CAPE HORN 



ficencc, well becoming Ticrra del Fuego. There was a degree 

 of mysterious grandeur in mountain behind mountain, with the 

 deep intervening valleys, all covered by one thick, dusky mass 

 of forest. The atmosjjjicre, likewise, in this climate, where 

 gale succeeds gale, with rain, hail, and sleet, seems blacker 

 than anywhere else. In the Strait of Magellan, looking due 

 southward from Port Famine, the distant channels between the 

 mountains appeared from their gloominess to lead beyond the 

 confines of this world. 



December 2 \st — Tlie Bctiglc got under way : and on the 

 succeeding day, favoured ti i an uncommon degree by a fine 

 easterly breeze, wc closed in w ith the Barncvelts, and running 



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CATE noR;; (another view). 



past Cape Deceit with its stony peaks, about three o'clock 

 doubled the weathcrbeatcn Cape Horn. The evening was 

 calm and bright, and we enjoyed a fine view of the surrounding 

 isles. Cape Horn, however, demanded his tribute, and before 

 night sent us a gale of wind directly in our teeth. We stood 

 out to sea, and on the second da)' again made the land, when 

 we saw on our weather-bow this notorious promontor)' in its 

 proper form — veiled in a mist, and its dim outline surrounded 

 by a storm of wind and water. Great black clouds were rolling 

 across the heavens, and sc]ualls of rain, with hail, swept by us 

 with such extreme violence, that the Captain determined to 

 run into Wigwam Cove. This is a snug little harbour, not far 

 from Cape Horn ; and here, at Christmas-eve, we anchored in 



