268 



TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



June^ 1834' 



smallest change of level, as channels connecting the Strait 

 of Magellan, in the one case with the open sea, and in the 

 other with Otway Water. 



The climate of the southern part of South America pre- 

 sents many phenomena of the highest interest. It has long 

 been observed that there exists some essential difference be- 

 tween it, and that of the countries in the northern hemi- 

 sphere, I have already remarked on the surprising contrast 

 between the rank vegetation of the broken west coast, con- 

 sequent on the humid climate, as compared with the dry and 

 sterile plains of Patagonia. The clouded and boisterous state 

 of the atmosphere is necessarily accompanied by a decrease 

 in extreme temperature; hence we find that fruits which 

 ripen well, and are very abundant, such as the grape and 

 fig, in lat. 41° on the east coast, succeed very poorly in a 

 lower latitude on the opposite side of the continent.* The 

 result is more strongly marked, if we take Europe as the 

 standard of comparison. In Chiloe, lat. 42°, corresponding 

 to the northern parts of Spain, peaches require the great- 

 est care, and seldom produce fruit; but strawberries and 

 apples succeed to admiration. At Valdivia, lat. 40°, or that 

 of Madrid, standard peaches bear abundantly; grapes and 

 figs ripen, but are far from common ; olives seldom even 

 partially ripen, and oranges not at all ; yet in Europe this is 

 the parallel most productive of these fruits. Even at Con- 

 cepcion, lat. 36°, oranges are not abundant, though the other 

 named fruits succeed perfectly. At the Falklands, in the 

 same latitude as the south of England, wheat very seldom 

 comes to maturity ; but we ought to feel little surprise at 

 this, when we hear that in Chiloe (lat. 42°) the inhabitants 

 are frequently compelled to cut their corn before it is ready^ 

 and bring it into their houses to dry. 



With respect to the climate of Tierra del Fuego during 



* As there are no settlements on the Patagonian coast, there are few- 

 means of comparison. Cherry-trees left by the Spaniards at Port Desire, 

 lat. 48°, still bear fruit, whereas, in Chiloe, on the west coast, 360 miles 

 further north, I believe they do not succeed. 



