Desde Valdivia al País de las Manzanas: el colono Otto Muhm y su diario de viaje al río Limay (1857-1858)

Abstract

German settler Otto Muhm made a journey across the Andes from Valdivia to País de las Manzanas in northern Patagonia to trade with cacique José María Bulnes Llanquitrue in late 1857 and early 1858. He kept a diary during his voyage, however, this document has remained unpublished. Historiography was unaware of their location. Here I offer an interpretative presentation of its contents, focusing on the historical background of expeditions from southern regions of Chile and Ngulumapu to Limay in Patagonia (in present day Argentina). I focus on the importance of the republican colonization, reconfiguration of the frontier space and indigenous leadership. Attached to this presentation, I provide an annotated transcript of the diary, a key element that allows us to deepen our knowledge of cultural practices and political dynamics during the 19th century.

Keywords

• 19th century
• Patagonia
• Mapuche
• chilean-german colonization
• travel diary
• Llanquitrue