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Show 244 1'IERRA DEL FUEGO. Jan. 1 833 contrasted with the dead white of an expanse of snow·. A~ fragments fell from the glacier into the water, tb~y flo.at~ away and the channel with its icebergs represented m mi~Ia; ture ~he polar sea. When we reached the western mout o this branch of the channel, we sailed amongst many unknown islands and then proceeded by the outer coast to the entrance 'of the other arm. Thence we returned t~ Ponsonby Sound, saw the Fuegians, and arrived at the ship after our twenty-days' excursion. 245 CHAPTER XII. Falkland Islands-Excursion round island-Aspect-Cattle, horses, rabbit, wolf-like fox-Fire made ofbones-Art in making fire-Manner of hunting wild cattle-Geology, fossil shells-Valleys filled with great fragments, scenes of violence-Penguin- Geese-Eggs of dorisZoophytes, coralline phosphorescent-Compound animals. FALKLAND ISLANDS. MARCH 16TH, 1834.-The Beagle anchored in Berkeley Sound, in East Falkland Island.* This archipelago is situated in nearly the same latitude as the mouth of the Strait of Magellan. It covers a space of about 120 by 60 geographical miles, and is a little more than half the size of Ireland. After the possession of these miserable islands had been contested by France, Spain, and England, they were left uninhabited. The government of Buenos Ayres then sold them to a private individual, but likewise used them, as old Spain had done before, for a penal settlement. England claimed her right and seized them. The Englishman who was left in charge of the flag was consequently murdered. A British officer was next sent, unsupported by any power: and when we arrived, we found him in charge of a population, of which rather more than half were runaway rebels and murderers. The theatre is worthy of the scenes acted on it. An undulating land, with a desolate and wretched aspect, is every where covered by a peaty soil and wiry grass, of one monotonous brown colour. Here and there a peak or ridge of gray quartz rock, breaks through the smooth surface. Every one has heard of the climate of these regions ; it may be compared to that which is experienced at the height of between one and two thousand feet, on the mountains of North "* In the same month, also, of the previous year, the Beagle visited these islands. |