1834.] SAN PEDRO. 269 



however, poor stunted trees ; and I should think that this must bo 

 nearly their northern limit. We ultimately gave up the attempt 

 in despair. 



December 10th. The yawl and whale-boat, with Mr. Sulivau, 

 proceeded on their survey, but I remained on board the Beagle, 

 which the next day left San Pedro for the southward. On the 13th 

 we ran into an opening in the southern part of Guayatecas, or the 

 Chonos Archipelago ; and it was fortunate we did so, for on the 

 following day a storm, worthy of Tierra del Fuego, raged with great 

 fury. White massive clouds were piled up against a dark blue sky, 

 and across them black ragged sheets of vapour were rapidly driven. 

 The successive mountain ranges appeared like dim shadows ; and 

 the setting sun cast on the woodland a yellow gleam, much like 

 that produced by the flame of spirits of wine. The water was white 

 with the flying spray, and the wind lulled and roared again through 

 the rigging: it was an ominous, sublime scene. During a few 

 minutes there was a bright rainbow, and it was curious to observe 

 the effect of the spray, which, being carried along the surface of the 

 water, changed the ordinary semicircle into a circle a band of 

 prismatic colours being continued, from both feet of the common 

 arch across the bay, close to the vessel's side : thus forming a dis- 

 torted, but very nearly entire ring. 



We stayed here three days. The weather continued bad; but 

 this did not nmch signify, for the surface of the land in all these 

 islands is all but impassable. The coast is so very rugged that 

 to attempt to walk in that direction requires continued scrambling 

 up and down over the sharp rocks of mica-slate ; and as for the 

 woods, our faces, hands, and shin-bones all bore witness to the 

 maltreatment we received, in merely attempting to penetrate their 

 forbidden recesses. 



December 18th. We stood out to sea. On the 20th we bade 

 farewell to the south, and with a fair wind turned the ship's head 

 northward. From Cape Tres Montes we sailed pleasantly along 

 the lofty weather-beaten coast, which is remarkable for the bold 

 outline of its hills, and the thick covering of forest even on the 

 almost precipitous flanks. Thejnext day a harbour was discovered, 

 which on this dangerous coast might be of great service to a dis- 

 tressed vessel. It can easily be recognized by a hill 1600 feet high, 

 which is even more perfectly conical than the famous sugar-loaf at 

 Bio de Janeiro. The next day, after anchoring, I succeeded in 



