1834.] EXPLORING THE SANTA CRUZ. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Santa Cruz— Expedition up the River — Indians — Immense streams of 

 basaltic lava — Fragments not transported by the River — Excavation of 

 the valley— Condor, habits of— Cordillera — Erratic boulders of great size 

 —Indian relics — Return to the ship — Falkland Islands — Wild horses, 

 cattle, rabbits — Wolf-like fox— Fire made of bones — Manner of hunting 

 wild cattle — Geology — Streams of stones— Scenes of violence — Penguin — 

 Geese — Eggs of Doris — Compound animals. 



SANTA CRUZ, PATAGONIA, AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



April I3th, 1834. — The Beagle anchored within the mouth of 

 the Santa Cruz. This river is situated about sixty miles south of 

 Port St. Julian. During the last voyage Captain Stokes pro- 

 ceeded thirty miles up it, but then, from the want of provisions, 

 was obliged to return. Excepting what was discovered at that 

 time, scarcely anything was known about this large river. Cap- 

 tain Fitz Roy now determined to follow its course as far as time 

 would allow. On the 18th three whale-boats started, carrying 

 three weeks' provisions ; and the party consisted of twenty-five 

 souls — a force which would have been sufficient to have defied a 

 host of Indians. "With a strong flood-tide and a fine day we 

 made a good run, soon drank some of the fresh water, and were 

 at night nearly above the tidal influence. 



The river here assumed a size and appearance which, even at 

 the highest point we ultimately reached, was scarcely diminished. 

 It was generally from three to four hundred yards broad, and in 

 ihe middle about seventeen feet deep. The rapidity of the cur- 

 rent, which in its whole course runs at the rate of from four to 

 six knots an hour, is perhaps its most remarkable feature. The 

 water is of a fine blue colour, but with a slight milky tinge, and 

 not so transparent as at first sight would have been expected. 

 It flows over a bed of pebbles, like those which compose the 

 beach and the surrounding plains. It runs in a winding course 

 through a valley, which extends in a direct line westward. This 



