182 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



We were informed* that they are annually carried 

 off in numbers to a large missionary station not 

 far from Punta Arenas, where they soon die from 

 the effects of civilization. Every year, we heard, 

 they become fewer and fewer, and there can be 

 no doubt that in a comparatively short time the 

 natives of Tierra del Fuego will be a race of the past. 



An hour later we passed Eyre Sound, and 

 afterwards for several miles the water of the 

 channel was full of broken ice, which had originated 

 from a neighbouring glacier. This was our 

 only experience of steaming through ice. The 

 ship was obliged to proceed at " dead slow," 

 and, for several hours, blocks of ice of various sizes 

 were grinding and crashing against our bows. 

 Many of these miniature icebergs contained rocks 

 and masses of earth, while, during our passage 

 through them, many streaks of paint from the 

 ship's side were left on their surfaces. 



Looking up Eyre Sound we had a splendid view 

 of a glacier, a mass of ice and snow, extending 

 upwards for several thousands of feet. Late on the 

 same afternoon we entered water free of ice, and, 

 towards sunset, anchored in Eden Harbour. 



The weather, as usual, was wet, and a thick mist 

 hung over the mountains. We rowed up the 

 harbour to the mouth of a small river. Here 

 geese were more plentiful than in the other 



* This information was given us by our pilot, a man who had spent 

 many years in these waters, and whose information always proved 

 reliable. 



