Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/421

Rh careful observation to show that these fragments of human manufacture and the fossil bones are coeval, though certainly their appearance favours that opinion.

If, however, this point should not be established, yet looking only to the great length of time required to convert bones into a fossil state, we have still every reason to conclude that, in this stable continent, which has through long ages been subjected to atmospheric influences only, the negro type of mankind must beone of very high antiquity. Yet notwithstanding this antiquity, the people of that race have made slight advances in civilization, or in the commonest arts of life, as compared not only with the people of the Caucasian type, but also with those of the Mongolian and Malayan races, or even with the Red Indian and Polynesian races. 

XIV.—Expedition across the Southern Andes of Chili, with the object of opening a new Line of Communication from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, by the Lake of Nahuel-Huapi and the Rivers Limay and Negro. By, of Chili. (Translated from the Spanish, and communicated by ) Read, May 9, 1864..

[ following paper is extracted from the Diary (in Spanish) of Don Guillermo Cox, a Chilian born, though of British parentage, who, possessed of independent means which enabled him to carry out his object, determined, towards the close of 1862, to make an exploration of the least known parts of the Andes south of Valdivia, in the hope of being able to open a new line of communication across Patagonia between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The Spanish Government, so long ago as 1782, were desirous to ascertain the practicability of such a route; not from any idea of the benefit which might accrue from it to their own people, but in order to ascertain whether or not, in case of war, any hostile power, and especially the English, by passing up the great River Negro, were likely to be enabled to reach their settlements on the coasts of the Pacific. A competent ohicer, Don Bazilio Villarino, was ordered to make a careful survey of the whole course of the river in question, and of the passes across the Andes which were supposed to lead direct to Valdivia, from its upper affluents.

Villarino ascended the river, not however without much labour and

