WRECK OF THE " DOTEREL." 267 



settlement ; the stars of the southern hemisphere 

 beamed with extraordinary brilHancy, and the muddy 

 streets were iron-bound with frost. After another 

 doze on the sofa, I again went out at dawn, and 

 enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. 



The morning of June 1 5 was unusually favourable 

 for distant views. Beyond the low, bare flats of 

 Tierra del Fuego there showed to the south-east a 

 range of hills, or mountains, whose heights I estimated 

 at from 3500 to 4000 feet, but it is needless to say 

 that, with unfamiliar atmospheric conditions, where 

 the judgment as to distance is so uncertain, such an 

 estimate is quite unreliable. Nearly due south lies 

 Dawson Island, and several high summits were visible 

 in that direction, but I do not believe that either 

 Mount Darwin or Mount Sarmiento are visible from 

 this part of the coast. 



During the day I went a short way along the shore 

 to the south, passing the cemetery wherein lie the 

 bodies recovered from the wreck of the Doterel. The 

 origin of the explosion which caused that ship to go 

 down with all hands within sight of the settlement, 

 was long a matter of doubt. The most probable 

 opinion is that it was due to the spontaneous ignition 

 of gas generated in unventilated coal-bunkers. Nearly 

 opposite lay the hull of another ship which became a 

 partial wreck on this coast. It contained a cargo of 

 Welsh coal, which is sold at the heavy price of four 

 pounds a ton, and occasionally serves for steamers 

 whose supply has run short. 



Along the sandy shores the most conspicuous plant, 

 with large white cottony leaves, is a species of Senecio 



