eer and gin--to guests
and peons alike, all drinking gratefully from the same small measure.
That drive is something to be remembered; it was executed under the most
trying circumstances with not a single complaint or grumble from anyone,
but an increased thankfulness on the part of the passengers that they
were in such good hands during the trip. The land through which we drove
to-day is covered with trees of various kinds; large forests exist on
the eastern side of the Calchaqui, bordering the river for its entire
length; the trees of these forests are chiefly Algarrobo the wood of
which is not unlike our walnut in appearance, but extremely hard; in
days to come this timber will be used in great quantities for making
parquet flooring. It seems almost incredible that the city of Buenos
Aires should import millions of square metres of ready-made parquet
flooring when the Argentine produces magnificent timber of far more
suitable and better wearing quality for the purpose than any used in
imported parquet. As we have journeyed eastward, trees have become much
more numerous, and splendid timber is to be seen on every side. Most
numerous amongst the trees is the Quebracho Colorado, which supplies one
of the hardest timbers the world produces. The trees have a peculiar
appearance, for their leaves are quite small and the trunks have a rough
bark from which often hangs moss-like lichen, of which, by the way,
cattle are very fond. The photo on the opposite page gives a general
idea of a tree's appearance.

The wood, which is light in colour when first cut, becomes dark red upon
being exposed to light and weather, and it is intensely hard.

[Illustration: _Quebracho Colorado Tree._]

The word "quebracho" (pronounced KAYBRATSHO) signifies axe-breaking, and
even modern tools do not retain their edge long when working on this
wood.

The wonderful durability of the wood renders it a perfect material for
railway sleepers, and this has been appreciated by the Government of
Argentina to such an extent that they have decreed that the laying of
new railways is to be upon sleepers made of the hard woods of the
Country.

[Illustration: _Sleepers awaiting Transport at Vera._]

The forests of the Santa Fe Land Company have produced in the last
twelve years over a million Quebracho Colorado sleepers.

One drawback to the wood is that it has the peculiarity of splitting
around the heart of the tree. This is caused by the accumulation