362 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
terior of the country will get opened up, and 
further discoveries be made, and the accommodation 
afforded by the Pacific mail steamers calling will, 
ere long, doubtlessly have a beneficial effect on the 
prosperity of Punta Arenas. 
SANDY POINT TO ELIZABETH ISLAND AND CAPE 
VIRGIN. 
Jan. 18 th . — For four days we remained in the 
roadstead off the settlement, enjoying the favour- 
able weather. This morning proceeded on a course, 
passing thickly wooded hills, until clear of Cape 
Negro. The coast consisted of low, undulating 
plains. The weather being bright and pleasant, a 
capital view was afforded us of the snow-clad peak 
of Mount Sarmiento, on the southern part of Tierra 
del Fuego. 
Three hours’ run, and anchor was let go off the 
Island of San Isabel, or Elizabeth Island. From our 
position it appeared to consist of a range of heights 
extending in ridges for some eight miles, covered 
mostly with a thick wiry grass. Exploring parties 
were soon away, and, besides getting lots of sport with 
the gun, they were rewarded by discovering numerous 
remains of dry bones. This caused our remaining 
a day longer, w 7 hen reinforcements landed with pick 
and shovel, and before leaving at night a large heap 
of dry and fossilised bones was collected, and may 
possibly by and by suggest the existence of some 
