THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 299 



jump on the top of them without leaving the print of my feet. 

 As the day was warm the balsam was exuding abundantly 

 from the plants in large milky tears, which on drying changed 

 to an ochreous tint. From the summit of the hill (846 feet 

 according to the chart) I gained an extensive view of the 

 country around, which was more interesting in its general 

 appearance than those pa,rts of the East Falkland Islands which 

 I had previously seen, the hills being higher and less barren- 

 looking, and numerous patches of fresh water of considerable 

 size being scattered about, while various small streams ran 

 down in the hollows between the hills towards the beach, 

 which was fringed with patches of tussac. I was in hopes 

 of meeting with specimens of the Falkland Island box, 

 (Veronica decussata), but was disappointed. The geese and 

 ducks were so tame that many fell a prey to the sportsmen, 

 and a fine buzzard {Buteo erythronotus) was also shot while 

 busily employed in feeding on one of the victims. Late in 

 the afternoon, while waiting for our boat, we indulged in a 

 vegetable diet of wild celery and tussac, and were not 

 surprised at the partiality evinced by cattle for the latter, as 

 the base of the culm is crisp and succulent, with an agreeable 

 flavour, resembling that of a hazel-nut. Nearly all the rocks 

 on the beach in this locality, I may remark, were of a finely 

 laminated sandstone, a rock not observed by us in other 

 localities visited in these islands. 



The morning of the 1st of February was bright and sunny, 

 with but little wind, but that little, unfortunately, not in our 

 favour. We left the bay, and proceeded onwards under 

 steam, skirting along the south-eastern coast of the West 

 Falkland Island, and passing not far from the entrance of 

 Port Edgar and Port Albemarle. Arrived opposite Cape 

 Meredith, we took our departure from the land, shaping a 



