330 Voyage of the Novara. 



that interesting group of islands, wliicli have belonged to 

 England since 1842. The few colonists at present resident 

 there, not exceeding some hundreds in all, are maintained 

 here at the expense of the British Government, and trade in 

 skins and salt provisions. However, the annual cost of keep- 

 ing up the colony does not amount to above £5000. Should 

 the project of cutting a canal across the Isthmus of Central 

 America, which has been tlie dream of centuries, ever be 

 realized, the Falklands will become one of the most solitary 

 spots on the face of the globe, owing to the entire 

 abandonment of the route round Cape Horn, and as such 

 would become admirably adapted for a penal colony. Judging, 

 however, from the information respecting the southern parts 

 of South America furnished by Admiral Fitzroy, so well 

 known in connection with meteorological science, the eastern 

 side of Terra del Fuego presents much greater advantages 

 for such a project, and we cannot but feel surprised that 

 England has not already founded an establishment there, 

 where so many advantages are obvious at a glance, especially 

 those relating to navigation. 



From the Falkland latitude, the Novara steered nearly a 

 great circle course, or, in other words, followed the shortest 

 line of distance, to the point where she must pass through the 

 "Horse latitudes," about 25'' W. of Greenwich, and with 

 favourable west winds, sometimes rather stormy, sped along 

 at from 200 to 250 knots per diem on her homeward voyage. 

 On 5th June, about 9 p.m., a sudden squall from W.N.W. 



