THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 



301 



foot of some high hills, near the northern extremity of Tres 

 Montes. After breakfast the next morning, a party ascended 

 one of these mountains, which was 2400 feet high. The 

 scenery was remarkable. The chief part of the range was 

 composed of grand, solid, abrupt masses of granite, which 

 appeared as if they had been coeval with the beginning of 

 the world. The granite was capped with mica-slate, and this 

 in the lapse of ages had been worn into strange finger- 

 shaped points. These two formations, thus differing in their 

 outlines, agree in being almost destitute of vegetation. This 

 barrenness had to our eyes a strange appearance, from having 

 been so long accustomed to the sight of an almost universal 

 forest of dark-green trees. I took much delight in examining 

 the structure of these mountains. The complicated and lofty 

 ranges bore a noble aspect of durability — equally profitless, 

 however, to man and to all other animals. Granite to the 

 geologist is classic ground: from its widespread limits, and its 

 beautiful and compact texture, few rocks have been more 

 anciently recognised. Granite has given rise, perhaps, to 

 more discussion concerning its origin than any other forma- 

 tion. We generally see it constituting the fundamental rock, 

 and, however formed, we know it is the deepest layer in the 

 crust of this globe to which man has penetrated. The limit 

 of man's knowledge in any subject possesses a high interest, 

 which is perhaps increased by its close neighbourhood to the 

 realms of imagination. 



January 1st, 1835. — The new year is ushered in with the 

 ceremonies proper to it in these regions. She lays out wo 

 false hopes : a heavy north-western gale, with steady rain, 

 bespeaks the rising year. Thank God, we are not destined 

 here to see the end of it, but hope then to be in the Pacific 

 Ocean, where a blue sky tells one there is a heaven, — a some- 

 thing beyond the clouds above our heads. 



The north-west winds prevailing for the next four days, 

 we only managed to cross a great bay, and then anchored in 

 another secure harbour. I accompanied the Captain in a 

 boat to the head of a deep creek. On the way the number of 

 seals which we saw was quite astonishing: every bit of flat 

 rock, and parts of the beach, were covered with them. They 

 appeared to be of a loving disposition, and lay huddled to- 



