iS 3 4-] STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 167 



arts of life, comes nearest the Fuegian ; he can, however, boast of his 

 boomerang, his spear and throvving-stick, his method of climbing trees, 

 of tracking animals, and of hunting. Although the Australian may be 

 superior in acquirements, it by no means follows that he is likewise 

 superior in mental capacity ; indeed, from what I saw of the Fuegians 

 when on board, and from what I have read of the Australians, I should 

 think the case was exactly the reverse. 



CHAPTER XL 



STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. CLIMATE OF THE SOUTHERN COASTS. 



Strait of Magellan Port Famine Ascent of Mount Tarn Forests Edible 

 Fungus Zoology Great Sea-weed Leave Tierra del Fuego Climate 

 Fruit-trees and Productions of the Southern Coasts Height of Snow- 

 line on the Cordilleri Descent of Glaciers to the Sea Icebergs formed 

 Transportal of Boulders Climate and Productions of the Antarctic 

 Islands Preservation of Frozen Carcases Recapitulation. 



IN the end of May, 1834, we entered for the second time the eastern 

 mouth of the Strait of Magellan. The country on both sides of this part 

 of the Strait consists of nearly level plains, like those of Patagonia. 

 Cape Negro, a little within the second Narrows, may be considered as 

 the point where the land begins to assume the marked features of Tierra 

 del Fuego. On the east coast, south of the Strait, broken park-like 

 scenery in a like manner connects these two countries, which are 

 opposed to each other in almost every feature. It is truly surprising to 

 find in a space of twenty miles such a change in the landscape. If we 

 take a rather greater distance, as between Port Famine and Gregory 

 Bay, that is about sixty miles, the difference is still more wonderful. 

 At the former place, we have rounded mountains concealed by imper- 

 vious forests, which are drenched with the rain, brought by an endless 

 succession of gales ; while at Cape Gregory, there is a clear and bright 

 blue sky over the dry and sterile plains. The atmospheric currents, * 

 although rapid, turbulent, and unconfined by any apparent limits, yet 

 seem to follow, like a river in its bed, a regularly determined course. 



During our previous visit (in January), we had an interview at Cape 

 Gregory with the famous so-called gigantic Patagonians, who gave us a 

 cordial reception. Their height appears greater than it really is, from 



* The south-westerly breezes are generally very dry. January agth, 

 being at anchor under Cape Gregory : a very hard gale from W. by S., 

 clear sky with few cumuli ; temperature 57, dew-point 36, difference 21. 

 On January 1 5th, at Port St. Julian : in the morning light winds with much 

 rain, followed by a very heavy squall with rain, settled into heavy gale 

 with large cumuli, cleared up, blowing very strong from S.S.W. Temper*- 

 ture 60, dew-point 42, difference 18. 



