276 



TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



June, 1834. 



peaks in the snoiv-clad range is under 7000 feet, it is evident 

 that the height of the snow-Une cannot at most much 

 exceed 6000 feet. 



As this is a point of interest, I shall mention a few other 

 circumstances, by which I think we may come to a nearly 

 definite conclusion. On February 2d (1835) I obtained 

 the last view of the Cordillera ; on that day the lower line 

 of the snow descended some way (so as to form a con- 

 siderable angle with the summit, when viewed from a 

 distance of 61 miles) on the mountain south of Osorno (lat. 

 41° 20'), which stands by itself, and has a height of 5607 

 feet. Since arriving in England I have received a letter 

 from Mr. Douglas in Chiloe, who, describing some volcanic 

 phenomena, accidentally mentions the snow-line. He says, 

 on February 20th (same year), on the volcano of Minchin- 

 madiva (lat. 42° 48'), which has an elevation of 7046 feet, 

 lava was ejected from a crater ^^just above the verge of 

 the snow.^^ Again, on February 27th, he alludes to the 

 summit of the Corcovado (7510 feet) being covered with 

 snow, as was Yn tales* (6725 feet) in lat. 43° 30'. Again 

 Mr. Douglas, speaking of the Corcovado, says, " On the 

 16th of March the snow appeared to cover one-fifth of its 

 (visible) perpendicular height.^^ By this date the snow-line 

 must have attained its greatest height (if, indeed, fresh 

 snow had not fallen) ; and, as the Corcovado rises in an 

 unbroken slope close to the sea, the proportion covered 

 by snow might be judged of, with some degree of accuracy. 

 The height of the Corcovado (7510 feet) was obtained by 

 three angular measurements, made by the officers on the 

 survey, and the mean nearly agreed with the three separate 

 results. Reflecting on all these circumstances, we may 

 conclude with perfect safety, that the limit of perpetual 

 snow, between the latitudes 41° and 43°, cannot much, if 

 at all, exceed 6000 feet. 



Proceeding northward along the Cordillera we find a very 



* On January 15th, Yntales, seen from the Northern Chonos Islands, 

 was entirely covered by snow. 



