EMMA.  “Paraguay is the adjacent coast, and derives its name from the Payaguas, a treacherous and deceitful people, who subsist by fishing.  It is a fertile district, and produces a species of ilex,[14] which makes the tea so much used in South America.  The laborers, who esteem it vastly more than we do our Chinese tea, will refuse to work if deprived of it.  The twigs are steeped with the leaves, and the tea is taken through a silver or glass tube.  The gulfs along here are not very important.  I have no account of them.”

[Footnote 14:  Ilex:  a species of oak.]

MRS. WILTON.  “Monte Video is the next coast, and derives its name from a mountain near the city; it is completely enclosed with fortifications.  The inhabitants are humane and well disposed.  The ladies in general affable and polite, and extremely fond of dress, and very neat and cleanly in their persons.  They adopt the English costume at home, but go abroad usually in black, and always covered with a large veil or mantle.  Provisions here are very cheap; and such is the profusion of flesh-meat, that the vicinity for two miles round, and even the purlieus of the town itself, present filthy spectacles of bones and raw flesh at every step, which feed immense flocks of sea-gulls, and, in summer, breed myriads of flies, to the great annoyance of the inhabitants, who are obliged, at table, to have a servant or two continually employed in fanning the dishes with feathers to drive away these troublesome intruders.”

EMMA.  “Between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres are many bays:  False Bay, Brightman Bay, and Union Bay are the principal.”

MRS. WILTON.  “Buenos Ayres was founded in 1535 by Don Pedro de Mendoza, who gave it that name on account of the salubrity of its climate.  This town is in many respects the most considerable of all the commercial towns in South America.  Bread is by no means the staff of life here, for meat and the great variety of roots and grain with which the country abounds, afford to the poor inhabitants an equally healthy and even more nutritious substance.”

EMMA.”—­South of Buenos Ayres are Antonio Bay, Nuevo Gulf, Ergano Bay, Gulf of Vera, and Gulf of St. George, which last runs into the country of the gigantic Patagonians.”

MR. BARRAUD.  “The bays here afford good anchorage for ships; but there are neither inhabitants, wood, nor fresh water in the adjacent country:  a few aquatic birds and sea-wolves remain unmolested on these dismal shores.”

MR. WILTON.  “Patagonia is inhabited by wandering tribes of Indians.  From their extraordinary size they have given rise to many remarkable tales.  Fernandez de Magalhanes says, that one day, when the fleet was anchored at Port San Julian, a person of gigantic stature appeared on the shore.  He sang, he danced, and sprinkled dust on his forehead:  a sailor was sent to land, with orders to imitate his gestures, which were considered signals of peace.  The seaman performed his part so well, that the giant accompanied him to the commander’s vessel.  He pointed to the sky, wishing to inquire if the Spaniards had descended from heaven.  His size was such that the sailors’ heads did not come up to his waist.”