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and two children. A rough likeness made of her did not please
at all, because it was white : she took out her red paint, and put
some on her own cheeks, as drawn on the paper, and then was
quite satisfied, sitting as still as a mouse, while I made another
sketch. In return for the compliment paid to her countenance,
she daubed my face, as well as my coxswain’s, with the same
red mixture.
“ 24th. A sharp frost during the night. We left Donkin
Cove, as soon as I had taken observations for the chronometers.
A fine breeze in our favour earned us rapidly along, and at
dusk we were near Englefield Island. The last few nights have
been so clear, that two or three of the men, and myself, have
slept in the open air without any other covering than our
blanket-bags, and clothes. My cloak has been frozen hard over
me every morning ; yet I never slept more soundly, nor was in
better health.
“ We had a good view of Mount Misery this day. It is about
3,000 feet in height ; twice as high as the surrounding mountains,
and quite bare, even of snow, on the summit. The
night tides here rise more than those of the day at this season
: the times of high water do not differ much on the
opposite shores. About an hour after dusk we reached Englefield
Island, having made a capital run, with a fresh and fair
wind. Creeping in the dark, along shore, we at last found
shelter for the boats, and formed a snug place amongst the
bushes for our tent and fires. One of my boat’s crew was ill
this day ; the first man that had been seriously so, although
several had been slightly affected by the muscles and limpets ;
and one had fits. A draught of hot port wine and Winter’s-
bark, certainly seemed to be an efficient medicine for the
slighter complaints.
“ 25th. Blowing strong from the westward, with much rain.
I forced a way, with much difficulty, among thick bushes, to
the top of the island, and when I got there found, to my mortification,
that by no possible contrivance could I see round,
for I was encompassed by lofty trees of nearly equal height.
“ 26th. We crossed over to the east shore : the temperature of
the water, between Englefield Island and the nearest land,
one foot beneath the surface, was 42“; the air at the same time
being 38°. While the sea water preserves this temperature,
it must tend much to moderate the severity of cold, one would
naturally expect in this latitude, near so many snow-covered
mountains. We arrived at the Point of Islets, soon after sunset,
on the 27th.
“ 28th. Almost every night I observed that the wind subsided
soon after sunset, the clouds passed away, and the first
part of the night was very fine; but that, towards morning,
wind and clouds generally succeeded. From Point of Islets, we
sailed southward; and were again close to the mountains:
from whose appearance at this spot, no one would suppose that
any passage lay between them; so intricate and winding are
the channels.
“ I was sorry to leave the open country, behind m e; but time
pressed; and there was yet much to do with our loaded boats,
which could not make very great progress in the short daylight
afforded by this season. After passing Bennett Island the
land became rugged, and mountainous on each side, covered,
however, with wood and vegetation wherever it could grow;
and we were again in the Magalhaenic regions.
“ This day I examined as much of the west side of the
channel, as time would allow, and reached Corona Creek at
about eight o’clock. What I called the Sugar Loaf must be
the Corona Island of Cordova’s officers ; for at some distance
it looks somewhat hke a crown. It is singular that they
inserted (in their chart) an island near their Corona, which
cannot be distinguished from the main-land, until one is
within two miles of i t ; and as at that distance the Otway
Water is plainly visible, must they not have seen the opening
? Tired of their job, did they return without prosecuting
the discovery, or was the weather too thick to see far ? Their
description of the Jerome Channel, leads to tlie supposition of
a continual current setting through in one direction, instead of
a regular ebb and flood ; and the surest sign of a passage
between places in Tierra del Fuego, is a current or stream.
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