1 834-] 233 



CHAPTER XI. 



STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. — CLIMATE OF THE SOUTHERN- 

 COASTS. 



Strait of Mag-ellan — Port Famine — Ascent of Mount Tarn — 

 Forests — Edible Fungus — Zoolog^y — Great Seaweed — Leave 

 Tierra del Fuego — Climate — Fruit-trees and productions of 

 the southern coasts — Height of Snow-line on the Cordillera 

 — Descent of Glaciers to the Sea — Icebergs formed — Trans- 

 portal of Boulders — Climate and Productions of the 

 Antarctic Islands — Preservation of frozen carcasses — 

 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 Impervious 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 Inter- 

 view at Cape Gregory with the famous so-called gigantic 



• The Bouth-westerly breezes are generally very dry. January 29th, being 

 At anchor under Capt- r.rcKory : a ver^ hard gale from W. by S., clear sky with 

 few cumuli ; temperature 57*, dew-point 36°--(lilfcrcnce 21*. On January 15th, 

 at Port St Julian : in the morning light winds with much rain, followed by a 

 very heavy squAll with rain — »«Tttlc<l into heavy gale with larfjc cumuli — 

 cleared up, blowing very strong from S.S.W. Temperature 60*, dew-point 4a* 

 —difference 18*. 



