242 MARINE FORESTS. ^chap. xi. 



kelp, I never failed to discover animals of new and curious 

 structures. In Chiloe, where the kelp does not thrive very 

 well, the numerous shells, corallines, and Crustacea are 

 absent ; but there yet remain a few of the FlustracecB^ and 

 some compound AscidicB ; the latter, however, are of dif- 

 ferent species from those in Tierra del Fuego : we here see 

 the fucus possessing a wider range than the animals which 

 use it as an abode. I can only compare these great aquatic 

 forests of the southern hemisphere, with the terrestrial ones 

 in the intertropical regions. Yet if in any country a forest 

 was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of 

 animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of 

 the kelp. Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species 

 of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter ; 

 with their destruction the many cormorants and other fish- 

 ing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon 

 perish also ; and lastly, the Fuegian savage, the miserable 

 lord of this miserable land, would redouble his cannibal 

 feast, decrease in numbers, and perhaps cease to exist. 



June %th. — We weighed anchor early in the morning and 

 left Port Famine. Captain Fitz Roy determined to leave 

 the Strait of Magellan by the Magdalen Channel, which 

 had not long been discovered. Our course lay due south, 

 down that gloomy passage which I have before alluded to, 

 as appearing to lead to another and worse world. The 

 wind was fair, but the atmosphere was very thick ; so that 

 we missed much curious scenery. The dark ragged clouds 

 were rapidly driven over the mountains, from their summits 

 nearly down to their bases. The glimpses which we caught 

 through the dusky mass, were highly interesting ; jagged 

 points, cones of snow, blue glaciers, strong outlines, marked 

 on a lurid sky, were seen at different distances and heights. 

 In the midst of such scenery we anchored at Cape Turn, 

 close to Mount Sarmiento, which was then hidden in the 

 clouds. At the base of the lofty and almost perpendicular 

 sides of our little cove there was one deserted wigwam, and 

 it alone reminded us that man sometimes wandered into 

 these desolate regions. But it would be difficult to imagine 

 a scene where he seemed to have fewer claims or less 

 authority. The inanimate works of nature — rock, ice, 

 snow, wind, and water — all warring with each other, yet 

 combined against man — here reigned in absolute sovereignty, 



June <^th. — In the morning we were delighted by seeing 

 the veil of mist gradually rise from Sarmiento, and display 



