64 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. [1839. 



rise abruptly to the height of one thousand or fifteen hundred 

 feet. Inland, there are mountains, many of them of a con- 

 ical shape, from four to five thousand feet above the sea level. 

 Tall isolated rocks, detached from the main shore, are 

 scattered along the coast, like giant sentinels on guard. 

 Numerous ravines intersect the wall of rocks behind them, 

 where the fierce blasts of the stormy Atlantic die away in 

 echoes, or howl the requiem of some gallant ship stranded 

 amid its foaming breakers. Even during the midsummer 

 months of this climate — January and February — the moun- 

 tains do not put off their mantle of snow ; but ever wear 

 the same cold and cheerless appearance. 



Tierra del Fuego is separated from Patagonia on the 

 north, by the Straits of Magellan, named after the Portu- 

 guese navigator who discovered them. Vessels bound to the 

 Pacific can pass through the straits without difficulty, if 

 attended with favorable winds ; but, as there is a strong 

 current setting in from the Atlantic, it is hazardous to 

 attempt the passage, from the east, in a square rigged craft, 

 — though with steam vessels, or small fore-and-afters, there 

 is much less danger. Coming from the west, the passage 

 may be made with ease, and it is infinitely less hazardous 

 than to encounter the squalls, " catpaws," and icebergs, 

 which are the common accompaniments of a voyage around 

 the cape. 



Between Staten Land and Tierra del Fuego, are the 

 Straits of Le Maire, which are about fifteen miles wide, and 

 something lrss than that in length. As a general thin?, it is 

 always best for a vessel intending to double the cape, to pass 

 through these straits ; it shortens the distance considerably, 

 and on all ordinary occasions there is not, the least danger. 

 Violent squalls sometimes issue from the ravines, but it is 

 easy to guard against them. Northwest winds prevail off 

 this coast, and with these the straits may be threaded in 

 three or four hours. This was the route taken by the 

 Exploring Squadron ; they passed through the straits on 



