](38 S. CRUZ, PATAGONIA. [CHAP. ix. 



CHAPTEB 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 Eelics 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 Vio- 

 lencc Penguin Geese Eggs of Doris Compound Animals. 



SANTA CKTJZ, PATAGONIA, AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



April 13th, 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 proceeded 

 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. Captain Fitz 

 Roy now determined to follow its course as far as time would allow. 

 On the 18th three whale-boats started, carrying three weeks' pro- 

 visions ; 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 

 the middle about seventeen feet deep. The rapidity of the current, 

 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 trans- 

 parent as at first sight would have been expected. It flows over 

 a bed of pebbles, like those which compose the beach and the 



