CHAPTER XI 



Strait of Magellan. — Climate of the Southern Coasts 



Strait of Magellan — Port Famine — Ascent of Mount Tarn-^-Forests 

 — Edible Fungus — Zoology — Great Sea-weed — Leave Tierra del 

 Fuego — Climate — Fruit-trees and Productions of the Southern 

 Coasts — Height of Snow-line on the Cordillera — Descent of 

 Glaciers to the Sea — Icebergs formed — Transportal of Boulders — 

 Climate and Productions of the Antarctic Islands— Preservation 

 of Frozen Carcasses — Recapitulation. 



IN THE end of May, 1834, we entered for a second time 

 the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan. The coun- 

 try on both sides of this part of the Strait consists of 

 nearly level plains, like those of Patagonia. Cape Negro, a 

 little within the second Narrows, may be considered as the 

 point where the land begins to assume the marked features 

 of Tierra del Fuego. On the east coast, south of the Strait, 

 broken park-like scenery in a like manner connects these two 

 countries, which are opposed to each other in almost every 

 feature. It is truly surprising to find in a space of twenty 

 miles such a change in the landscape. If we take a rather 

 greater distance, as between Port Famine and Gregory Bay, 

 that is about sixty miles, the difference is still more wonder- 

 ful. At the former place, we have rounded mountains con- 

 cealed by impervious forests, which are drenched with the 

 rain, brought by an endless succession of gales; while at 

 Cape Gregory, there is a clear and bright blue sky over the 

 dry and sterile plains. The atmospheric currents, 1 although 

 rapid, turbulent, and unconfined by any apparent limits, yet 

 seem to follow, like a river in its bed, a regularly determined 

 course. 



1 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 cumuli; temperature 57°, dew-point 36°; — difference 21 0 . 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 cumuli, — cleared up, blowing very strong from S.S.W. Tem- 

 perature 6o°, dew-point 42°, — difference 18 0 . 



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