14 



vatían of it less, as the heat is much more moderate 

 upon the coast than in the interior. In the mid- 

 land provinces is sometimes seen, in the month of 

 August, a white frost, accompanied by a slight de- 

 gree of cold, which is the greatest that is expe- 

 rienced in those districts. This coldness continues 

 two or three hours after sun rise ; from which 

 time the weather is like that of a fine day m 

 spring** 



* So general is the opinion of the excessive coH in the southern 

 extremity of America, that it is hazardous to contradict it. I 

 shall, however, venture to suggest some doubts respecting so gene- 

 rally an admitted fact. At the same time that Commodore Byron 

 compares the temperature of the Straits of Magellan in summer 

 with the climate of England in midwinter, he describes the coun- 

 try in the following manner : " Upon Sandy Point we found a plenty 

 of wood and very good water, and for four or five miles the shore 

 was exceedingly pleasant. Over the point there is a fine level 

 country, with a soil that, to all appearance, is extremely rich, for 

 the ground was covered with ñowers of various kinds, that per- 

 fumed the air with their fragrance; and among them were berries 

 almost innumerable, where the blossoms had been shed ; we ob- 

 served that the grass was very good, and that it was intermixed 

 with a great number of peas in blossom. Among this luxuriance of 

 herbage we saw many hundreds of birds feeding, which, from their 

 form, and the uncommon beauty of their plumage, we called painted 

 geese. We walked more than twelve miles, and found great plen- 

 ty of fine fresh water.*' " The place abounded with geese, tealy 

 snipes, and other birds that were excellent food.'* On each side of 

 Sedger river there are the finest trees I ever saw." " Some of them 

 are of a great height, and more than eight feet in diameter, which 

 is proportionably more than eight yards in circumference ; so that 

 four men, joining hand in hand, could not compass them ; among 

 others we found the pepper tree, or Winter's bark, in great plenty. 

 Among these woods, notwithstanding the coldneás of the climate, 

 there are innumerable parrots, and other birds, of the most beauti- 

 ful plumage." " The country between Port Famine and Cape 

 Forward, which is distant about four leagues, is extremely fine j 



