Chapter XVII: Mercedes and the Swiss Colony 205

The journey to Mercedes--The outskirts of Montevideo--
Santa Lucia--A pleasant town--Native quince and gorse--
San José--The terminus of a great highway--Some feats
of engineering--The urban importance of San José--A
modern flour-mill--Mal Abrigo--Character of the soil--A
country of boulders--Some animals of the Sierra de Mal
Abrigo--The surroundings of Mercedes--A charmingly
situated town--The terminus of the line--Some
characteristics of Mercedes--Urban dwellings--The
delights of the _patio_--The disadvantages of economy in
space--Streets and plazas--The hospital--A well-equipped
institution--View from the building--An island in the Rio
Negro--The Port of Mercedes--River craft--Some local
scenes--An equine passenger--Formidable gutters--The
industries of the town--The Hôtel Comercial--Colonia
Suiza--Situation of the Swiss Colony--Uruguayan Campo
dwellings--Method of construction--Simplicity of
household removals--Aspect of deserted huts--The houses
of the Swiss Colony--Habits in general of South American
colonists--The range of nationalities--Liberty accorded--
Population of the Colonia Suiza--Its industries--A dairy
farming community--An important butter factory--An
instance of a rapid rise from poverty to riches.