Chap, xxi.] PATAGONIAN FJORDS, 477 



steep slopes of loose stones had to be crossed between short 

 lengths of the remaining path. There was a deep drop into 

 the river below. My horse halted a second or two before 

 each of these slopes, evidently well knowing their treacherous 

 nature and also the best way of crossing them, and then went 

 across with a quick run as fast as he could make his way. 



I myself should have crossed them in the same manner 

 on foot ; the momentum helps one across the sliding stones, 

 and there is no time for stones to roll down from above. I 

 certainly thought that the horse managed his feet better than 

 the mule on this occasion, and as far as my experience goes, a 

 horse that is thoroughly accustomed to mountain work is better 

 to ride than a mule in dilificult places, and is certainly quicker, 

 though the mule has secured the credit of being the better 

 mountaineer. 



Messier Channel and the Straits of Magellan, December 31st, 

 1875, to January 20th, 1876.— The ship entered the Gulf of 

 Penas on the coast of Patagonia south of the Chonos Archi- 

 pelago, on December 31st, and for a fortnight steamed through 

 the wonderful series of sounds or fjords into which the south- 

 west coast of South America has, like the coasts of British 

 Columbia, of Greenland, Norway, and other countries, been 

 slowly engraved by the prolonged action of glaciers. Such an 

 indented coast-line occurs only in those regions in high latitudes 

 where there is a constant precipitation of moisture, since 

 glaciers can only be fed and perform the eroding work where 

 there is an abundant snowfall.* 



The Western Patagonian fjords are very beautiful. The 

 route led through narrow channels, between successive ranges 

 of mountains, capped here and there by snow and glaciers, the 

 dwindled representatives of those which scooped out the main 

 features of the scenery. The fjords remind one somewhat of 

 those of Norway. They branch and send off offsets on either 

 hand perpetually. Thus, as these long sounds are traversed, 

 constant glimpses are obtained down the communicating 

 channels, which show themselves bounded by successions of 

 mountain ridges, fading gradually out of sight, one behind the 

 other in the distance. 



In the upper part of the Messier Channel, near the Gulf of 

 Pehas, the mountains are covered from top to bottom by a dense 

 forest of small trees, and one of the chief peculiarities of the 

 scenery is caused by the fact that these forests come right down 

 to the sea-shore, and overhang the beds of mussels growing on 

 the rocks. The channels are full of Fur-Seals, which were to be 



* O. Peschel, "Neue Probleme der vergleicheiiden Erdkunde." Leip- 

 zig, Duncker und Humboldt, 1:576. Die Fjordbildungen, s. 9. 



