THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 455 



and crevassing of wliicli are alike magnificent, we crossed over 

 to the Fuegian coast (Santa Inez Island), and anchored early 

 in the afternoon in Swallow Bay. About half-an-honr later 

 I landed, and ascended a hill on an island which forms part 

 of the western boundary of the bay. Here I found a white- 

 flowered Composite plant, new to me, and obtained very fine 

 flowering specimens of Pinguicula antardica. The bright 

 scarlet blossoms of the EmbotJirium coccineum were also 

 conspicuous in many spots of the hill, some of the plants 

 covered by them not exceeding six inches in height. I also 

 found some good specimens of Galathea suhrugosa among the 

 stones in the water close to the edge of the bay, and a beauti- 

 ful pale rose-coloured Eolis^ was brought to me by one of the 

 men. 



The 31st was a dreary day of tremendous rain, with now 

 and then a short break of fair weather. We remained at 

 anchor till well on in the afternoon, when we set forth for 

 Port Gallant, in pursuit of a brig which we saw pass the 

 entrance of the bay, and thought was probably a provision 

 vessel from Valparaiso which had been appointed to meet us 

 at this time. We overtook her shortly before eight p.m., 

 finding that our surmise was correct, and having procured 

 our letters, left her to precede us to Sandy Point, while 

 we anchored in Fortescue Bay, a number of us sitting up 

 engaged in the perusal of our correspondence till the advent 

 of the New Year, when, in conformity with an old custom, at 

 the conclusion of the first watch at twelve p.m., sixteen bells 

 were struck, eight in honour of the obsequies of the old 

 year, and the same number in celebration of the birth of its 

 successor. 



* Figured at p. 75. 



