68 



Cordova's Forage of Discovery 



the stin was then about eighteen hours above the horizon, it 

 would be improper, from observrations at that time, to infer 

 what it might be at others. However, even in this season, an 

 excellent English thermometer with mercury, graduated ac- 

 cording to the scale of Reaumur, exposed constantly to the air 

 io its case, never rose above nine degrees, and sometimes only 

 to five degrees; from which we may conclude, how cold it must 

 be in other times of the year, especially considering that the 

 winds from the W. and WSW. passing over mountains co- 

 vered with eternal snows, and thereby loaded with cold frozen 

 particles, must greatly enhance the severity of the cold. The 

 iaeavens are generally clear, and the atmosphere bright ; at 

 least, they were so on the two occasions of our passing that 

 way : but this must be understood particularly of the Cape de 

 las Virgines and its neighbourhood ; for, even so soon to the 

 westward as at the first pass of Esperanza, the proximity of the 

 mountains begins to be sensibly felt, the atmosphere there being 

 but rarely free from vapours. 



The temperature of the mountainous track is different in dif- 

 ferent parts. From Cape Negro to Cape Forward it is the most 

 mild, and the appearance of the country the most agreeable. 

 From the latter point to the Cape of St. Geronimo, the climate 

 becomes more severe, and the face of the country more rude 

 and unpleasant. But, even this is nothing to be compared with 

 the remainder of the strait on its west point at Cape Vittoria; to 

 which last district, Narborough, with great reason, gave the 

 horrid appellation of the Desolation of the South, 



In the midst of the summer of this part of the earth we ex- 

 perienced severe cold, and a singular inconstancy in the wea- 

 ther : very seldom did we enjoy a clear sky, and short were the 

 moments in which we perceived the heat of the sun. Not a 

 day passed without some rain ; and, in general, it did not even 

 intermit to rain the whole day long. The thermometer stood 

 at 6^ and 7^^, and often it fell to zero. At the same time, it 

 must be remarked, that the mountains wdth which our vessel 

 was surrounded, must necessarily have diminished considerably 

 the cold, whose severity we found to be most intense, and al- 

 most insupportable on their summits. 



It cannot be doubted that the steep, lofty, and barren, 

 rocks and pinnacles of this part of the strait, covered with 

 perpetual snow's, presenting an aspect equally gloomy and 

 frightful, contribute much to the humidity and cold of the at^ 

 mosphere ; for which reason the air is constantly loaded with 

 vapours and fogs so dense, that often the most furious hurri- 

 canes are not able to dissipate them. If here, as in other parts 



