John E.'s Diary

Notes & Glossary

Abbreviations:

AAS – Anglo-Argentine Spanglish.  Terms and/or words taken from Argentine Spanish and incorporated into English with minimal modification in spelling and pronunciation, and with very similar and/or most of the original meanings.  A prime example is “camp”, taken from “campo”, another is “inch” taken from “incha pelotas” [pain in the arse].

Sp. – Argentine camp Spanish

Abbreviated Benitz names:

FJBz – Franz J. Benitz, eldest son of WB (1850-1881)

AABz – Alfred A. Benitz, son of WB (1859-1937)

JEBz – John E. Benitz, son of WB (1861-1916)

WABz – William A. Benitz, son of WOBjr (1888-1956)

WB – Wilhelm Benitz, family patriarch (1815-1876)

WOBjr – William O. Benitz, son of WB (1854-1911)

Terms:

Administrador – On an estancia, the manager or administrator; the person at the top of the estancia management hierarchy, he could be the owner or hired.  On a fair sized estancia, he might have a mayordomo reporting to him, one or two segundos, one or more capataz’s in charge of cuadrillas (crews) of peones (workmen).  Estancias might be split up into sections with puesteros.  Because of his position, the manager became a well respected person in the community.  A hired manager lived very well on an estancia with many perks (house, food, servants) but it was not a very lucrative position.  Retirement without benefits could be a rude shock.  Using a naval ship as a corollary, the administrador corresponds to the captain, mayordomo to XO, segundo to ensign, capataz to bosun, peón to seaman.

Alfa - Short for alfalfa, a productive forage legume.  In the absence of fertilizers, soils are allowed to recover by rotating crops (3-5 years) with pastures (3-4 years) made up of a mixture of grasses and legumes (usually alfa).  The legumes fix (add) nitrogen to the soil and are very nutritious, however, they do cause bloat (empaste), particularly new growth.

BA – (AAS) Abbreviation universally applied to Buenos Aires within the Anglo-Argentine community.

Banco de Londres – Usually the Bank of London and South America, one of the few to survive the crash in the 1930’s it was considered very solid.

Bell Ville – Large town in south-eastern Córdoba province and a stop on the Ferrocarril Central Argentino between Rosario and the city of Córdoba.  Monte Buey and Los Algarrobos are about 50 km. to its SE.  Originally known as Fraile Muerto (Dead Friar), in c.1870 it was renamed Bell Ville in honor of Robert A. Bell, from Dunbar, Scotland.  He and his brother, Anthony M. Bell,  were amongst the first estancieros to settle the area in the 1860’s, and were leaders in the campaign to rid the area of malones.

Bretes - Cattle shute or raceway.  Heart of a system of corrales for working cattle (or sheep) on an estancia, it consists of a corral narrow at one end (embudo) that funnels cattle into a tight shute (manga) between two solid walls of wooden boards into which approx. ten head of cattle can be packed head to tail to be branded, vaccinated, etc.  At the far end from the embudo is a vice (yugo) used to grip a steer about its neck so that it can be worked upon while standing.  Typically beyond the yugo is a tiny enclosure (torín) from which several gates lead, used for parting cattle to different corrales or for directing them to a weighing machine (balanza), cattle dip (baño), or truck loading dock (embarcadero).  Bretes are much more efficient and less harmful to livestock than lassoing them individually.

Boleto – Boleto (de Venta) is a contract or bill of sale (1 May, 1904). Boleto de Compra is a purchase contract or offer.

Caballo - Horse, either in general or a gelding (castrated male horse) in the specific, depending on context.  Montado a caballo - rode horse-back; montaba un caballo - rode a gelding - the crux of the 1982 movie: The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez.  See padrillo (stallion) and yegua (mare).  Caballos is the common use term for horses in general (yeguarizos is its more refined version).

Camp - (AAS) From campo; meanings: estancia [ranch], an area of land, the rural-countryside in general, or the ranching and farming community as a whole.

Campo Winter – Estancia (10,000 ha.) established by General Winter located on the southern shores of the Río Bermejo, Chaco prov.  Bought by AABz in 1916(?), he added to it another 8,000+ ha. of Ea. El Bermejo when it was sold by JEBz & partners.  AABz' widow, Olga, sold it all after his death in 1937, the proceeds distributed amongst his many nephews & nieces.  Used for breeding beef cattle. 

Cañada de Gómez – Large town in central Santa Fé province and a stop on the Ferrocarril Central Argentino between Rosario and the city of Córdoba.  Las Rosas is about 40 km. to its north, La California about 30 km.

Capataz – (Sp.) Foreman on an estancia.  See Administrador for more about the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Capón (capones) - Wether, a castrated male sheep.  Borrego is a ram.

Casco – (Sp.)  Estancia headquarters, can sometimes be quite substantial (e.g. La California, Las Tres Lagunas, Los Algarrobos).  On large estancias consisted of the owner’s mansion and parkland, plus individual housing for the mayordomo, capataz, book-keeper, key married workmen, rooms for the household and field workmen, additional buildings for admin. office, butcher’s shop, store, dairy (tambo), kitchen to feed the workmen, black-smith and machine repair shop, as well as the requisite barns, sheds, garages, windmills, and water reservoirs.  The corrales adjoined but not too closely because of dust (& irate wives) – all surrounded by a woodland of planted trees (pine, eucalyptus, paraiso were popular because the locusts would not consume them). On estancias that have shrunk (e.g. through inheritance), substancial cascos have become non-productive burdens.

Central Argentine Railroad – (AAS) See Ferrocarril Central Argentino.

Colono – A colonist, however on an estancia the term meant a tenant farmer or share cropper, usually immigrants, many from Italy.

Comisión de Caminos - Roads Commission.  In 1908, JEBz was on the Comisión de Caminos de Punilla and appointed president of the Comisión de caminos de Unión.

Contribución Directa - Provincial real estate tax levied upon the value of all land and fixed assets, typically paid in quotas (installments).

Corral (corrales) - System of enclosures for holding and/or working cattle.  On an estancia would include bretes but not at a remate (auction) grounds.

Cosecha - Crop or crop season.

Criollo (criolla) - Creole (literal translation), when referring to people.  Originally meant someone of Spanish ancestry born in the colonies, in modern terms it means the country folk of the pampas, their customs, food, songs, and dances.  Akin to country and western in the US.  In tourist terms, most gauchos are criollos.  A true criollo is a man of his word, he may be of modest means but he has pride in his honor. A great website to visit is: www.soygaucho.com

Criollo - Native, when referring to animals.  Horses: The native criollo breed is akin to the mustang in the US, stocky and strong, it is descended from escaped Spanish stock that ran wild on the pampas.  Sheep: Descended from Spanish stock, still found in Corrientes and other remote provinces.

Cruz Chica – [Small Cross] See The Hills.

Cruz Grande – [Large Cross] The name of JEBz’s summer home on the river, and in the village, by the same name in the province of Córdoba.  He built the house in 1904, the property is currently part of St. Paul’s School.  See The Hills.

Cuadra - [Square] A land measure that varied in size by province, in Córdoba it was 1.694 hectareas (see our page on Measures). Though it was made obsolete when Argentina metrified during the 1880's, it remained in use for many years, in particular by colonos,  JEBz denotes it in his diary with a tiny square, e.g  200^□ lotes.

Cuadrilla – Crew of peones (workmen) on an estancia.  See Administrador for more about the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Discounted (AAS) - From descontado.  Typically refers to a discounted loan or note (bill) taken out at a bank.  The loan includes the interest and stamp taxes, i.e. the net amount received is the loan amount less interest and taxes.

Durham – Alternative name for the Short-horn breed of cattle (red with variegated white markings).  Developed in the US during the mid to late 1800’s as a more productive beef animal than the Texas Long-horn.  It was imported into the Argentine, but lost favor to the beefier British breeds Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus (red with white faces, and all black respectively).

El Bermejo - Estancia (20,000 ha.) on the southern shores of the Río Bermejo, province of Chaco (then a national territory), used for breeding beef cattle, managed by JEBz but owned by The Bermejo Estancia Co. Ltd., a partnership between JEBz, Thomas F. Agar, Malcolm Cross, Col. J.S. Ruston, and others (see JEBz diary April-Oct. 1910).  Bought in 1910 from Araoz for $14m/n per ha., sold in 1917(?) when AABz purchased 8,000+ ha. Bordered on the west by an estancia owned by General Winter.  See Campo Winter and Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd.

El Rincón – AABz’s summer home in Cruz Grande, Córdoba.  Encompasses the entire watershed of the Cruz Grande river valley (quebrada) above the summer homes of his mother and siblings.  Built in 1915, it is still in the family.  See The Hills.

El Venado - Estancia comprising the eastern league of Los Algarrobos, it became the home of JEBz's daughter Elsie and her husband Tommy Sympson.  They sold it in 196x when they retired to the Sierras Grandes.

El Victoriano – An estancia immediately to the south-west of Los Algarrobos.  Bought in late March, 1904, by the Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd in which JEBz held shares. See JEBz diary: March, 1904, & May 3, 1908.

Encomienda – Courier or package sent by courier. 

Escribano – (Sp.) Literally writer, it means notary public.  However, in US terms they are more akin to a para-legal, more than a notary but less than a lawyer.  Most contracts (e.g. land sales) must be written and certified by them, for which they charge a fixed percentage of the value of the contract.  Today computers have made their work simple and their rates can be negotiated down.

Estancia – (Sp.) Ranch.  Often referred to as a camp.  Estancias and how they were organized compare best to large Texas ranches.  See Administrador for more on the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Estanciero – (Sp.) Ranch owner or manager.  See Administrador for more on the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Exposición Rural – Agricultural show (fair), typically organized by a Sociedad Rural at the town, county, or provincial level.  The national Exposición Rural is held in winter (sometime during July through September) at the Palermo show grounds in Buenos Aires and is organized by the Sociedad Rural Argentina – known as the Palermo Show amongst Anglo-Argentines.  JEBz judged Durham (short-horn) cattle at the show in Rosario.

F.C.C.A. - Ferrocarril Central Argentino - see below.

F.C.O. - Ferrocarril Oeste - see below.  JEBz (diary, 21 April, 1908) mentions a crew surveying for a proposed line north of Los Algarrobos.  However, it seems more likely to have been the F.C.C y R. or the F.C.O.S. (Ferrocarril Oeste Santafecino, bought by the F.C.C.A. in 1900).

F.C.C. y R. - Ferrocarril Córdoba y Rosario - see below.

Ferrocarril Central Argentino -  JEBz often rode this railroad.  Wide gauge railroad built 1863 - 1870 by William Wheelwright (North-American with British capital), it joined Rosario with Córdoba, passing through Cañada de Gómez, Bell Ville, and Villa Maria.  In 1908 it absorbed the BA to Rosario line, nationalized in 1949, it became part of the Ferrocarril Nacional General Bartolomé Mitre (F.C.N.G.B.M.), privatised during the 1990's, it is today part of the Nuevo Central Argentino S.A. (N.C.A.). Click here for a history of Rosario railroads, and the N.C.A.

Ferrocarril Oeste - The first railroad of Arg., begun in 1857.  Centered on BA, it spread west as its name indicates.  It did not have lines in Córdoba or Santa Fé.

Ferrocarril Córdoba y Rosario - Metric gauge railroad that ran between Rosario and Córdoba paralleling the F.C.C.A. to the south, passing through Casilda, Cruz Alta, Monte Buey (in 1910), and Río Tercero.  Begun after 1888, may have changed its name to the Ferrocarril Central Córdoba (F.C.C.C.), it apparently was acquired by the F.C.C.A. prior to 1910 because the track through Monte Buey was laid by the F.C.C.A.

Galpón - Barn or large shed.

Giro - Bank draft.

Greystone - The summer home of WOBjr, it was on the road to Los Cocos from Cruz Grande, a 2-3 kilometers north from his siblings. (see The Hills).

Guía – (Sp.) Permit to move livestock, or Bill of Lading.  No livestock can be moved from one location to another (e.g. estancia, market) without an official guia issued by the local police that documents the ownership, head, brands, etc.

Hectaria – (Sp.) Metric hectare, 100 meters square (equal to 2.47 acres).  It is abbreviated ha. or hect.  See our page on Measures.

Jefe Político – Head-man, of a provincial county (departamento) or town.

La California –  Estancia founded by WB in 1874, 9 km. south of Las Rosas, province of Santa Fé, it became the Benitz family’s main operation and residence.  Purchased from Carlos Vernet for 16,000 pesos fuertes [426,000 US-D2000), it originally consisted of an east-west strip 1x4 leagues (10,800 ha. – 6,000 x 24,000 varas).  A quarter of it (the westernmost league) was sold in 18xx to pay the debts of FJBz.  When WB's sons split up their properties in 189x, the casco and the 2 eastern leagues went to WOBjr, the third league went to AABz who named it estancia Las Tijeras.  After WOBjr’s death (1911) it was split up again; WABz inherited the casco and was able to retain much of the rest by purchasing (with the assistance of his uncle AABz) several of his sisters’ sections when they sold.  After WABz’s death (1953) it was once again split up and more was sold.  Today the original casco is owned by WB’s great-grandson Charles A. Benitz.  Another section, estancia El Piquete, is owned by the sons of F. Malcolm Benitz (themselves g-g-grandsons of WB).  The land is slightly undulating with very fertile soils (loess), first used for cattle breeding and some wheat.  It is today dedicated to corn, soybeans, wheat, and cattle fattening (grass fed).

La Cumbre – The principal town of the summer resort area on the west slopes of the Sierras Chicas de Córdoba.  See The Hills.

La Escondida – Estancia bought by JEBz on 17 May, 1904, from Benjamín Sastre, for the Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd., it comprised 939.917 ha. (at $40 per ha., $37.596.68, or 439,881.16 USD-2000).  Adjoined La Minnesota to the east and El Victoriano to the south, JEBz estimated its true size to be 961 ha.  For full details, see his diary, 17 & 30 May, 1904..

La Independencia -  Name given to the westernmost league of La California, beyond Las Tijeras, it was sold in 18xx to pay off the debts of FJBz.

La Josefina – Josephine Kolmer (de) Benitz’ home in Cruz Grande, Córdoba, built for her by her son JEBz in 1910, sold in 19xxx.  Across the Cruz Grande river from son JEBz’s summer home.  Later owners (the Bell family) renamed it Bellmont, it subsequently became part of St. Paul’s School.

La Minesota – Estancia comprising the western league of Los Algarrobos.

Lanar (lanares) - Sheep livestock, more refined than ovejas (sheep).  The technical term ovinos is often used in official surveys.

Langosta - (Sp.) See locusts (the term used by JEBz).

La Quebrada - Name by which JEBz refers to AABz' property that became El Rincón.  It encompassed the entire valley (quebrada) above his own property on the Cruz Grande river.

Las Lomas – Estancia to the north of Las Rosas, established in 1874 by the Dickinson brothers, Henry and Alfred.  They were first cousins of Olga. B. Horner, AABz's wife.

Las Lomas - Town established by the Dickinson brothers in 1888 west of and next to Las Rosas.  It was absorbed by and became the major part of Las Rosas (which had the advanage of being on the railroad).

Las Rosas – Estancia to the north-east of the town of Las Rosas established in 1864 by Guillermo Kemmis.

Las Rosas – Town in the department (county) of Belgrano, central Santa Fe province, about 40 km. north of Cañada de Gómez, founded in 1889 by Guillermo Kemmis and made the county seat in 1890.  See also Las Lomas.  Las Tres Lagunas borders it to the south-west;  La California is 9 km. to its south-east.

Las Tijeras – Estancia owned by AABz, part of the original La California.  Allotted to Alfred in 18xx when the Benitz brothers split up the properties they held in common.  Most of it, including its casco, was allotted to Willie Horner after Olga’s death in 1963.  Pieces of it have since been sold.  See Las Tres Lagunas. 

Las Tres Lagunas – a.k.a. The TL.  Estancia (xxxx ha.) bought by AABz in 1908, it became his principal home.  The town of Las Rosas borders it to the north, estancia Las Tijeras borders it to the south.  After Olga died in 1963, it and Las Tijeras were split into three parts amongst John, Mary, & Willie Horner: TL, Don Alfredo, and Las Tijeras respectively.  Don Alfredo was created from the western section of the original two estancias.  During the 1990’s half the remainder of the TL was sold, including the casco.

League – (AAS) Today a metric land area, 5 kilometers square, 2,500 hectares.  Prior to the 1880’s, it was 6,000 varas square, approx. 2,700 hectareas.  For more detail, see our page on Measures.

Locusts - During the summer months clouds of these insects (langostas) would descend from their breeding grounds in the north, devouring everything in their path.  Barreras [barriers] made of metal sheets (still found stacked in the back of old galpones [barns]) were erected to protect crops by directing the young saltonas (flightless hoppers) into pits where they were burnt using kerosene flame-throwers.  Many an estanciero lost his crops, and sometimes his fortune as well, to locusts before they were exterminated in the 1940's & 1950's using DDT.  Estancia montes are predominantly made up of paraíso (paradise) trees from Africa and eucaplytus trees from Australia because they were disliked by the locusts. 

Los Algarrobos – Estancia of 4 sq. leagues bought by JEBz in 18xx, it is located south of Monte Buey in south-eastern Córdoba province.  Upon his death, the estancias La Minnesota and El Venado were split off, one sq. league each.  The remainder was operated as one unit until 195x when it was sold.  Very flat with lighter soils than those of La California, originally used for sheep and cattle breeding, it is today dedicated to crops (in particular soy beans for which its sandier soils are excellent) and cattle fattening.

Los Algarrobos Sociedad Anónima Ganadera - Approx.:  Los Algarrobos Cattle Company, Inc., company set up by JEBz on March 16, 1906, to own Los Algarrobos.  Final papers were drawn up May 17, 1906, with JEBz as the major shareholder, AABz, WOBjr, and others as minor partners, included to meet legal requirements (see Jan., 1907).  The draft of his first annual report can be found at the foot of the 1907 diary page.

Los Palmares – Estancia bought by AABz in 1884 and sold in 1915(?).  Located on the Río Yacaré south of Vera and west of Alejandra in north Santa Fé province, semi-forested it was used for cattle breeding.

Lote - JEBz term: Field.  Potrero is more correct.

Malón (malones) – (Sp.) Band of hostile Indians.  By the time JEBz purchased Los Algarrobos, malones were no longer a threat in south-eastern Córdoba.  However, they were in northern Santa Fé to his Uncle Frank (1860’s at Colonia California) and brother Alfred (1880’s at estancia Los Palmares).

Manada – (Sp.) Herd of brood mares (yeguas), with or without the stallion (padrillo).

Mayordomo – (Sp.) Executive Officer on an estancia.  See Administrador for more about the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Ministro de Obras Públicas – (Sp.) Minister of Public Works.

Monte – (Sp.) Woods.  The original Argentine pampas was native grass bare of trees except for the occasional isolated ombú, or group of espinillo trees along an arroyo.  Anything such as a woods stood out upon the flat horizon much like a hill, or in Spanish: monte.  Hence, on the pampas woods became known as montes.

Monte Buey – Town in the department (county) of Unión, south-east Córdoba province; Los Algarrobos lies to its SW some xxxx km.  See its history below.

m/n – See Peso Moneda Nacional.

Novillo - Steer.  Vaquillona - Heifer.  See Toro.

Padrillo - Stallion (horse) [or boar (pig)].  Potrillo - male foal or colt.  Potro – Untamed colt, 2-3 years old.  See yegua, caballo, manada, and tropilla.

Pagaré – Note, IOU, debt.

Palermo Show – See Show and Exposición Rural.

Pasto Fuerte or Pasto Puna - Harsh native grasses of the pampas, likely covered all of La California and Los Algarrobos before they were ploughed.

Peón (peones) – (Sp.) Generic term for a workman (workmen) on an estancia.  See Administrador for more about the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Peón de Campo – (Sp.) The modern term for a gaucho (cowboy).

Peso Moneda Nacional - In these diaries and documents, the symbol “$” denotes the peso, not the dollar.  The term moneda nacional (denoted by the ^m/_n) was used to differentiate it from the earlier currency, the peso argentino.  For example,  $10 ^m/_n is ten pesos moneda nacional.  We have not converted all currency transactions into modern terms, however one peso ^m/_n in 1905 is approx. $11.70 USD in 2000.  For more detail, see our page on Measures.

Porteño – (Sp.) A person from the port of Buenos Aires.  Term applied to anyone from Buenos Aires and its suburbs.  Like their counterparts from New York and Paris, they are often regarded as arrogant by their unfortunate countrymen.

Potranca – (Sp.) Untamed filly, 2-3 years old.  See Yegua.

Potro – (Sp.) Untamed colt, 2-3 years old.  See Padrillo.

Puestero – On an estancia, someone who lives in a puesto.  Typically a valued peón (e.g. the horse tamer).  On larger estancias, a puestero was akin to a section manager on a ranch.  He was responsible for the care of all livestock in his section and was expected to revise the livestock on a daily basis.  In the estancia management hierarchy, he was almost level with a capataz.  See Administrador for more on the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Puesto – (Literally: place or post)  A house on an estancia, typically remote from the casco, where a puestero would live with his family and a limited amount of livestock of his own (pigs, sheep, cattle, horses). 

Punilla – Departmento de…  The department (county) in which La Cumbre and other resort villages are located, central Córdoba province NW of Córdoba city.  See The Hills.

Quebracho - A very hard heavy wood, it will sink in water.  There are two varieties, the blanco and colorado (deep red).  The colorado (Schinopsis quebracho-colorado (Schlechtend)) is highly valued for fence posts and rail-road ties. A good quebracho fence post will last 50-70 years, longer than the fence wire - holes are drilled in the post through which the wire is passed whereas in the US where softer shorter-lasting woods are used the wire is stapled to the post.

Quintal - A common measure of weight for crop yields, abbreviated "qq".  Prior to metrification in the 1880's it was 46 kg., after metrification it came to mean 100 kg. (see our page on Measures).  It is not clear from JEBz' diary which of the two he meant, in particular when he refers to it in context with squares (cuadras), an obsolete measure of land area.

Rematador – (Sp.) Livestock auctioneer.

Remate Feria – (Sp.) Livestock auction.  Typically livestock is sold in small lots, each lot is herded into a corral next to a stand where the cattle-buyers sit, signaling their bids to the rematador standing between them and the corral.

Represa - Dam.  Based on context, it is JEBz's term for a water tank for livestock, typically filled by a windmill.  Tanks can be made of earth (a circular earth berm) or of corrugated iron sheets (a.k.a. an Australian tank) or concrete slabs joined in a circle.

Revise - (AAS) From revisar.  To revise a camp (estancia) is to inspect it and the cattle.  An estancia manager or his delegates will revise the camp daily, checking for problems that might need attention.  The correct term in camp Spanish is recorrer.

Rosario – Large city north of Buenos Aires on the Paraná River, in the province of Santa Fé.

Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd. – Investment company JEBz established with Mr. T. Agar, major investor & president.  The company owned El Victoriano and La Escondida which were managed by JEBz.  First mentioned in JEBz diary of Feb., 1904, when he received 15 shares dated July 7, 1903.  See also El Bermejo.

Second – (AAS) Term used for a segundo. 

Segundo – An apprentice manager on an estancia, they were typically well educated adventurous young men from Europe or the sons of other estancieros.  If they made a career of it, they would rise to mayordomo and eventually manager.  See Administrador for more on the management hierarchy of an estancia.

Show – (AAS) Agricultural show or fair.  The most important is the Palermo Show, held each July or August in Buenos Aires.  See Exposición Rural.

Sierras Chicas de Córdoba – A chain of mountains (highest: Uritorco – 1,950 mts.) running north-south immediately to the west of Córdoba city.  A series of summer resort villages are found on its western slopes where the climate is very pleasant in summer; the air is cool, dry, and fresh.  Anglo-Argentines favored the area close to La Cumbre, about 90 km. drive north-west of Córdoba city - see The Hills.

Sierras Grandes de Córdoba – A north-south chain of higher mountains (highest: Champaquí – 2,790 mts.) paralleling and west of the Sierras Chicas.  On its western slopes, just south of Cura Brochero, are the villages of Mina Clavero and Nono where the more reclusive Anglo-Argentines preferred to retire.  The climate is drier, the amenities more austere.

Sociedad Anónima Ganadera Los Algarrobos - Named swapped around.  See Los Algarrobos Sociedad Anónima Ganadera.

Sociedad Rural – (Sp.) Rural Society of farmers & ranchers; in the US would be a Cattleman’s Association.  They also organize the agricultural shows – see Exposición Rural; in the US would be the county and state fairs.

Square - (AAS) English for cuadra.  See Cuadra.

The Hills – (AAS) Term by which most Anglo-Argentines refer to the summer resort area of the Sierras Chicas de Córdoba – see its entry.  The term encompassed the town of La Cumbre and the villages to its north: Cruz Grande, Cruz Chica, & Los Cocos.  It sometimes included the village of Ascochinga on the east side of the mountains, north of Córdoba city.  In the early 1900’s long before air-conditioning many well-off Anglo-Argentines built themselves summer villas in The Hills to escape the heat of the pampas and Buenos Aires.  It is still favored by Anglo-Argentines as a retirement community. (Some have complained that during winter the social activities are limited to endless rounds of cocktail parties and funerals.)

The TL – Abbreviation used within the Benitz family for estancia Las Tres Lagunas.

Toro - Bull. Ternero - male calf.  Novillo - Steer.  See Vaca.

Tropa - Herd of cattle. Tropero is someone who herds cattle.

Tropilla - Small herd.  If unqualified, most likely refers to a small herd of horses.

Trun (trunes) - A Chilean bur oak tree.  Based on context, we believe JEBz meant beams made of its wood.

Unión – Departmento de…  The department (county) in which Monte Buey and Los Algarrobos are located, located in south-eastern Córdoba province.

Vale - Note or IOU.

Vaca - Cow.  Ternera - Female calf. Vaquillona - Heifer. Vaquilla - Young maiden cow. See Toro.

Vacunos - Cattle.  The technical term bovinos is often used in official surveys.

Vaquillona - Heifer.  Novillo is steer. See Vaca.

Yegua - mare. Potrilla - female foal or filly. Potranca - untamed filly, 2-3 years old. See padrillo, caballo, manada, and tropilla.

Yeguarizos -  Familiar term for horse (equine) livestock, more refined than caballos.  Also used are caballar (riding stock), equinos (equines, technical term often used in offiicial surveys), and petisos (ponies, familiar term for petisos de polo - polo ponies).  See padrillo and yegua.  The following is a very limited table of horse hair colorings: