Welsh Still Spoken In Southern Patagonia

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31345, 15 April 1967, Page 5

Welsh Still Spoken In Southern Patagonia

introduction of irrigation systems, and, by 1880, the settlement had increased to 800. There were two towns with a strongly Welsh atmosphere—Rawson, now toe capital of toe territory of Chubut, and Trelew. Then some of toe settlers moved 300 miles inland and founded a third town, Esquel. Over toe years the Welsh community has grown to a population of 5000. But modern progress inevitably constitutes a threat to these living reminders of toe past As young people leave for

the big cities in toe search for better opportunities and marry Spanish-speaking local girls, it looks as though the Welsh tradition and language may eventually disappear. The Argentine Post Office has perpetuated toe memory of this remarkable Welsh episode in the national history by issuing the special stamp illustrated here. Released in September 1965, and printed in black and vermilion, it depicts the Mimosa, toe ship in which the original Welsh emigrants sailed for Argentina in 1865.