268 



RIVERS. 



ascended it in boats, and found their way to 

 Mendoza. Below the Colorado, the Rio Negro 

 falls into the sea. This is the largest of all the 

 rivers of Patagonia, and the recipient of numerous 

 streams which issue from the Andes to the south 

 of the province of Mendoza. In its course is a 

 great island called Choleechel, where the Indians 

 cross to make their incursions into the terri- 

 tory of the Buenos Ayreans. In 1782, Villarino 

 was sent by the Spanish government, to ex- 

 plore the Rio Negro. He pursued his voyage, 

 and found it navigable to the foot of the Cor- 

 dilleras, within fifty miles of Valdivia, on the 

 Pacific ; but he did not proceed further. General 

 Rosas has built a fort at Choleechel, in order 

 to keep the Indians in check. The importance 

 of a navigable river across the continent, induced 

 the Spaniards to form a settlement upon its 

 banks, which still exists at some distance from 



