1834.] EXPLORING THE SANTA CRUZ. 77 
CHAPTER IX. 
Santa Cruz— Expedition up the River—Indians—Immense streams of 
basaltic lava—Fragments not transported by the River—Excavation of 
the valley—Condor, habits of—Cordillera—Erratic boulders of great size 
—Indian relics—Return to the ship—Falkland Islands—Wild horses, 
cattle, rabbits—Wolf-like fox—Fire made of bones—Manner of hunting 
wild cattle—Geology—Streams of stones—Scenes of violence—Penguin— 
Geese—Eges of Doris—Compound animals. 
SANTA CRUZ, PATAGONIA, AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. 
April 13th, 1834.—The Beagle anchored within the mouth of 
the Santa Cruz. This river is situated about sixty miles south of 
Port St. Julian. During the last voyage Captain Stokes pro- 
ceeded thirty miles up it, but theu, from the want of provisions, 
was obliged to return. Excepting what was discovered at that 
time, scarcely anything was known about this large river. Cap- 
tain Fitz Roy now determined to follow its course as far as time 
would allow. On the 18th three whale-boats started, carrying 
three weeks’ provisions ; and the party consisted of twenty-five 
souls—a force which would have been sufficient to have defied a 
host of Indians. With a strong flood-tide and a fine day we 
made a good run, soon drank some of the fresh water, and were 
at night nearly above the tidal influence. 
The river here assumed a size and appearance which, even at 
the highest point we ultimately reached, was scarcely diminished. 
Tt was generally from three to four hundred yards broad, and in 
the middle about seventeen feet deep. The rapidity of the cur- 
rent, which in its whole course runs at the rate of from four to 
six knots an hour, is perhaps its most remarkable feature. The 
water is of a fine blue colour, but with a slight milky tinge, and 
not so transparent as at first sight would have been expected. 
It flows over a bed of pebbles, like those which compose the 
beach and the surrounding plains. It runs in a winding course 
through a valley, which extends in a direct line westward. This 
