CHAP, x.] THE BEAGLE CHANNEL. 217 



the name of the elder Fuegian), when a violent squall compelled 

 us to shorten sail and stand out to sea. The surf was breaking 

 fearfully on the coast, and the spray was carried over a cliff 

 estimated at 200 feet in height. On the 12th the gale was very 

 heavy, and we did not know exactly where we were : it was a 

 most unpleasant sound to hear constantly repeated, " keep a good 

 look-out to leeward." On the 13rh the storm raged with its full 

 fury : our horizon was narrowly limited by the sheets of spray 

 borne by the wind. The sed looked ominous, like a dreary 

 waving plain with patches of drifted snow: whilst the ship 

 laboured heavily, the albatross glided with its expanded wings 

 right up the wind. At noon a great sea broke over us, and 

 filled one of the whale-boats, which was obliged to be instantly 

 cut away. The poor Beagle trembled at the shock, and for a 

 few minutes would not obey her helm ; but soon, like a good 

 ship that she was, she righted and came up to the wind again. 

 Had another sea followed the first, our fate would have been 

 decided soon, and for ever. We had now been twenty-four days 

 trying in vain to get westward ; the men were worn out with 

 fatigue, and they had not had for many nights or days a dry thing 

 to put on. Captain Fitz Roy gave up the attempt to get west- 

 ward by the outside coast. In the evening we ran in behind 

 False Cape Horn, and dropped our anchor in forty-seven 

 fathoms, fire flashing from the windlass as the chain rushed 

 round it. How delightful was that still night, after having been 

 so long involved in the din of the warring elements ! 



January 15th, 1833. The Beagle anchored in Goeree Roads. 

 Captain Fitz Roy having resolved to settle the Fuegians, accord- 

 ing to their wishes, in Ponsonby Sound, four boats were equipped 

 to carry them there through the Beagle Channel. This channel, 

 which was discovered by Captain Fitz Roy during the last voyage, 

 is a most remarkable feature in the geography of this, or indeed 

 of any other country : it may be compared to the valley of Loch 

 ness in Scotland, with its chain of lakes and friths. It is about 

 one hundred and twenty miles long, with an average breadth, not 

 subject to any very great variation, of about two miles ; and is 

 throughout the greater part so perfectly straight, that the view, 

 bounded on each side by a line of mountains, gradually becomes 

 indistinct in the long distance. It crosses the southern part ol 



