by a magnificent cascade formed by the union of two torrents.
All the plants of the Strait groAv here : a sweet-scented Cal-
lixene (C. marginata, Lam'‘.) filled the air with its odour; and
a beautiful flower w'e had not previously seen, was found by
Mr. Graves-: it was pendulous, tubular, about two inches long
(Class. Hexand. Monog. Cal. 2. Pet. 3. pointed), and of a rich
carnation colour.
The trees are small and stunted ; they are of the usual
species. Beech and Winter’s-bark. Here we first noticed a large
fern,* having a stem two or three feet long, and five or six
inches in diameter, very similar to the Zamia of New PIol-
land. We saw very few birds, and no quadrupeds. Among
the former was a king-fisher, which at the time was neAV to us ;
but it is distributed over a large tract of South America, and
I have since seen a specimen said to have been shot at Rio de
Janeiro.
Fitton Harbour is a deep inlet, surrounded on all sides by
precipitous land, rising to the height of three, or four thousand
feet, and terminated by peaks, of most fantastic shape, covered
with ice and snow.
Between Fitton Harbour and Cape Rowlett are high mountains,
two of which, more conspicuous than the rest, we called
‘ Mount Sherrard,’ and ‘ Curious Peak.’
Card Point proved to be clay-slate, and I think the projection
of Cape Rowlett, and the mountains, are also of this
rock.
While crossing over towards Cape Rowlett, (the south head
o f a deep sound, trending to the S.E., which it was my intention
to examine), we were met by three canoes, containing, together,
about twenty-four people, and ten or twelve dogs. Mr. Wickham
recognised them to be the same party who had visited the
Hope on her last cruize; the thief, however, was not amongst
them, fearing probably he might be known.
These natives conducted themselves very quietly, and, except
i)ne of the women, who wished to keep a tin-pot in which some
* This fern Ai'e found at the island of Juan Fernandez also.
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