Malacara (horse)
Encyclopedia
Malacara was a horse which gained a place in the history of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia
, Argentina
by a daring leap which saved the life of his rider, John Evans, on a trip to explore the upper Chubut valley and the Andes
.
John Daniel Evans was three years old when he arrived in Patagonia with the first shipload of Welsh emigrants in 1865. As the colony developed the upper Chubut valley was explored, and John Evans played a prominent part in this, using skills he learnt from the local Tehuelche people. In November 1883 he led a group westwards towards the Andes, looking for gold and exploring. On the way they met an army contingent escorting Tehuelche prisoners to Valcheta
, part of one of the last campaigns in the Conquest of the Desert
. Some of the group decided to turn back, but four men, led by Evans, continued.
By the end of February 1884 they had reached the river now called Gualjaina, and there they met three members of the tribe led by the cacique
Foyel. One of the three, Juan Salvo, knew them, and said that he suspected them to be spies for the army. He tried to take them to Foyel, and when they refused a quarrel resulted. The four explorers decided to head back to the lower Chubut valley, 600 km away, pursued by Foyel's warriors. On 4 March they were ambushed, and Evans' three companions killed. Evans, riding Malacara, took the only way of escape by spurring Malacara towards a precipitous slope into a deep canyon. Malacara made the leap successfully and scrambled up the other side of the canyon. None of Evans' pursuers dared to make the same leap, and the lead he gained while they went round the canyon enabled him to reach safety. Evans continued to explore this area and was a leading figure in the setting up of Welsh settlements here, which in turn led to the area becoming part of Argentina rather than Chile
.
Malacara lived on until 1909, dying at the age of 31. Evans buried him at Trevelin
in a grave bearing the inscription "Aquí yacen los restos de mi caballo Malacara que me salvó la vida en el ataque de los indios en el Valle de los Mártires 4-3-84 al regresarme de la cordillera R.I.P. John Daniel Evans" ("Here lie the remains of my horse Malacara, who saved my life in the Indian attack in the Valley of the Martyrs 4-3-84 when returning from the mountains"). Malacara's grave is now one of the tourist attractions of Trevelin.
Welsh settlement in Argentina
Y Wladfa refers to the Welsh settlement in Argentina, which began in 1865 and occurred mainly along the coast of Chubut Province in the far southern region of Patagonia...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
by a daring leap which saved the life of his rider, John Evans, on a trip to explore the upper Chubut valley and the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
.
John Daniel Evans was three years old when he arrived in Patagonia with the first shipload of Welsh emigrants in 1865. As the colony developed the upper Chubut valley was explored, and John Evans played a prominent part in this, using skills he learnt from the local Tehuelche people. In November 1883 he led a group westwards towards the Andes, looking for gold and exploring. On the way they met an army contingent escorting Tehuelche prisoners to Valcheta
Valcheta
Valcheta is a village and municipality in Río Negro Province in Argentina, seat of government of Valcheta Department.- History :Valcheta is one of the oldest settlements in Río Negro Province...
, part of one of the last campaigns in the Conquest of the Desert
Conquest of the Desert
The Conquest of the Desert was a military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s, which established Argentine dominance over Patagonia, which was inhabited by indigenous peoples...
. Some of the group decided to turn back, but four men, led by Evans, continued.
By the end of February 1884 they had reached the river now called Gualjaina, and there they met three members of the tribe led by the cacique
Cacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
Foyel. One of the three, Juan Salvo, knew them, and said that he suspected them to be spies for the army. He tried to take them to Foyel, and when they refused a quarrel resulted. The four explorers decided to head back to the lower Chubut valley, 600 km away, pursued by Foyel's warriors. On 4 March they were ambushed, and Evans' three companions killed. Evans, riding Malacara, took the only way of escape by spurring Malacara towards a precipitous slope into a deep canyon. Malacara made the leap successfully and scrambled up the other side of the canyon. None of Evans' pursuers dared to make the same leap, and the lead he gained while they went round the canyon enabled him to reach safety. Evans continued to explore this area and was a leading figure in the setting up of Welsh settlements here, which in turn led to the area becoming part of Argentina rather than Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
Malacara lived on until 1909, dying at the age of 31. Evans buried him at Trevelin
Trevelín
Trevelin is a town in the Patagonian Argentine province of Chubut. It is located in the department of Futaleufú, south of Esquel, and had about 6,400 inhabitants at the time of the ....
in a grave bearing the inscription "Aquí yacen los restos de mi caballo Malacara que me salvó la vida en el ataque de los indios en el Valle de los Mártires 4-3-84 al regresarme de la cordillera R.I.P. John Daniel Evans" ("Here lie the remains of my horse Malacara, who saved my life in the Indian attack in the Valley of the Martyrs 4-3-84 when returning from the mountains"). Malacara's grave is now one of the tourist attractions of Trevelin.