i,':' '
agreeable mess. On boat service, meat preserved in tin is particularly
useful, being already cooked, and therefore fit for
dinner without the aid of fire.
“ We were surprised at the mildness of the weather. Indeed,
the change of climate was as pleasant as it was sudden and unexpected.
“ 16th. At daylight, we found ourselves in the entrance
of what was thought a river. Under this impression, I hoped
to penetrate into the interior of the country, and meet some new
tribes of Patagonians. As soon as we could get underweigh, we
pulled and sailed along a winding channel, on one side of which
was a pleasant-looking, woody country, extending towards
Tierra del P nego ; and on the other, a low, barren district, like
Eastern Patagonia. The banks on both shores were from five
to forty feet high, sloping, and covered with grass.
“ The current was in our favour, which with the saltness of
the water, inclined me to think it a channel, and not the mouth
of a river. In this opinion I was confirmed in a short time, by
seeing surf breaking against some land beyond an opening,
which showed that we were approaching a large hody of water.
Soon after, we reached the extreme west point of this small
channel ; and, to our surprise, saw an expanse, at least thirty
miles across from east to west, and twenty from north to south.
I thought it more at first, but probably was deceived. West
and south of it I observed high snow-covered mountains ; and
the summit of one was remarkable, being like a castle with a
high tower. Northward, the land was low; excepting a few
ranges of down-like hills with large plains between them.
“ It happened to be a very clear day, and all that could he
seen at any time was visible. In two places there seemed to me
to be openings to the westward ; in the southernmost I could
see no land at all ; the other was backed by distant mountains,
but still had the appearance of an opening. After this I went
to the top of a hill near me, about three hundred feet high, to
gain a better view, yet so small an elevation made but little
difference, and I rather thought the opposite coast farther off
than I had at first supposed.
“ Having sent the cutter back a short distance, to make a
fire and land our things, I crossed the channel to a fine level
plain, and measured a base line. In crossing, I found a most
rapid tide, at least five or six knots at neap tides, and to pull
against it was out of the question. It caused a considerable
swell and race at the entrance, which is not a quarter of a mile
wide, though it averages twelve fathoms in depth. On the
plain was growing thick grass, like that in the vicinity oi the
river Plata. So rich and good was the grass and trefoil, that I
saved a few seeds, hoping some day to see their produce in
England. No tree was seen; the soil seemed dry, rich, and light.
Skunks, and a small kind of cavy, had burrowed every where,
which proves the climate to be of a different nature from that
of the Strait. The bones and traces of guanacoes were numerous,
and some horses’ tracks were found ; as also part of a
dead guanaco, which appeared to have been a prey to wild
beasts. Water was not so plentiful as to the southward ; but
quite sufficient for all useful purposes, many small brooks being
noticed, besides springs in the sides of the low hills. We shot
a swan (o) and some coots ; the swans were so fat, or so tame,
that they would not rise from the water.
“ 17th. While on Whitestone Plain, a very heavy squall of
wind and hail passed over from the S.W., so cuttingly cold,
that it showed me one reason why these plains, swept by every
wind from S.S.W. to N., are destitute of trees.
“ After dark, we returned to the cutter and partook of a
large mess, made of the swan we had shot, the coots, some
limpets, and preserved meat. The shortness of the days was
becoming very inconvenient; from eight to four were the only
hours of daylight; but some of the nights were so fine, that I
got many sets of observations of the moon and stars.
(o) Black-necked swan, noticed elsewhere by C aptain King.—R .F .
ll