The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

LAKES AND ETTEBS OF PATAGONIA. 388
far more extensive than that of the Colorado. All the running waters of the
eastern slopes of the Andes between 36^ and 41"' south latitude are collected by
the Xeuquen and the Limay, its two main headstreams which enclose a vast
triangular space about the foothills and the pampas.
The Xeuquen, which rises near the Chilian volcano in the little lake Malbarco,
7,000 feet above sea level, is joined by numerous torrents before plunging into a
wild soTse in the range of foothills below Piedra Lisa. It follows the eastern
base of this range as far as its confluence with its largest tributary, the Rio
Agrio, which issues from a longitudinal valley between two parallel Cordilleras.
A short distance below the confluence nearly all the mountain tracks from the
passes between Mounts Antuco and Quetrupillan, converge at the Paso de los
Indios, that is, the chief ford, now guarded by a fort. Below this point the
Xeuquen sweeps roimd the plateau to its junction with the Limay ; but in this
part of its course it is joined by no other affluents.
The Eio Limay.—Lake Xahtel-Hcapi.
The Limay, second main headstream of the Rio Xegro, is formed by the
confluence of numerous torrents which descend from the Argentino-ChUian
water-parting in a space of about 185 miles north and south. Several lakes
flooding old glacial valleys send their overflow to the impetuous Limay, which
itself escapes from the famous Lake Xahuel-Huapi, " Tiger Island," so named
from a long sedgy island occupying the centre of the basin.
Xahuel-Huapi, which occupies a depression of great importance on the line of
a future trans-continental highway between Bahia Blanca and Valdivia, has been
known for over two centuries. Here the Jesuit missionaries had already estab-
L'shed themselves in the midst of the Araucanian Indians so early as 1670, and at
the beginning of the eighteenth century they founded a settlement near the head
of the Rio Limay. But this station was destroyed by an incursion of hostile
natives, and although it was again visited by other missionaries, Xahuel-Huapi
was not systematically explored till the year 185o.
Since that time numerous travellers have found their way to the shores of this
lovely lake, and about 1878 it was formally occupied by the Argentine Govern-
ment. Xevertheless, its contour lines are not yet accurately determined, and its
form is differently represented by diSerent observers. According to Siemiradzki
this Alpine sea is much smaller than is usually supposed, being only 28 instead of
50 miles long, as stated by previous travellers, with an extreme breadth of not
more than 9 or 10 miles.
But whatever be its size, all are unanimous in praise of this beautiful lake, in
whose crystal waters are mirrored the surrounding heights, in one place bare
trachyte cliffs, in another steep granite escarpments clothed with beech and pine
groves, and dominated in the background by snowy pyramids. Its altitude above
the sea is variously estimated at from 1,700 to over 2,000 feet.
Immediately after issuing from Nahuel-Huapi, the Limay trends round