tines and rushing torrents below. A tunnel, two miles in length, which has a eoni re which is at a height ol two mileabove sea level. next amazes you: lleoi you pass over i he lloreoiies Itiver, and the famous bridge ol solid r. el-;-. Puoii-te-del-l nea. }'ll<lll here you catch the lines! view of Aconcagua. King ol the Andes. Close bv i- a sulphur spring, and the oi'a’i: v-eof ured n: (■!: • - enhance 'lie eltVcl. .Miles of snow peaks gleam in an atmosphere clear and crystal, hut tempered wiili blue sunshine. The Argentine side has more colour and iiglii, and clumps of Pampas grass are - "it on the approach to the plains. We pa--oil through many miles of irrigated country and evidences of pastor,ll prosperity. Eslancias (similar to iniioie-) canto in view, stocked up wit It ini horses, cattle, and a lew -.beep. Lucerne ami crops, as .well as ostrich farms, are there, too. One r.-la.neia called Le .Mimosa i- ably ees"aged by an Australian for the Ausi radian Mercantile linn. It was pleasant in eueouiiliT a!-o an old Hunter’s llilliaii. and a foruier student of 111Sydtiay l'niversii.y, now one ol the best constructing engineers, and in cbargi of the new line- Cordova to Piueuux Ayiv:, connect int/ I‘olivia with the Ar goniine really. I’o.-nos- Ayres ha- a line approach and up-to-date railway stations, but though the city is the largest in the southern hemisphere, its many street,-, are painfully narrow and Latin lit; a I he Aveinda do Mayo being (he i.\",-n----i" u. 'Hie • lams are large and flouri'bing, so are the outdoor cafes, let tin* finest shop is a hraiioli of Harr al's. ami its tearooms, band and dance (lour

are the smartest and most select in Buenos Ayres. Literature is scarce, newspapers few; and in English none Spanish, of course, is the language, and the Argentine loves wot ‘he for eigner, nor does lie like English speech. Druggists are many, hospitals a scarcity, funerals plentiful; am* the sculptory at the Mosque-like cemetery. with its beautiful marble torn')', some in size like a small mansion, is quite a feature. Grand opera is always crowded, and the glitter and blaze of silk and gems are never to he forgotten, for the Spanish Argentine lady is second to none in let-ui and splendour. They love a hull-fight, and the cabarets, Festa days are holidays, and 1 have seen thirteen flags of the South American Republic flying at the President’s palace in honour of the proposed detachment of some minor State. The currency is Spanish dollars. about 2s in English money. Argentine is a much over-rated country.

:ti:d the River La Plate is like , n sea ot yellow• ochre, hut a busy shipping inula goes on over there.