2l6 THE VOYAGE. ^TAT. 23. [1833. 



the yell with which a party received us. They were seated 

 on a rocky point, surrounded by the dark forest of beech ; as 

 they threw their arms wildly round their heads, and their long 

 hair streaming, they seemed the troubled spirits of another 

 world. The climate in some respects is a curious mixture 

 of severity and mildness; as far as regards the animal king- 

 dom, the former character prevails ; I have in consequence 

 not added much to my collections. 



The Geology of this part of Tierra del Fuego was, as in- 

 deed every place is, to me very interesting. The country is 

 non-fossiliferous, and a common-place succession of gran- 

 itic rocks and slates ; attempting to make out the relation 

 of cleavage, strata, &c., &c., was my chief amusement. The 

 mineralogy, however, of some of the rocks will, I think, 

 be curious from their resemblance to those of volcanic 



origin. 



* ♦ * % * 



After leaving Tierra del Fuego we sailed to the Falklands. 

 I forgot to mention the fate of the Fuegians whom we took 

 back to their country. They had become entirely European 

 in their habits and wishes, so much so that the younger one 

 had forgotten his own language, and their countrymen paid 

 but very little attention to them. We built houses for them 

 and planted gardens, but by the time we return again on our 

 passage round the Horn, I think it will be very doubtful how 

 much of their property will be left unstolen. 



. . . When I am sea-sick and miserable, it is one of my 

 highest consolations to picture the future when we again shall 

 be pacing together the roads round Cambridge. That day 

 is a weary long way off. We have another cruise to make to 

 Tierra del Fuego next summer, and then our voyage round 

 the world will really commence. Captain Fitz-Roy has pur- 

 chased a large schooner of 170 tons. In many respects it 

 will be a great advantage having a consort — perhaps it may 

 somewhat shorten our cruise, which I most cordially hope it 

 may. I trust, however, that the Coral Reefs and various ani- 

 mals of the Pacific may keep up my resolution. Remember 



