Is a tree of the fitolacaceas family. It symbolizes the pampa. It is a word of Guaraní origin:"ombú" means shadow or dark bulk. It is considered a big bush better than a tree. It has a thick and white bark,soft wood,alternate and simple leaves,with unisex flowers in bunches that are longer than the leaves. It grows very well in the pampean plain and its generous shade shelters the travelers and the humble "rancho" being itself a part of the landscape.

CEIBO

" Ceibo"

-NATIONAL FLOWER-

Is a tree that belongs to the pulse family, the same as the French bean and the acacia. It is original of South America, it adorns the river banks when it is covered with its thick bunches of big red flowers.

Spreads out easily through stalks and seeds. It is grown as ornamental species in parks or gardens.There are other "seibo" species, some of pinkish and others of dark red flowers.IN 1942 THE CEIBO FLOWER WAS DECLARED THE NATIONAL ARGENTINE FLOWER.

"Cardo"

Thistle Flower

(The blooming thistle plant)

(The pure flower)

THE BAKER

"Hornero"

(the national bird)

Is a bird of the Funáridos family. This bird is very well known and appreciated in South America and it has been pointed out as the national bird of the Argentines. Its nest has the shape of a baker’s kiln, there comes its name This bird has dark dun feathers,it is 15 to 20 cm. long, its beak is short and its tail is long. It flies in short flights. It eats insects,worms,grains and seeds.

It shows a great happiness when it rains,because it can continue the building and leave the prints of its legs in the mud,as ornament of its nest.This animal has a great ability to build extraordinary nests made of mud,and sometimes straw. It builds its nest on the crosspieces of the telegraph posts,on the cornices of the houses and on the forks of the trees. It puts the nest in such a way that the entrance is not exposed to cold winds or rain.

THE GREAT BRICKLAYER OF THE PAMPA

(Hornero flying near its nest)

-DASYPUS NOVEMCINCTUS-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Strange Joint (Xenarthra)
Family: Dasypodidae.

(The name "Armadillo": Armadillo is a Spanish word for "small armored")

Is a variety of armadillo that lives in the pampa plain. It has its back,head and tail covered by a shell formed by mobile pieces. Since this shell is very flexible,it lets the animal make a roll to hide its most vulnerable parts and defend himself from its enemies. This shell is covered by dark,sparse,hard hair. It has very powerful nails with which it digs tunnels at an extraordinary speed. This little animal has,under its shell,a very tasty meat.It is usually hunted at night and especially when there is a full moon. The people of the country call "peludear" to the act of hunting the "peludo".

THE VIZCACHA

The Vizcacha is a rodent that was easily found in early times. Still today,in some regions, although it was restlessly followed,is a real plague for the sown fields. Its meat is apt to be consumed and is exported to European countries,and its skin is traded in the skin industry. It is not easily seen because it lives in colonies in underground dens: the vizcacheras. In the Plata area,the vizcacheras can have more than 15 entrances. These entrances lead to deep and branched tunnels that sometimes cover between 10 and 20 meters where more than 40 vizcachas live.The vizcacheras are a real danger for the unaware rider who runs the risk of rolling together with its horse.

THE ÑANDU

Is the South American typical bird. It inhabits the valleys of Agentina. It is very quick and at full speed it makes amazing dodges using its short wings. It eats grass and grains,it is an excellent swimmer and it is easily domesticated. The eggs are coveted because of its size as well as its nutritional value.Several female ostriches use to share a nest, where there can be more than 30 eggs that are incubated by the males. The pampean Indians call it "churi","suri" or "choike". This animal is very similar to the ostrich, it is different from it because it has three toes and a feather-less neck.The ‘ñandú’ has been long coveted by its feathers (irreplaceable for the confection of feather dusters),by its meat and skin.

THE OWL

(in Spanish Buho in Latin Bubo)

Is an animal that lives in the whole American continent. It eats insects and small rodents. It is a predatory nocturnal bird. It has a plain round face, a hooked beak and its eyes are placed at the front. Its feathers are yellow, painted with white, gray and black.

THE PUMA

-FELlS CONCOLOR-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Meat-eating Mammals (Carnivora)
Family: Felidae.

(The Name "Puma": Puma is the Quechua word for the animal)

AXIS DEER

Axis deer, chital -CERVUS AXIS-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Even-toed Mammals (Artiodactyla)
Family: Cervidae.

The Name "Chital": "Chital" is a Hindi word for "spotted." "Axis" is an unknown word, but possibly comes from an Indian word for the animal. "Deer" comes from the German word "Tier," which simply means "animal."

DAMA DEER

Fallow deer -CERVUS DAMA-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Even-toed Mammals (Artiodactyla)
Family: Cervidae.

The Name "Fallow": Fallow is an obsolete Old English word meaning "reddish-yellow." "Deer" comes from the German word "Tier," which simply means "animal."

PECCARY

This hardy,powerful animal adapts easily to different habitats and to a scarcity of food supplies.

WILD BOAR

Wild boar (Jabalí) -SUS SCROFA-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Even-toed Mammals (Artiodactyla)
Family: Suidae.

(The Name "Boar": Boar is an Old English word for the animal).

WATER BUFFALO

-BUBALUS BUBALIS-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Even-toed Mammals (Artiodactyla)
Family: Bovidae.

(The Name "Buffalo": Buffalo is a Portuguese word for the animal. It is probably derived from the French "boeuf," which gave us the English word "beef," all of which are certainly derived from the family name "Bovidae")

-VULPES VULPES-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Meat-eating Mammals (Carnivora)
Family: Canidae.

(The Name "Fox": Fox is the Old English word for the animal)

GRAY FOX

Gray fox (Zorro Gris) -UROCYON CINEREOARGENTEUS-

(The Name "Fox": Fox is the Old English word for the animal)

Location: South America (Argentina).

Brown hare -LEPUS CAPENSIS-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Hare Shape (Lagomorpha)
Family: Leporidae.

(The name "Hare": Hare comes from Old English "hara," a word for the animal)

-MYOCASTOR COYPUS-

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Gnawing Mammals (Rodentia)
Family: Myocastoridae.

(The Name "Coypu": Coypu is from the native South American Araconian word "koypu," for the animal. "Nutria" is the Spanish nasalized pronunciation of the word "lutra," which means "otter." It is not closely related to the otter, however)

YESTERDAY

SHACK

Of the plain had a two-sloped roof and only one room, which was the bedroom and kitchen of the whole family.

Sometimes had a shelter that was a kind of gallery. It served as an auxiliary room.It was built next to the "rancho" with four,six, or eight posts buried on the ground.These posts supported a roof made of branches or straw that protected against the sun and rain.

Some time ago,everything was fastened with wet thongs of leather. When these thongs dried they were adjusted in such a way that could be unfastened only if they were cut. The "gaucho" could not get the wire and the nails.

"QUINCHADA"

In the regions where there was plenty of straw, the walls were not made of mud,but "quinchadas" (made of straw and reeds).

STRUCTURE

A structure is built with posts and canes (A) that, according to their position, are called like this:(1) they are the "esquineros" (corner posts); (2) the "cumbrera" where the "tijeras" (scissors) (3) are fitted, these rest on the corner posts. The "costaneros largueros" (4) rest on the corner posts. The reeds are put on the scissors (5). The roof of "paja costura" (straw) will be put on the canes. All this rests its weight on the "horcones" (6).

(Detail of the wall made of mud)

(Roof made of canes and "paja quinchada")

(Another view of the rancho roof)

WELL

Is a store destined to keep drinking water,i.e.,good for drinking,cooking and washing. The walls are totally covered by bricks joined with mortar and plastered with a mixture of sand and soil,that prevents the leaking of water. A special tube collects the rain that falls on the roofs of the houses,and takes it to the well,where it is stored for a long time. After awhile,this water must be boiled before drinking.

THE "ESTANCIA" ARGENTINA

Constituted the firm basis of the cattle raising. The rancher is the owner of the estancia,the one who gives the orders to the post men and these men must fulfill these orders correctly.An estancia has several posts,where foremen and laborers live. It is like a small village and a house is miles of distance from the other.Juan Carlos Dávalos,in his book "Los Gauchos" says: "The estancia is a confederation of independent districts where the rancher is the president, the foreman is the legislative power and the post men are the immovable governors. The estancia can naturally change the owner, the governors –or the post men-will not change of feudalism for extremely grave causes"."From the political point of view,the rancher is still the leader. From the social point of view,the gaucho is still free. This way,there is still a friendly balance among them that is,in substance,the loyal subordination of the masses to the best ones in view of a common good:everybody’s profit."

VEHICLES

In areas far from sailable rivers,the carts were the first means of communication known in Argentina. They used to transport either load or passengers between cities and towns. The wagon of each cart,narrow and long, with the roof made of leather or of "quinchada" was mounted on two very high wheels that made the cross of rivers and streams easier.The cart was pulled by oxen -generally three teams- that is why it rode very slowly,covering hardly fifteen kilometers on a whole riding day.

" CARRETAS "

Owing to the dangers of the plain, mainly the danger of the Indians,the cart riders used to travel in groups making a troupe of ten ,fifteen and sometimes more vehicles. The people were armed and at night the carts were placed forming a circle,making a trench. A permanent guard was in charge of watching the field,to raise the alarm if necessary,to the people sleeping either inside or under the vehicles,or in the middle of the circle,warmed by the campfires,which were always lit to keep wild animals away.The laborers were under the orders of a boss or foreman, absolute chief and brave man who was recognized as an only authority in that solitude.Some carts looked like real houses, since they had a room furnished with a bed,table,chair and everything that was needed by the passengers who could afford the ticket.

GALERA

Also known as a stagecoach or messenger,the galera was an antique coach which transported passengers and mail. It had four wheels,a long wagon,a back door,side windows and seats for several people. The top part of the roof was destined to the luggage. The rider sat in the "pescante" (coachman’s seat). The number of animals that pulled the cart varied according to the weight to be transported and the requirements of the way.

THE "GALERA"

Could also have one or more "postillones" (men on horse,who pulled the cart having the lasso tied to the girth). It rode at a gallop or at half speed, so it covered long distances in a few days. To keep this rhythm of speed,the cart animals had to be frequently changed. This operation was done at the staging posts.

THE "POSTA"

THE FORT

(Was a small military village)

It was settled in dispute lands and its main characteristic was to have a structure to protect itself from possible attacks. It consisted of a group of "ranchos" (shafts),a "mangrullo" or vantage point,a house for the officials and soldiers,and a fence made of mud,stone or posts.This village was sometimes built on a slope and surrounded by a wide and deep ditch. View of a fort where you can see the fence made of sticks and the peripheral trench.

FORT  

THE HUNTER "GAUCHO "

The "gauchos" dedicated to the hunting of the South American Ostrich by means of the lasso with balls (boleadoras) . The hunting is done is spring and the beginning of summer. During the hunting of the ostrich the Gauchos showed their skills and bravery.They would ride their horses at full speed behind the fast birds and throw at them the lasso with balls,so it would certainly get entangled in their legs and the prey would roll on the ground.

THE JAGUEL

The Jagüel: it derives from the "quichua" , "jagüei" or "jagüey".It is a pond or ditch that receives and stores the rainwater or the water of some natural kind of spring.The "jagüel" was one of the ways of giving water to the animals in dry seasons. The water was taken by hand or by means of pushing from the horse’s saddle strap and it was poured into a water pipe that carried it towards the drinking trough.The pouring bucket was made of a calf’s leather.Little by little,the system to take water from the "jagüeles" was being developed. The wood pipe "jagüel" had a system of pulley wheels and it was always moved by a horse. It filled a weir,which filled the drinking trough. This system made the horse’s job not so heavy,because the wood pipe slid on a roller.

THE "PALENQUE "

The tethering-post was a post, buried up to certain height near the "rancho",it was used to tie the horses and other animals, so they could not run away if their owners weren’t watching them.

"CORRAL"

The corrals substituted the pits or ditches and consisted of thick posts of hard wood. The posts were put close together,in a circular way and buried up to a certain height. The gate was made by other crossed posts,tied with "guascas" (stripes of leather).Later,eight or nine wires tied to the posts were added to the building of these corrals. These corrals were built in a circular way so that the wild animals would not hurt themselves.

IT IS CALLED

"QUERENCIA"

(homesickness)

a) To the act of feeling affection for somebody or something.b) To the tendency of the man or animal to go back to the place where he has been brought up.c) To that place itself.Men as well as animals get accustomed to living in a specific place. For them,that is the "querencia" and when they are taken to other place,they get homesick and try to go back as soon as possible,even from long distances. The man uses to call "querencia" to the place where he has his house,his family,those things that he loves the most.

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