[1] For the geology of Argentina, see Stelzner, _Beitrage zur
geologie der argentinischen Republik_ (Cassel and Berlin, 1885);
Brackebusch, _Mapa geologico del Interiore de la Republica Argentina_
(Gotha, 1892); Valentin, _Bosquejo geologico de la Argentina_ (Buenos
Aires, 1897); Hauthal, "Beitrage zur Geologie der argentinischen
Provinz Buenos Aires," _Peterm. Mitt._ vol. 1., 1904, pp. 83-92,
112-117, pi. vi.
[2] Interesting details of the Argentine fauna may be found in
Darwin's _Voyage of the Beagle_; W.H. Hudson's _Idle Days in
Patagonia_, and _Naturalist in the La Plata_; G. Pelleschi's _Eight
Months on the Gran Chaco_; R. Napp's _Argentine Republic_; and de
Moussy's _Confederation argentine_.
[3] There are two distinct statistical offices compiling immigration
returns and their totals do not agree, owing in part to the traffic
between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Another report gives the
arrivals in 1904 as 125,567 and the departures 38,923. Of the
arrivals 67,598 were Italians and 39,851 Spaniards. The total for the
years 1859-1904 was 3,166,073 and the departures 1,239,064, showing a
net gain of 1,927,009.
ARGENTINE, a former city of Wyandotte county, Kansas, U.S.A., since
1910 a part of Kansas City, on the S. bank of the Kansas river, just
above its mouth. Pop. (1890) 4732; (1900) 5878, of whom 623 were
foreign-born and 603 of negro descent; (1905, state census) 6053. It is
served by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway, which maintains here
yards and machine shops. The streets of the city run irregularly up the
steep face of the river bluffs. Its chief industrial establishment is
that of the United Zinc and Chemical Company, which has here one of the
largest plants of its kind in the country. There are large grain
interests. The site was platted in 1880, and the city was first
incorporated in 1882 and again, as a city of the second class, in 1889.
ARGENTITE, a mineral which belongs to the galena group, and is cubic
silver sulphide (Ag2S). It is occasionally found as uneven cubes and
octahedra, but more often as dendritic or earthy masses, with a blackish
lead-grey colour and metallic lustre. The cubic cleavage, which is so
prominent a feature in galena, is here present only in traces. The
mineral is perfectly sectile and has a shining streak; hardness 2.5,
specific gravity 7.3. It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in
large masses, as in Mexico and in the Comstock lode in Nevada, it forms
an important ore of silver. The mineral was mentioned so long ago as
1529 by G. Agricola, but the name argentite (from the Lat. _argentum_,
"silver") was not used till 1845 and is due to W. von Haidinger. Old
names for the species are Glaserz, silver-glance and vitreous silver. A
cupriferous variety, from Jalpa in Tabasco, Mexico, is known as
jalpaite. Acanthite is a supposed dimorphous form, crystallizing in the
orthorhombic system, but it is probable that the crystals are really
distorted crystals of argentite. (L. J. S.)
ARGENTON, a town of western France, in the department of Indre, on the
Creuse, 19 m. S.S.W. of Chateauroux on the Orleans railway. Pop. (1906)
5638. The river is crossed by two bridges, and its banks are bordered by
picturesque old houses. There are numerous tanneries, and the
manufacture of boots and shoes and linen goods is carried on. The site
of the ancient _Argentomagus_ lies a little to the north.
ARGHANDAB, a river of Afghanistan, about 250 m. in length. It rises in
the Hazara country north-west of Ghazni, and flowing south-west falls
into the Helmund 20 m. below Girishk. Very little is known about its
upper course. It is said to be shallow, and to run nearly dry in height
of summer; but when its depth exceeds 3 ft. its great rapidity makes it
a serious obstacle to travellers. In its lower course it is much used
for irrigation, and the valley is cultivated and populous; yet the water
is said to be somewhat brackish. It is doubtful whether the ancient
Arachotus is to be identified with the Arghandab or with its chief
confluent the Tarnak, which joins it on the left about 30 m. S. W. of
Kandahar. The two rivers run nearly parallel, inclosing the backbone of
the Ghilzai plateau. The Tarnak is much the shorter (length about 200
m.) and less copious. The ruins at Ulan Robat, supposed to represent the
city Arachosia, are in its basin; and the lake known as Ab-i-Istada, the
most probable representative of Lake Arachotus, is near the head of the
Tarnak, though not communicating with it. The Tarnak is dammed for
irrigation at intervals, and in the hot season almost exhausted. There
is a good deal of cultivation along the river, but few villages. The
high road from Kabul to Kandahar passes this way (another reason for
supposing the Tarnak to be Arachotus), and the people live off the road
to avoid the onerous duties of hospitality.
ARGHOUL, ARGHOOL, or ARGHUL (in the Egyptian hieroglyphs, AS or
AS-IT),[1] an ancient and modern Egyptian and Arab wood-wind instrument,
with cylindrical bore and single reed mouthpiece of the clarinet type.
The arghoul consists of two reed pipes of unequal lengths bound together
by means of waxed thread, so that the two mouthpieces lie side by side,
and can be taken by the performer into his mouth at the same time. The
mouthpiece consists of a reed having a small tongue detached by means of
a longitudinal slit which forms the beating reed, as in the clarinet
mouthpiece. The shorter pipe has six holes on which the melody is
played; the three upper holes being covered by the fingers of the right
hand, and the lower by those of the left hand. The longer pipe has no
lateral holes; it is a drone pipe with one note only, which, however,
can be varied by the addition of extra lengths of reed. In the
illustration all three lengths are shown in use. An arghoul belonging to
the collection of the Conservatoire Royal at Brussels, described by
Victor Mahillon in his catalogue[2] (No. 113), gives the following
scale:--
[Illustration: SHORT PIPE.
Holes uncovered.]
[Illustration: DRONE PIPE.
Without additional joint.
With shortest additional joint.
With shortest and medium additional joints.
With longest additional joint.]
[Illustration: (From Edward William Lane's _An Account of the Manners
and Customs of the Modern Egyptians_.)