436 eepoet— 1879. 



abound in the highlands, and coffee is largely cultivated in Karinchi. The im- 

 portance of the river as a highway for the eastern parts of the West Coast Govern- 

 ment and the inland districts of Jambi and Karinchi does not therefore merely 

 depend upon its fitness for transport of coal from the Omhilin valley. 



4. Discovery of the Sources of the Chico in Southern Patagonia. 

 By Don Ramon Llsta. 



After a summary of the chief physical characteristics of Patagonia and its 

 people, and a brief mention of the chief authorities referring to tbat country, this 

 paper described the explorations of Don Ramon Lista, who in 1878 was sent b) r 

 the Buenos Ayres Government and the Sociedad Cientifica Argentina to investigate 

 Southern Patagonia for scientific purposes. Having landed at Punta Arenas in 

 the Straits of Magellan in March, after a careful examination of the mines there 

 he set out in mid-August on his northward journey. After passing the Santa Cruz 

 valley, the exploration of the course of the Chico commenced, being the important 

 part of the undertaking. At the end of September the confluence of the Shebuen 

 and Chico was reached, and the valley of the latter followed past the curious 

 isolated basaltic rock Mawaish, to the confluence of a new river on the north side, 

 named Belgrano by the traveller. On the 19th, a lake was discovered four miles 

 long and two broad, fed by several streams. The valleys at the foot of the 

 Cordillera were thickly clothed with fragrant, evergreen, antarctic beeches of very 

 large size and great age, only found on the skirts of the Andes. Above these trees, 

 at the extreme point reached, Sefior Lista planted the flag of the Argentine 

 Confederation. Having examined the two northern sources of the Chico, the 

 southern one was also explored, and on October 30 the party returned eastward, 

 reaching an encampment of friendly Tehuelches in the Shehuen Valley on 

 November 6. These Indians are divided into two great tribes, one inhabiting 

 northern Patagonia, between the Chubut and Limay, and the other wandering 

 between the Chubut and the Straits of Magellan. These main divisions contain 

 many smaller clans, under about ten chiefs. The large average stature of the 

 Patagonians is in the main confirmed, the tallest man measured being 6 ft. 4 in. 

 They are indolent and addicted to gambling, but very hospitable and kind, and 

 with the chase as their only occupation. A collection of words now in use made 

 by Seiior Lista was found to agree very closely with those given by Pigafetta 

 in 1520. 



Geographers are indebted not only to Lista for his explorations of the Chico, 

 but to his predecessor Moreno for his examination of the Santa Cruz and discovery 

 of two lakes. Lista has also brought home many objects of zoological and ethno- 

 logical interest. 



3. On Present Italian Geographical Explorations. By Gr. Dalla Vedova, 

 Professor of Geography at the University of Borne, Secretary of the 

 Italian Geographical Society. 



After referring to the national difficulties in the way of Italian geographical 

 enterprise, the writer enumerated the following modern voyages of exploration by 

 his countrymen : — 



1. That of Renzo Manzoni, of Milan, who has twice journeyed from Aden to 

 Sanah in Yemen. Being prevented by native opposition from penetrating further into 

 the interior both at Sanah and Berbera, he has started for Hadramaut, to make 

 zoological collections. 



2. That of Carlo Piaggia, of Lucca, who in March 1879 started from Khartum 

 on his way to the Tumut River, and camped near Famaka for the rainy season, 

 ne has probably now left that place, as an invitation has been sent to him by the 

 Milan African Society to command a new expedition. 



