Feb. 1827. 



PORT WATERFALL. 



51 



having made such an opening, the wind frequently sweeping 

 through prevents the growth of vegetation. Confused masses 

 of up-rooted trees lie at the lower ends of these bared tracks, 

 and show plainly what power has been exerted. 



The southern shore of the channel is formed by the base of 

 that range of hills, which extends, from the eastern side of the 

 Magdalen Channel, towards the E.S.E. It is the highest part 

 of Tierra del Fuego, and on it are several remarkable moun- 

 tains, besides Sarmiento, towering over all. 



Close to the east end of the Gabriel Channel is Mount Buck- 

 land, a tall obelisk-like hill, terminating in a sharp needle- 

 point, and lifting its head above a chaotic mass of ' reliquiae 

 diluvianae,** covered with perpetual snow, by the melting of 

 which an enormous glacier on the leeward, or north-eastern 

 side, has been gradually formed. This icy domain is twelve or 

 fourteen miles long, and extends from near the end of the chan-"^^ 

 nel to Port Waterfall, feeding, in the intermediate space, many 

 magnificent cascades, which, for number andheight, are not 

 perhaps to be exceeded in an equal space of any part of the 

 world. Within an extent of nine or ten miles, there are upwards 

 of a hundred and fifty waterfalls, dashing into the channel from 

 a height of fifteen hundred, or two thousand feet. The course 

 of many is concealed, at first, by intervening trees, and, when 

 half-way down the descent, they burst upon the view, leaping, 

 as it were, out of the wood. Some unite as they fall, and toge- 

 ther are precipitated into the sea, in a cloud of foam ; so 

 varied, indeed, are the forms of these cascades, and so great 

 their contrast with the dark foliage of the trees, which thickly 

 cover the sides of the mountain, that it is impossible adequately 

 to describe the scene. I have met with nothing exceeding the 

 picturesque grandeur of this part of the Strait. 



There are several coves on the south shore, but opposite to 

 them there is no shelter until you reach a deep bay in which 

 are several islets ; and where, I think, there is a communication 

 with Brenton Sound, but we did not enter it. 



Port Waterfall may easily be known by a large flat-topped 

 bare rock, lying across the summit of the eastern head, and 



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