and drums was heard in the dark and deserted streets:  it was the army, which, landed at last, was making a solemn entry into the city, with nobody on the sidewalks to admire it.  The timely—­or perhaps untimely—­fireworks had appeased the desire for show, and the spectacle of the marching soldiers was only of secondary importance in a celebration that included skyrockets and Roman candles.  Yerba is the principal article exported, and as the use of mate is so general on the continent, this trade is a very important branch of industry.  In addition to these leaves, a small quantity of tobacco, a few hides, hard woods and demijohns of a primitive kind of rum constitute the exportations of a country in which cotton and indigo grow wild, and where sugar and rice could be made to yield large revenues.

[Illustration:  FOUNDRY AT IBICUY, DESTROYED DURING THE WAR.]

The lack of money and of banking facilities in Paraguay has made the process of buying and selling, in reality, but not professedly, a matter of exchange of commodities.  For instance, a shopkeeper will barter his imported cotton stuffs, his demijohns of wine, his candles, etc. for the tobacco grown by the natives.  The merchants also endeavor to buy as much tobacco as possible, when the crop is first in, for specie.  Usually, large profits are derived from this course, as the planters have pretty well exhausted their receipts for the crop of the previous year, and hence are disposed at that time to sell at a sacrifice.  The money thus obtained returns to the merchant in the usual way of business, and thus the latter is enabled to buy more tobacco.  The result is, that in the end the merchant gets the planter’s cash as well as his tobacco.  It is a curious fact, however, that the Paraguayans do not admit the principle of exchange.  They must touch the value of their wares in the shape of coin before parting with them.  Thus, no woman of the country will exchange outright a quantity of yerba, large or small, or any product of her industry, for cotton or thread.  She will first insist on holding in her hand, even if it be for a moment, the price in silver of her wares, and with this money she will pay for what she obtains from the merchant.

During his sojourn in Villa Rica, M. Forgues purchases a house there, to the great gratification of the community, who, in the simplicity of their hearts, see in him the pioneer of European immigration, the influential capitalist who is to introduce foreign money among them.  Attentions are showered on him.  The political chief of the town invites him to a twelve-o’clock breakfast to meet the notabilities of the place.  A salvo of firecrackers at noon announces that the chief is prepared to welcome his friends, and the invited guests, male and female, hasten to the prefecture.  Before entering the banquet-hall the guests, as they arrive, take seats in wooden chairs in a large ball-room which adjoins it, receiving as they do so, from the