The small “ criollo”, companion of the gaucho.

When in 1537, Mendoza had to put to sea failing in his attempt to found, if not a stable and durable colony, at least a city, he did not suspect, that resigning 47 small Andalusian horses to their fate, they could survive in these unknown lands.
They did better than that: they adapted perfectly to their new environment, evolved towards a complete race, even if natural crossings gave rise to more than three hundred different coat of which, chestnut, bay, or piebald.
Not exceeding one meter 50 withers, endowed with a full breast piece, a round croup and particularly muscular back legs, they became, at the natural crossbreedings mercy, the ideal companions of the Indians and the “gauchos” which named them “Criollos” since the beginning of the XVIIIth century. Nimble and sharp, they allowed to the first to drive lightning raids (malones) on the colonists lands, to the seconds to escape the police force after having achieved unspecified larceny or “crime of honor " (*) .
Their so characteristic short gallop (that Englishes call “canter”) and who gives them this swaying pace, has always however more been used for hard and healthy labours of the fields. They are also nowadays used for the polo and are often the agriculture exhibition stars(Sociedad Rural) which takes place every year in the Palermo district in Buenos Aires.

(*) episode of the first part of “Martin Fierro” by Jose Hernandez.

Naipu and the Iguazu falls (Pcia de Misiones)

Far from the madness of the city, to the deep of the subtropical forest, on bank of the large rivers, the history of Naipu is transmitted from generation to generation.
Endowed with a great beauty, this young Indian was loved by a valorous warrior. Although promised to him, she caused in spite of her, the jealousy of a god.
To escape to him, both decided to leave their village. They took a canoe and rowed as much as they could to move away from the danger.
But the god drew up in front of them an insuperable obstacle to prevent them from escaping: a incomparable water wall.
Thus were born the Iguazu falls and the legend of Naipu, the young Guarani.

Falls of Iguazu (Pcia de Misiones)

1541: having left Spain long weeks ago, at the King's request, to replace Mendoza, Don Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca (*) had chosen, after having huged them, to unload on the Brazilian coasts, thus avoiding the hostility of banks of Rio de la Plata. Being fixed for objective to join Asunción, he went deep with his expedition, into the tropical forest. How much dangers these reckless men have they to face? And what could they feel at the time this new devilry of nature drew up in front of them? Which feelings seized them in this moment? Resignation in front of a new obstacle, or amazement in front of such a spectacle. Probably a little of both…
Today the installations made for the tourists make it possible to appreciate without effort this wonder of nature. Thousands, million people saw them since Cabeza de Vaca, and all, like us, were seized by the force which release these falls and the beauty of the surroundings.
(*) Some historians grant the paternity of discovery of falls of Iguazu to Portuguese Alejo Garcia in 1524.

The Jesuit missions (San Ignacio)

Founded in 1539 per Saint Ignace de Loyola, the Society of Jesus, is established in the Province of Paraguay at the end of 16th century. Vaster than the current state of Paraguay, this province integrated also the area of Brazilian Rio Grande, Uruguay and Argentinian North.
The priesthood of the missionaries Jesuits is expressed as much in the will to bring teaching as in that of evangelize the indigenous populations. With a great sense of courage, they go deepest of the tropical forest (as shows it so well the film “Mission”) to build villages which they organize methodically. In this way they think of being able to release the Indians of the "encomenderos” (landowners) who enslave them. They also believe to be able to give access to them a certain dignity (the training of new trades like the sculpture of the stones, life in organized society). The first of these villages, called “reduccion” is built in 1609.
That of San Ignacio completed in 1724, bombarded in 1817 by the army of Paraguay was rediscovered only in 1897 in the middle of the luxuriant vegetation which had invaded it. Registered the world inheritance of humanity, restored, it makes it possible to appreciate the military organization and harmonious installation by the fathers Jesuits.
Unfortunately the history of the missions Jesuits, throughout 17th and 18th is studded only by the account of constant exactions on behalf of the “encomenderos”, who seek to intimidate, dissuade, and to sometimes even kill the missionaries. The Spanish Crown gives them even reason in 1767, as the King Carlos III orders the demolishing of the misions. The film of Roland Joffé evokes this period.
In 1814, the Pope Pie VII restores the Company of Jesus.
Ref. : "le Guide de l'Argentine"Graciela Cutuli and Pierre Dumas ed. La Manufacture.

Estancia Las Mercedes (Eldorado)

The southern autumn touches at its end. In the province of Misiones, with a few tens of kilometers in the south of the Brazilian border, the farmers wonder about the climate and the rain which does not come. This area considered wet has not known any more of large rain for several months.
However in this May early morning, the horizontal light struggle to go through the thick morning fog.
Mist which escapes from noses of animals huddled together announce the winter to come. In the house of white slats, and oranges shutters, the embers of the fire of the day before, do not succeed to persuade the sleeper of the interest to rise.
Snuggled into his bed, the traveller of passage however knows that its hosts prepared one day of dream to him: a walk with horse, sailing up of the arroyo Pirayguazu in the middle of the tropical forest, the softness of a tea at the return, and to finish, reading of a good novel close to the fire. Thus one day passes at the estancia Las Mercedes: simple, calm, serene, alleviating.

Estancia Las Mercedes
(00 54) 37 5143-1512
www.estancialasmercedes.com.ar

The province of Misiones

Wedged between Paraguay in the West, Brazil in North and Uruguay in the West, the province of Misiones forms part, with the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios, of the area called Mesopotamia (see maps of the february archives)
Point extreme of Argentina in North East, close to Tropic of Capricorn, it is covered with an immense forest, very dense, called “selva subtropicana lluviosa”. Its ground is of red blood color stone : the laterite. Very friable, it generates in the passing of the cars a dust which marks clothing, the shoes and enter everywhere in the dwellings.
The habitat, very summary, comparable with that of Paraguay, the provinces of Chaco or Formosa, recalls unfortunately that we are in one of the poorest areas of Argentina: they are mainly wood huts, brightened by paintings sharp.
Except for the owners of the great fields, or beautiful estancias, a great majority of the population saw incomes of agricultural work, culture of its kitchen gardens and small animal breedings.

Omnipresent in all the province, the "yerba mate" is transported, at the season of harvests, on antiques trucks which go up with efforts, succession of long slopes of Ruta 12.