The Welsh settlers arrived in New Bay, Patagonia in July 1865 to build a town but found the weather terribly cold without houses, leaving the settlers tired, cold and hungry. They were also frightened about obtaining food and potential attacks from pumas or the indigenous Tehuelche tribes. However, when the Tehuelche and Welsh first met, communication barriers were overcome when a Welsh woman placed her baby in the arms of the Tehuelche chief's wife, allowing them to smile and begin to help one another as the Tehuelche helped the settlers and the Welsh taught them to work the land.

1. The Welsh and the Tehuelche
in Patagonia
From: Ferradas, C. (2009). The Value of
Diversity. Buenos Aires:
Pearson/Longman.

2. July 1865. The Mimosa arrives in New Bay. Welsh settlers
are going to build a town in Patagonia.

3. The weather is terribly cold. They haven’t got houses. People
are tired, cold and hungry.

4. People are also very frightened. Can they get enough food?
Are there pumas? Will the indigenous tribes attack them?

5. When the Tehuelche and the Welsh meet, they are both
shocked to see such strange people. The Tehuelche do not speak
Welsh. The Welsh do not speak the language of the Tehuelche.
What can they do?

6. But Elizabeth Adams puts her small baby, Maria, in the arms
of the wife of the Tehuelche chief, and they all smile.

7. After that, the Tehuelche help the Welsh and the Welsh
teach them to work the land.