Cuero. Some non-sources

 

The following is a list of books (from my personal library) written by the first Europeans to venture into Patagonia and write about its animals, plants and people.

I named the post non-sources because not one of these explorers or chroniclers mention the Cuero.

Books, contemporary with the last Natives, that do not mention the Cuero or freshwater stingrays

1593 – 1736. De Olivares, M., (2005). Los jesuitas en la Patagonia: Las misiones en la Araucania y el Nahuelhapi 1593- 1736. B. Aires: Continente.
De Olivares’ account tells of the missions in Southern Chile and Nahuel Huapi. It has plenty of information, but none on the “Cuero”.

1767. Falkner, T., (2008). Descripción de Patagonia y de las partes adyacentes de la América meridional. B. Aires: Continente.
Falkner transcribed the native’s reports on the geography and biology (animals and plants) found in Patagonia.

1793. Fonck, F., (1896). MenéMndez, Francisco Viajes de Fray Francisco Menéndez a Nahuel Huapi. Valparaiso: Imp.Gillet, 1896-1900. v.1.
This book transcribs the expedition of Menéendez and other older ones (Mascardi, Laguna, Guglielmo, Villagrán, etc.).

1806. De la Cruz, L., (1835). Descripci0n de la naturaleza de los terrenos que se comprenden en los Andes, poseídos por los peguenches… B. Aires: Imprenta del Estado.
De la Cruz rode across the Andes from Antuco en Southern Chile, through what is now Neuquén province, across the Colorado River and from there to Buenos Aires.

1828. D’Orbigny, A., (1999). Viaje por la América meridional II. Buenos Aires: Emecé.
He visited the town of Carmen de Patagones and rode up and down the Negro River several times (upstream about 100 km).

1833. Darwin, C., (1987). The Voyage of the Beagle. Ware: Woodsworth Editions.
Darwin just rode along the northeastern coast of Patagonia, from Carmen de Patagones to the Colorado River.

1862. Cox, G., (2006). Expedición de la Patagonia Norte: un viajero en el Nahuel Huapi: 1862-1863. B. Aires: Continente-Pax.
Cox crossed the Andes into Nahuel Huapi area and rowed down the Limay River until he capsized close to Alicura. He returned to Valdivia via Lake Lacar and returned the same way to rescue his colleagues held hostages by the natives.

1865. Claraz, G., (2008). Viaje al rio Chubut: Aspectos naturalísticos y etnológicos (1865-1866). B. Aires: Continente.
He crossed what is now the provinces of Rio Negro and Northern Chubut (Argentina).

1869.Musters, G., (2007). Vida entre los Patagones: un año de excursiones desde el estrecho de Magallanes hasta el río Negro: 1869-1870. B. Aires: Continente-Pax.
He rode along the western edge of the Patagonian steppe, from Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan to what is now Alicura in Neuquén Province and then crossed Rio Negro Province reaching Carmen de Patagones.

1870s. Moreno, E., (1979). Reminiscencias de Francisco P. Moreno. B. Aires: Eudeba.
Moreno, F., (1876). Viaje a la Patagonia Septentrional. [Conference]. B. Aires, Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina I.
Moreno, F., (2007 a). Exploración de la Patagonia Sur II: el lago Argentino y los Andes meridionales. 1877. B. Aires: Continente.
Moreno F., (2007 b). Exploración de la Patagonia Sur I - Por las cuencas del Chubut y el Santa Cruz: 1876. B. Aires: Continente.
Moreno mentions several expeditions across Rio Negro, Northern Chubut and Neuquén provinces. He details animal and plant species as well as several native myths. No reference to “Cuero” or stingrays

1879 Zeballos, E., (1958). La Conquista de quince mil leguas. B. Aires: Hachette.
He compiles several previous expeditions (Villarino, Bejarano, Biedma, Cox, Musters) and includes many interesting references on the geography of the region.

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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia

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