The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-07-28
THE WELSH COLONY OF PATAGONIA.

-EDIToR's DRAWER, in HdrpeT's Magazine
for august.
THE WELSH COLONY OF PATAGONIA.
The following document, is taken from
the North Wales, (G. b. Chronicle of
June 18th, ult.
The following is full Admiralty re.
port respecting this colony:
Her majesty's ship Cracker, at sea,
lat. 43 % S., long. 60 Is W., April II,
1871.
SIR,-In obedience to your orders of
the 24thsultimo, have the honor of
forwarding for your information the
following report of my proceedings
during my visit to the Welsh colony ON
the Chupat river, together with all the
information regarding it that / have
been able to collect.
/ anchored in Engane Bay, Off the en-
trance, on the afternoon of the 4th of
April, and proceeded by boat up the
river, about six miles to the village of
Chupat, which is now nearly deserted,
as most of the colonists reside on their
farms, some of which are nearly ten
miles higher up the river.
AS the bar was not considered safe to
cross at night, remained on shore at
the house OF Mr.. Lewis Jones, by
whom was most Hospitality received,
and on the following morning, as did
not consider it would be safe to bring
the Cracker into the river, made ev-
cry arrangement to have horses sent
over to the New Gulf, that might be
able to ride from there to Chupat, and
then embarked and proceeded to the
anchorage in the southwest corner of
New Gulf, having left the surgeon be-
hind to visit the settlers professionally,
but more especially to establish vac
cination and collect general informa-
ton with regard to the colony.
After reVisiting the settlement from
my anchorage at New Gulf, have much
satisfaction in reporting that found
the colonists in excellent health and
spirits the latter is to be wondered at
when state that the only communica-
ton for 20 months that has existed be-
tween themselves and the outer world
was the arrival of Mr.. Lewis Jones,
with eleven new colonists, in May, 1870
direct from England.
The gratitude of these poor people to
his Excellency the British Charge DAT
fairs at Buenos Ayres and yourself fol-
causing inquiry to be instituted after
their welfare was in some cases MOST
touching, and no doubt this visit has in
a great degree removed that feeling OF
utter isolation from which many were
beginning to suffer.
The colony has been suffering for the
last two years from drought, which has
caused the failure more or less of the
wheat crop for that time; and found
by taking the whole crop of last year al
49, tons it was Just about sufficient
when gathered, to support the present
population ESTIMATED as equal to lie
aduIts) at the rate of Glib q week each
until next harvest, supposing none
were kept for seed. Although onlv six
tons were used for sowing last season
more ground has been since prepared
and from eight to ten tons of seed are
now required for the next crop.
The great bulk of this 161a tons Of
wheat is in the hands of a few, who
however, are able to sell but very little
of it, requiring it themselves for seed
and consumption.
Two families !. found utterly desti.
tute Of grain, while ten others had GER
tainly not enough to last more than two
months or so, and Mr.. Lewis Jones &c
whom have granted q passage tc
Monte Video, does not expect to return
to the colony with supplies for foul
months.
Under these circumstances, after tbs
most minute and searching inquiry BY
myself and the surgeon of the Cracker.
determined to take the regponsibility
of leaving what provision could bC
spared to assist the poorest families
these, 10 In number, were divided int
three classes, according to their seyera
necessities, and among them were Oil
tributed the following quantities o
provisions, viz. 504 Lbs. biscuit, 3Ot
lbs, peas, 4O4 lbs. -four, 308 lbs. oatmea
and POI pounds preserved potatoes, l724
lbs. in all, giving to each family Of TIT
first, or poorest class, 160 lbs. the sec
ond Glass 80 lbs. and to the third class
"a lbs.
I also at the Recommendation of tn,
surgeon, distributed equally among tn
colonist 200 lbs. of. soap, an article the.
had been destitute of for months.
The whole colony has been withou
months, living chiefly on bread, butter
and milk, and what guanaeo and os
| trfch meat they could obtain by hunt
ing; but the supply of the latter
getting kmore scarce every day, and il
| all probability will cease in few years
before that time, however, if the colon
goes on progressing as it has done 70
the last two years in cattle, an ampl
supply Of meat will be procured with
out hunting. AS yet the cattle are ia
too valuable to use for that purpose.
At present there are only seven shee
in the colony, but Mr.. Lewis Jones in
L tends trying to make arrangements 70
the importation of several focks, as we
as some tons Of potatoes for planting
which are much required at present.
The only means OF communicable
that exists at present with Bueno
Ayres is by land wa PatagOnes, but Z
reach it an unknown tract of countr
has to be traversed, with little or n
i water to be found. Therefore, 1t ma
has existed for the last two years ther
is really no means Of communication.
/ In the absence Of Q small colonii
schooner of about 10 tons, by which th
colonists could hold communicate
with Buenos Ayres or Patagones 6
their pleasure, 1t would be an immens
boon to the colony for the Patagone
ste8mer (Which runs between thu
Il place and Buenos Ayres once month
to 60 on to Chupat at least twice yea
at stated intervals. The steamer, a
told, is part property Of the ArgentiI
Government, which appears to me
4 make the idea more feasible; but con
munication from without In some wa
hold to be absolutely necessary {
least twice year to insure the prospe
ity Of the country.
What 10 wanted more than anythiI
, in the settlement IL . store fitted vii
ell sorts Of necessaries, especially clotl
ing, the latter Of which has reached ]
{ lowest ebb with most Of the colOnist
J and they have at present no means Of r
/ pienishing THAR stock.
} i visited all tina inhabitants, and on
, heard OF the one complaint, Viz: wa
, OF communication and its accompan
: ing hardships, the want OF ali the col
D mon necessaries Of life dependent the
J, on. Not on0 individual expressed
: wish to leave the colony, and all agre
that they would ha quite comfortat