54 RIO TO TERRA DEL FUEGO CHAP, in 



vulture, which had been shot on the way, and at the shortest 

 allowance could not furnish half a meal ; and, to complete 

 our misfortunes, we were caught in a snowstorm in a climate 

 we were utterly unacquainted with, but which we had 

 reason to believe was as inhospitable as any in the world, 

 not only from all the accounts we had heard or read, but 

 from the quantity of snow which we saw falling, though it 

 was very little after midsummer, a circumstance unheard of 

 in Europe, for even in Norway or Lapland snow is never 

 known to fall in the summer. 



1*7 th. The morning now dawned and showed us the earth 

 as well as the tops of the trees covered with snow ; nor were 

 the snow squalls at all less frequent ; we had no hopes now 

 but of staying here as long as the snow lasted, and how 

 long that would be God alone knew. 



About six o'clock the sun came out a little, and we 

 immediately thought of sending to see whether the poor 

 wretches we had been so anxious about last night were yet 

 alive ; three of our people went, but soon returned with the 

 melancholy news of their being both dead. The snow con- 

 tinued to fall, though not quite so thickly as before. About 

 eight o'clock a small breeze of wind sprang up, and with 

 the additional power of the sun began (to our great joy) to 

 clear the air, and soon after the snow commenced to fall 

 from the tops of the trees, a sure sign of an approaching 

 thaw. Peter continued very ill, but said he thought himself 

 able to walk ; Mr. Buchan, thank God, was much better 

 than I could have expected ; so we agreed to dress our 

 vulture, and prepare to set out for the ship as soon as the 

 snow should be a little more melted. The vulture was 

 skinned and cut into ten equal shares, every man cooking 

 his own share, which furnished about three mouthfuls of 

 hot meat, the only refreshment we had had since our cold 

 dinner yesterday, and all we were to expect till we should 

 reach the ship. 



About ten we set out, and after a march of three hours, 

 arrived at the beach fortunate in having met with much 

 better roads on our return than in going out, as well as 





