CHAP. x.] THE BEAGLE CHANNEL. 217 
the name of the elder Fuegian), when a violent squall compelled 
us to shorten sail and stand out to sea. The surf was breaking 
fearfully on the coast, and the spray was carried over a. cliff 
estimated at 200 feet in height. On the 12th the gale was very 
heavy, and we did not know exactly where we were: it was a 
most unpleasant sound to hear constantly repeated, “ keep a good 
look-out to leeward.” On the 13th the storm raged with its full 
fury: our horizon was narrowly limited by the sheets of spray 
borne by the wind. The sea looked ominous, like a dreary 
waving plain with patches of drifted snow: whilst the ship 
laboured heavily, the albatross glided with its expanded wings 
right up the wind. At noon a great sea broke over us, and 
filled one of the whale-boats, which was obliged to be instantly 
cut away. The poor Beagle trembled at the shock, and fora 
few minutes would not obey her helm; but soon, like a good 
ship that she was, she righted and came up to the wind again. 
Had another sea followed the first, our fate would have been 
decided soon, and for ever. "We had now been twenty-four days 
trying in vain to get westward; the men were worn out with 
fatigue, and they had not had for many nights or days a dry thing 
to put on. Captain Fitz Roy gave up the attempt to get west- 
ward by the outside coast. In the evening we ran in behind 
False Cape Horn, and dropped our anchor in forty-seven 
fathoms, fire flashing from the windlass as the chain rushed 
round it. How delightful was that still night, after having been 
so long involved in the din of the warring elements ! 
January 15th, 1833.—The Beagle anchored in Goeree Roads. 
Captain Fitz Roy having resolved to settle the Fuegians, accord- 
ing to their wishes, in Ponsonby Sound, four boats were equipped 
to carry them there through the Beagle Channel. This channel, 
which was discovered by Captain Fitz Roy during the last voyage, 
is a most remarkable feature in the geography of this, or indeed 
of any other country: it may be compared to the valley of Loch- 
ness in Scotland, with its chain of lakes and friths. It is about 
one hundred and twenty miles long, with an average breadth, not 
subject to any very great variation, of about two miles; and is 
throughout the greater part so perfectly straight, that the view. 
bounded on each side by a line of mountains, gradually becomes 
indistinct in the long distance. It crosses the southern part of 
