284 CHONOS ARCHIPELAGO. [cuap. xuII. 
profitless, however, to man and to all other animals. Granite to 
the geologist is classic ground: from its wide-spread limits, and 
its beautiful and compact texture, few rocks have been more 
anciently recognised. Granite has given rise, perhaps, to more 
discussion concerning its origin than any other formation. We 
generally see it constituting the fundamental rock, and, however 
formed, we know it is the deepest layer in the crust of this globe 
to which man has penetrated. The limit of man’s knowledge in 
any subject possesses a.high interest, which is perhaps increased 
by its close neighbourhood to the realms of imagination. 
January 1st, 1885.—The new year is ushered in with the 
ceremonies proper to it in these regions. ‘She lays out no false 
hopes: a heavy north-western gale, with steady rain, bespeaks 
the rising year. Thank God, we are not destined here to see the 
end of it, but hope then to be in the Pacific Ocean, where a blue 
sky tells one there is a heaven,—a something beyond the clouds 
above our heads. 
The north-west winds prevailing for the next four days, we 
only managed to cross a great bay, and then anchored in another 
secure harbour. I accompanied the Captain in a boat to the 
head of a deep creek. On the way the number of seals which we 
saw was quite astonishing: every bit of flat rock, and parts of 
the beach, were covered with them. They appeared to be ofa 
loving disposition, and lay huddled together, fast asleep, like so 
many pigs; but even pigs would have been ashamed of their 
dirt, and of the foul smell which came from them. Each herd 
was watched by the patient but inauspicious eyes of the turkey- 
buzzard. ‘This disgusting bird, with its bald scarlet head, formed 
to wallow in putridity, is very common on the west coast, and 
their attendance on the seals shows on what they rely for their 
food. We found the water (probably only that of the surface) 
nearly fresh: this was caused by the number of torrents which, 
in the form of cascades, came tumbling over the bold granite 
mountains into the sea. ‘The fresh water attracts the fish, and 
these bring many terns, gulls, and two kinds of cormorant. We 
saw also a pair of the beautiful black-necked swans, and several 
small sea-otters, the fur of which is held in such high estimation. 
In returning, we were again amused by the impetuous manner in 
which the heap of seals, old and young, tumbled into the water 
