The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

434 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA.
here ramifies in irrigation canals over the valley flanked on the east by the Sierra
de Ancaste, on the west by the Ambato range. After its foundation in 1G80
the settlement suffered so much from inundations that it had to be removed a few
miles higher up. Catamarca communicates by rail in one direction with La Rioja
and Mendoza, in another with Cordoba, Rosario, and Buenos Ayres, the line
bifurcating at Chumbicha. By these railways are forwarded the oranges, dried
£gs, cattle, and other produce of the surrounding provinces.
AndaJfjala, so named from a valiant Calchaqui tribe long merged in the
general Spanish population, bears also the name of Ftierte, from a now abandoned
"fort." It lies at the foot of Aconquija, on a level plain 3,300 feet above the
sea, and owes all its importance to its silver mines, the most productive in
Argentina. The richest vein, which was worked by the Calchaquis before the
conquest, but the existence of which was concealed by them, was rediscovered in
1849 from the revelations of an aged Indian. Standing at an altitude of 10,000
feet, it has an average monthly output of 200 tons of ore containing about 35
tons of pure metal. Some 3,000 mules are constantly employed conveying the
ores to the Fikiaio works, a remarkable establishment furnished with the best
English plant.
The Campo del Plcara.
The industrious people of Andalgala also work the neighbouring kaolin beds
for the manufacture of fire-bricks, cultivate the vine, which yields an excellent
wine, export fruits to Tucuman, mules and asses to Chili, hides and guanaco
fabrics to Cordoba. The wretched hamlet of Pucara, near the much-frequented
pass between the snowy Aconquija on the north and the Manchao heights on the
south, represents a real pucara, or "stronghold," which formerly stood here,
and the circular ramparts of which may still be traced for a distance of nearly
two miles.
This word pucara, Pelleschi tells, means sfreiir//// in the Aymara, and red in
the Calchaqui language, both appellations being appropriate, the one on account
of the pervading colour, the other on account of the fortified works formerly
erected in the district. The C'amjjo del Pucara, as this district is called, forms a
transition between the grassy ranges on the east and the arid sand-hills of the
west. Although itself arid and parched, it affords sustenance to cattle during
some months of the year, and was at one time thickly peopled. Extensive remains
of Indian habitations, grouped together Kke so many separate villages, occur not
only on the plain, but also along the slopes of the neighbouring heights.
If the Campo was formerly subject to the same climatic conditions as at
present, it certainly could not have afforded subsistence to such populous com-
munities. Yet there is no indication nor any tradition of a change of climate
having taken place in the district since its occupation by man. Hence Pelleschi
suggests that perhaps the local conditions may have been modified by the drying
up of some extensive reservoir in the neighbourhood, some lacustrine basin, of