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CH A P T E R II.
EXPERIENCES IN PATAGONIA.
WE left the Falkland Islands on the evening of the 2 7tli
and sailed to the westward. On the morning of the is:
of January, 1879, we entered the eastern entrance of the Strait
of Magellan, passing within easy sight of Cape Virgins anc
Dungeness Point. As we approached the latter, we noticec
a herd of guanacoes browsing quietly near the beach, as i:
a passing ship were an object familiar to their eyes. This, ou:
first impression of the famous Straits, was certainly favourable
A winding channel, the glassy smoothness of whose surface wa:
only broken by the splashing of cormorants, steamer ducks, anc
other sea-birds, stretched away to the westward. On the nortl
side were the low undulating plains of Patagonia, covered will
their summer mantle of greenish-yellow vegetation ; while t(
the southward a few widely separated wreaths of blue smoke
ascending from the gloomy shores of Tierra del Fuego, market
out the dwelling-place of one of the most remarkable varietie:
of the human species. Favoured by the tide, we passed rapidly
through the first Narrows, and at 6.30 in the evening had go:
as far as Cape Gregory. Here the flood-tide setting strongly t(
the westward, fairly brought us to a standstill, so we steamed ir
towards the north shore, and anchored close under Cape Gregory
A party of us who were bent on exploring soon landed, and pro
ceeded in various directions in quest of game, and in the fe"
remaining hours of daylight we succeeded in getting severa
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