50 



WILLIWAWS. 



Feb. 1827. 



tlie scenery greatly, particularly in the winter season : the north 

 shore is also well wooded for about two-thirds up ; but the sum- 

 mit is barren and the outline very much serrated, as is usual in 

 slate formations. 



On the north shore we noticed some extraordinary effects of 

 the whirlwinds which so frequently occur in Tierra del Fuego. 

 The crews of sealing vessels call them ' williwaws,' or ' hur- 

 ricane-squalls,^ and they are most violent. The south-west gales, 

 which blow upon the coast with extreme fury, are pent up and 

 impeded in passing over the high lands ; when, increasing in 

 power, they rush violently over the edges of precipices, expand, 

 as it were, and descending perpendicularly, destroy every 

 thing moveable. The surface of the water, when struck by 

 these gusts, is so agitated, as to be covered with foam, which 

 is taken up by them, and flies before their fury until dispersed 

 in vapour. Ships at anchor under high land are sometimes 

 suddenly thrown over on their beam-ends, and the next moment 

 recover their equilibrium, as if nothing had occurred. Again 

 a squall strikes them, perhaps on the other side, and over they 

 heel before its rage : the cable becomes strained, and checks 

 the ship with a jerk, that causes her to start a-head through 

 the water, until again stopped by the cable, or driven astern 

 by another gust of wind. 



At all these anchorages, under high land, there are some 

 parts more exposed than others ; and by watching for those 

 places which are least troubled by these squalls, a more secure, 

 or rather a more quiet, spot may be selected. I do not consider 

 ships so anchored to be in danger if their ground tackle be 

 good ; but every thing that offers a stiff resistance must suffer 

 from the fury of these blasts. In many parts of this country 

 trees are torn up by the roots, or rent asunder by the wind ; 

 and in the Gabriel Channel the ' williwaws "* bursting over 

 the mountainous ridge, which forms the south side of the 

 channel, descend, and striking against the base of the opposite 

 shore, rush up the steep, and carry all before them. I know 

 of nothing to which I can better compare the bared track 

 left by one of these squalls than to a bad broad road. After 



