THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. l77 



magnificent description, entirely surpassing my expectations 

 of the mysterious grandeur of this portion of our route, where, 

 as Mr. Darwin has well observed, the distant channels be- 

 tween the mountains appear from their gloominess to lead 

 beyond the confines of this world. At times the nearer 

 wooded heights were bathed in bright sunlight, while the 

 more distant snowy ones were in shadow, and at others the 

 sun shone brightly on the white slopes and peaks, causing the 

 forest-clad hills to appear as a black wall rising sheer out 

 of the water, while occasionally an entire mountain-side was 

 rainbow-tinted. To add to the glorious effect, were several 

 splendid glaciers, some reaching nearly to the surface of the 

 water, and all in a more or less degree exhibiting deep longi- 

 tudinal and transverse crevasses, the splendid blue colouring 

 of which formed a fine contrast with the dazzling purity of 

 the surface of the icy mass. Passing with a curious gaze the 

 entrance of the remarkable Otway Water, we kept along the 

 coast of the Cordova Peninsula until late in the afternoon, 

 when we anchored in Playa Parda Cove, a beautiful little 

 land-locked nook, surrounded by mountains, and with a cas- 

 cade pouring down at its head ; while the " Zealous," whose 

 large size unfitted her for such a tiny berth, lay a short dis- 

 tance outside the entrance. Here, being otherwise engaged, 

 I did not go on shore, but a few of the officers took advantage 

 of haK-an-hour's daylight which yet remained to land for 

 a scramble, and on their return brought me specimens of 

 plants, including a handsome shrub which was new to me. 

 This was the Desfontainea spinosa,^ a plant with bright green 

 holly-like leaves, and tubular scarlet flowers with short yel- 



* The Flora Antarctica is my authority for the specific name of this plant, 

 which is perhaps rather D. Hookeri. I have not had leisure as yet to examine 

 my specimens with the care necessary to determine the matter. 



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