170 REAR-ADMIRAL F. W. BEECHEY'S ADDRESS. [May 26, 1856. 



" By our exploration of this river we have sliQwn that the Salado 

 is navigable to within the province of Santiago, without presenting 

 an obstacle, and that, with the 'expenditure of a little labour, it 

 could, in the course of a few months, be made navigable to with- 

 in the province of Salta, a distance of not less than 900 miles by 

 land. 



" The navigation of this river will open to the provinces Jujui, 

 Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca, Santiago del Estero, parts of Cordova 

 and Santa Fe, an easy way by which to transport their products and 

 merchandise, which now, under the most disadvantageous circum- 

 stances, are conveyed in ox carts of the most unwield}^ construction, 

 involving an expenditure of time and money, and prohibiting the 

 exportation of many valuable articles of commerce which could easily 

 and profitably be transported by the river. 



" The river was ascended in a small steamer from its mouth, the 

 distance of 150 m. in a right line, aad 350 by the river. This being 

 in July (the season of low water), the steamer could not ascend 

 higher. The river was then entered from its upper waters ; its diffi- 

 culties, its obstacles to immediate navigation throughout the above 

 extent, carefully examined ; its rise and fall considered ; and the 

 result showed no obstacle that may not easily be removed ; and none 

 of those obstacles, such as shoals and banks, which, when removed 

 from one place, reproduce themselves in another. 



" We have recently discovered also a new channel between the 

 island Martin Garcia and the coast of the Banda Oriental, of 2 ft. 

 more water than the old channel contains. The importance attached 

 to this discovery is not confined to the greater depth of water in 

 the new channel, but it assumes a political character. It deprives 

 Martin Garcia of that important geographical position which is 

 attached to it by the Government of Buenos Ayres, in whose hands 

 it is at this time. Instead of Buenos Ayres possessing, as she now 

 claims, exclusive jurisdiction over the old channel, leading into the 

 rivers Parana and Uruguay, on the ground that her temtory is on 

 both sides, over the new channel, she has only conciirrent juris- 

 diction with the Banda Oriental. The new channel is more easily 

 entered, and in it vessels are not obliged to pass nearer to Martin 

 Garcia than 11 m.; thus taking from this island the perfect com- 

 mand it formerly had over the entrance to the rivers Parana and 

 Uruguay." 



M. Francis de Castelnau continues the publication of his important 

 journey in South America. 



