264 



TIERRA DEL FUEGO. JuHC^ 1834, 



rents^* although rapid^ turbulent^ and unconfined by any- 

 apparent limits_, yet seem to follow^ Uke a river in its bed^ a 

 regularly determined course. 



June 1st. — We anchored in the fine bay of Port Famine. 

 It was now the beginning of winter^ and I never saw a more 

 cheerless prospect; the dusky woods piebald with snow, 

 could be only indistinctly seen through a drizzling hazy 

 atmosphere. We were, however, lucky in getting two fine 

 days. On one of these. Mount Sarmiento, a distant moun- 

 tain 6800 feet high, presented a very noble spectacle. I was 

 frequently surprised, in the scenery of Tierra del Fuego, at 

 the little apparent elevation of mountains really lofty. I 

 suspect it is owing to a cause, which would not at first be 

 imagined, namely, that the whole mass, from the summit 

 to the water's edge, is generally in full view. I remember 

 having seen a mountain, first from the Beagle channel, where 

 the whole sweep from the summit to the base was full in 

 view, and then from Ponsonby Sound across several succes- 

 sive ridges ; and it was curious to observe in the latter case, 

 as each fresh step afforded means of judging of the distance, 

 how the mountain appeared to rise in height. 



The Fuegians twice came and plagued us. As there were 

 many instruments, clothes, and men on shore, it was thought 

 necessary to frighten them away. The first time, a few great 

 guns were fired, when they were far distant. It was most 

 ludicrous to watch through a glass the Indians, as often as 

 the shot struck the water, take up stones, and as a bold 

 defiance, throw them towards the ship, though about a mile 

 and a half distant ! A boat was then sent with orders to fire 

 a few musket- shot wide of them. The Fuegians hid them- 



* The south-westerly breezes are generally very dry. January 29th, 

 being at anchor under Cape Gregory ; a very hard gale from W. by S., 

 clear sky with few cumili ; temperature 57°, due point 36°, difference 21°. 

 On January 15th, at Port St. Julian : in the morning light winds with 

 much rain, followed by a very heavy squall with rain, — settled into heavy 

 gale with large cumili, — cleared up, blowing very strong from SSW. 

 Temperature 60°, due point 42°, — differnece 18°. 



