RE-ENTERING THE ATLANTIC. 271 



both sides being low and little varied. From Cape 

 Froward to Peckett Harbour the Patagonian coast 

 runs nearly due north, and then trends east-north-east 

 for about seventy miles, where the channel is con- 

 tracted between the northern shore and Elizabeth 

 Island. After passing the island, we entered the part 

 called " The Narrows," where the Fuegian coast 

 approaches very near to the mainland of the continent. 

 As the day was declining, we issued from this channel 

 into a bay fully thirty miles wide, partly closed by 

 two headlands, which are the landmarks for seamen 

 entering the Straits from the Atlantic. That on the 

 Fuegian side is Cape Espiritu Santo, and the bolder 

 promontory on the northern side is the Cape Virgenes, 

 To a detached rock below the headland English sea- 

 men have given the name Dungeness. In the failing 

 light, I could see that the coast westward from Cape 

 Virgenes rises into hills, which appeared to be bare of 

 forest. I should guess their height not to exceed two 

 thousand feet, if it even reaches that limit. 



It was almost quite dark when we finally re-entered 

 the Atlantic, and found its waters in a very gentle 

 mood. In these latitudes the name Pacific is not well 

 applied to any part of that which the older navigators 

 more fittingly designated the Southern Ocean. 



It was impossible to live for more than a week in 

 winter, at the southern extremity of the American 

 continent, without having one's attention engaged by 

 the singular features of the climate of this region, and 

 especially by their bearing on wider questions which 

 have of late years assumed fresh importance. Mainly 

 through the writings of Dr. James Croll, and the re- 



