GIGANTIC PA TAGOA'/AA'S 



245 



(irc!4'iiry H.i)-, that is al)i)Lil sixt)' miles, tin- dilTcrcncc is '-.lilj hkhc 

 w iinclcrliil. At tin- fniiiiL-r [ilacu we Iia\-c rDiindcd iiKiiiiil.iiiis 

 Cdiiccalccl by iiiipri \i( )us iDi'ests, which arc di-cnchcd with the 

 rain br(juL;"ht b)' an endless succession of t^ales ; wdiilc at Cape 

 GrcLjory there is a clear and briL;ht blue sky over the dry and 

 sterile plains. The atmospheric currents,' althou£,di rapid, 

 turbulent, and unconlined b)' an\' apparent limits, )'et seem to 

 follow, like a ri\er in its bed, a regularly determined course. 



Durinj; our prc\ious \isit (in January), we hatl au intcrx'iew 

 at Cape Gregor)' with the famous so-called gigantic I'atagonians, 





■\T.\GO,NIANS FRU.M CAIID GKEGOKV. 



who gave us a cordial reception. Their height appears greater 

 than it really is, from their large guanaco mantles, their Ion" 

 flowing hair, and general figure : on an a\-erage their height is 

 about six feet, with some men taller and onl)- a fe^v shorter ; 

 and the women are also tall ; altogether the)- arc certainly the 

 tallest race which wc anywhere saw. In features they strikingly 



' The M.mli-Hc^icily l.rcczcs are c;cncr.illy vct ilry. kimiary 2c)(li, licins; at 

 anchor under Cape Gregory: a very hard gale from W. byS., clear sky uiih^few 

 cumuli ; temperature 57°, dew-point 36°, — difference 2l' On lanuary 151I1, al i'.nt 

 St. Julian: in the morning light winds with much rain, followed liy a veiy hea\ y 

 squall with rain,— sri |l,,| nito heavy g.ale with large cumuli, —cleared up, liKiHing 

 very stiong fioin S.S. \\". Temperature 60°, dew-point 42 ',— difference iS'. 



