British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . ants of his day. In connection with Montevideo, itis not a little remarkable to find that in the middle of thenineteenth century the paving-stones for the footways ofthe town were brought from England! The Rev. J. H. Murray, who visited Uruguay and Ar-gentina in 1868, and was for a time chaplain in Colonia,has recorded some frank views concerning the contem-porary British population of Montevideo, which he sayswas neither very attractive, nor
British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . ants of his day. In connection with Montevideo, itis not a little remarkable to find that in the middle of thenineteenth century the paving-stones for the footways ofthe town were brought from England! The Rev. J. H. Murray, who visited Uruguay and Ar-gentina in 1868, and was for a time chaplain in Colonia,has recorded some frank views concerning the contem-porary British population of Montevideo, which he sayswas neither very attractive, nor on a par with that ofBuenos Aires. Fortunately his opinion here clashes with those of vari-ous other contemporary authors, one of whom describesthe same society as of a very superior order—refined,intelligent, and hospitable. So it would seem that it is all a question of point ofview and of the color of the glasses one chooses to wear! There are various curiosities in Mr. Murrays bookwhich make it well worth perusal. Modem languages areseldom the forte of a Church of England parson. Judg-ing by his rendering of the few words he quotes, I cannot. IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 489 help thinking that correct Castilian was a closed book toMr. Murray. At all events his spelling was sufficientlyphonetic to please the most revolutionary American. Aswritten by him, Quinta becomes keenta; at his hands theinoffensive gato, or cat, becomes a gatter, and among hisitems of advice is the following: You must never call anative a Gaucho (pronounced Gowcher) (!), which im-plies a wild savage; nor call a woman, a Chino, or half-bred (equivalent to our female dog), as either would beesteemed a term of reproach. It would seem from such remarks as these that had had his leg pulled by some of the less rever-ent of his congregation; but in any case it seems clearthat he made a very gallant and conscientious attemptto accommodate himself to his surroundings, even when,on an unsuspecting visit
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectsouthamericahistory
