( IIAI-. x.] THE BEAGLE CHANNEL. 207 



to their wishes, in Ponsonby Sound, four boats were equipped to 

 cany them there through, the Beagle Channel. This channel, 

 which was discovered by Captain Fitz Eoy during the last voyage, 

 is a most remarkable feature in the geography of this, or indeed 

 of any other country : it may be compared to the valley of Loch- 

 ness in Scotland, with its chain of lakes and friths. It is about 

 one hundred arid twenty miles long, with an average breadth, not 

 subject to any very great variation, of about two miles ; and is 

 throughout the greater part so perfectly straight, that the view, 

 bounded on each side by a line of mountains, gradually becomes 

 indistinct in the long distance. It crosses the southern part of 

 Tierra del Fuego in an east and west line, and in the middle is 

 joined at right angles on the south side by an irregular channel, 

 which has been called Ponsonby Sound. This is the residence of 

 Jemmy Button's tribe and family. 



\th. Three whale-boats and the yawl, with a party of twenty- 

 eight, started under the command of Captain Fitz lioy. . In the 

 afternoon we entered the eastern mouth of the channel, and shortly 

 afterwards found a snug little cove concealed by some surrounding 

 islets. Here we pitched our tents and lighted our fires. Nothing 

 could look more comfortable than this scene. The glassy water of 

 the little harbour, with the branches of the trees hanging over the 

 rocky beach, the boats at anchor, the tents supported by the crossed 

 oars, and the smoke curling up the wooded valley, formed a picture 

 of quiet retirement. The next day (20th) we smoothly glided 

 onwards in our little fleet, and came to a more inhabited district. 

 Few if any of these natives could ever have seen a white man ; 

 certainly nothing could exceed their astonishment at the apparition 

 of the four boats. Fires were lighted on every point (hence the 

 name of Tierra del Fuego, or the land of fire), both to attract our 

 attention and to spread far and wide the news. Some of the men 

 ran for miles along the shore. I shall never forget how wild and 

 savage one group appeared : suddenly four or five men came to 

 the edge of an overhanging cliff; they were absolutely naked, 

 and their long hair streamed about their faces; they held rugged 

 staffs in their hands, and, springing from the ground, they waved 

 their arms round their heads, and sent forth the most hideous 

 yells. 



At dinner-time we landed among a party of Fuegians. At first 

 they were not inclined to be friendly ; for until the Captain pulled 



