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[[underline]] May 7 - B.A. [[/underline]]

     We slept late.  Frances and I went to 11.30 Mass at the Cathedral, and wandered about the big church afterward, being especially interested in the chapel where San Martin is buried.  A huge marble monument to him with brass plaques testifying to his many victories, and his work in liberating Argentina, Peru and Ecuador from the Spaniards, was most impressive.  A guard in navy blue uniform trimmed with red, and a gleaming helmet, was standing at attention.

     At 8.30 we boarded the train for Cordoba.  It was European-type, with rather narrow compartments for two, but clean and comfortable.  We had a good table d'hote dinner (price 3 pesos), and went early to bed. 

[[underline]] May 8 - Cordoba [[/underline]]

     We were met at the station at 8.30 by Mr. Pereya and Mr. Bosch of the Cordoba Zoo.  As soon as we were settled in the Plaza Hotel (a suite of two double rooms with bath for 20 pesos), and had had our coffee, we went out to the Zoo.  

     This Zoo is supported by the Province of Cordoba.  Formerly they received 20,000 pesos a year for animals, but [[strikeout]] now [[/strikeout]] the present financial arrangement is that the Province pays the employee and buys food for the animals, but any new animals have to be secured in any way possible.  The entrance charge is 10 centavos.

     Zoological garden and botanical garden are combines, with 70 species of native plants making a pleasant setting for the animals.  Approaching the Zoo from the street, one looks down into a deep barranca, which forty years ago was a hideout for bandits!  It looks from the street level like a rather narrow, dusty gully, but as one descend the steps one is constantly amazed by the way the valley extends between the eroded hills, conserving moisture so that the botanical specimens flourish.  The steep cliffs make an excellent background for big cages.  It almost looks as though no excavating at all was necessary for the enclosures for gnu and lion, simply a barricade across the front of a natural [[strikeout]] paddockxx [[/strikeout]] cage, where the back and two sides were formed by nature.  There are 16 hectares in the park, and 20 employes care for the grounds and animals.  There are 125 species of animals and birds.  The reptile collection is limited to a half dozen snakes, including one of the dark Eunictus.

     There is a large cement-faced pit for lions, and three month-old cubs are the third generation born in the Zoo.  A huge flight cage for vultures and eagles contains the largest artificial (cement) tree we had ever seen.  The top of the cage is visible from the street level - ballyhoo for the zoo.  The collection includes nutria, capybara, puma, West African buffalo, a very tame hippopotamus (Mr. Bosch sat in its mouth, lay on its back),  nilghai, vicuna, llama, guanaco, douracouli, three brown lemurs. and a pet skunk.  The last was one of the small ones native to Argentina and Mr. Bosch