1834.] STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 2814 
CHAPTER XI. 
Strait of Magellan—Port Famine—Ascent of Mount Tarn—Forests—Edible 
Fungus—Zoology—Great Sea-weed—Leave Tierra del Fuego—Climate— 
Fruit-trees and productions of the southern coasts—Height of snow-line 
on the Cordillera—Descent of glaciers to the sea—Icebergs formed— 
Transportal of Boulders—Climate and productions of the Antarctic 
islands—Preservation of frozen carcasses—Recapitulation. 
STRAIT OF MAGELLAN.—CLIMATE OF THE SODTHERN COASTS. 
Ly the end of May, 1834, we entered for the second time the 
eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan. The country on both 
sides of this part of the Strait consists of nearly level plains, like 
those of Patagonia. Cape Negro, a little within the second 
Narrows, may be considered as the point where the land begins 
to assume the marked features of Tierra del Fuego. On the 
east coast, south of the Strait, broken park-like scenery in a like 
manner connects these two countries, which are opposed to each 
other in almost every feature. It is truly surprising to find in a 
space of twenty miles.such a change in the landseape. If we 
take a rather greater distance, as between Port Famine and Gre- 
gory Bay, that is about sixty miles, the difference is still more 
wonderful. At the former place, we have rounded mountains 
eoncealed by impervious forests, which are drenched with the 
rain, brought by an endless succession of gales; while at Cape 
Gregory, there is a clear and bright blue sky over the dry and 
sterile plains. The atmospheric currents*, although rapid, 
turbulent, and unconfined by any apparent limits, yet seem to 
follow, like a river in its bed, aregularly determined course. 
During our previous visit (in January), we had an intertiew 
* The south-westerly breezes are generally very dry. January 29th, 
being at anchor under Cape Gregory: a very hard gale from W. by S., 
clear sky with few cumuli; temperature 57°, dew-point 36°,—difference 21°, 
On January 15th, at Port St. Julian: in the morning light winds with much 
rain, followed by a very heavy squall with rajn,—settled into heavy gale 
with large cumuli,—cleared up, blowing very strong from 8.8.W. Tempera- 
ture 60°, dew-point 42°,—difference 18°. 
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