The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-10-24
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STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.

course by sea which will he maintained with
California and Oregon. The following let
ter from the pen of California adventurer
who made passage in April last in a ves-
sci from New York. will be read with inter.
est. We copy it from the Journal Of Com
mcrce.
Sixty days ofpleasant sailing, the last three
weeks of fighting. with panperns and heavy
gales excepted, found us in 81 ght Of the CPS
icatctl height of Cape Virgins the eastern en-.
trance to the far famed Straits of Magellan.
These are classic waters. Through this
narrow cut in land, scarcely three hundred
miles in all its tortuous course, bold Fcrnan.
do de MagaIhaen stecred. and despite Of un-
fitness OF vessels and ireachery of officers
accomplished that wherein Columbus failed,
and opened new highway 10 the Indies.
For many years afterwards, this was sup
posed to be the only y channel for ships, and
many were the rich argoses that passed here
with the fruits of SUMMER clmcs: many too
(Which struck where the white and fleecy waves
Looked soft as cardcd wool,
But the cruel rocks. they gorged their sides,
Like the horns of hungry bull
Then Cape Horn was found 10 terminate
the American Continent, and lew vessels
exccp, those Of simplest rig and small size
have since dared 10 attempt passage from
east TO west through MagaIhaen's Straits.
You will best understand the peculiar ma.
turc Of this corner of the earth by the fol-
lowing as from Cape Virgins to Cape Pillar.
The first day was spent in painfully beat.
ing up 10 the first anchorage in Possession
Bav, against violent gusts Of wind, which
Ii ted The tops from those deep green fur.
rows, and drenchcd US with showers Of in
cxprcssibIc sadness. We anchored with
our consor. the Sea Witch Of Mystic, the pi-
lot boat Anonyma, s:vcnty-two days from
Boston, and The clipper Of Eclipse, eighty
days from Baltimore. Though thousands
of miles from home, at a distance where the
distinction between states should he lost,
and all viewed as single nation, was new
er more fnrciby struck with sectional pecu.
liaritics than when contrasting the slow
drawing reply of,he Bal,morean, with the
hearty shout of the Bnstonian, and the bluff,
independent hail of The Yankee smackman.
The little feet which had thus gathered in a
single dav, determined to sail in company.
,hrongh the Straits, and it may safely be
said that four swlficr vessels were never yet
seen together in these waters.
At the second trial we succeeded in pas
sing the first and second Narrows. These
are each about ten miles in length and near
" two in width. the tI!c running through
them full ten or twelve miles an hour. Ey
sciz!ng il al the favorable time, no danger
need be apprehendcd. excerpt from the heavy
rippngs in which many vessels have been
lost. In three days we had passed the first
Of the three great divisions which nature has
marked in the Straits. The region of sand
hills and granite cliffs yicIds to one which
appears almost delightful in comparison with
wha, proceeds and follows it. lleIc the
c,ast suddenly tends soulhward, and the
Straits expand in broad sheet Of water,
thirty miles in width and three hundred faith
oms in depth. The hills are ,hirkly clothed
with trees tn tho waters edge, and were ii
ro, for the humid climate and buggy soil,
man could gain his livelihood from tho earth.
As il IS, Chllian colonies of convIcts al Sandy
Point and Port Famine. arc supported from
home. Rain fell every day while we were
there, and in continual food for full third
of the time. in this kind of experience VIC
can fully equal even our brother hunters for
gold who trdged across to Panama.
Port Famine, the capital of semi civl'iza-
ton in this quarter Of the globe, consists of
a few houses, enclosing Il wooden fort. IN
which lie unmouned two honey combed
twelve FOUNDERS and a brass field piece
tightly spiked! Bncnos Ayres also claims
this country, and Chill thus arms herself
against her rival imbccillv. There is a
rickcty apology for a lence-a stout Cal might
paw II down; running aroun thirty ar forty
cells four large stycs. between which are
cutters for streets, little stone islands for
side walk, and eighteen inches of mud for a
pavement. thought of New York! In
each Of these SIX by eight boxcs. windowess
and chnneyless. exists family OF convcts.
About seventy from the fleet went ashore
one evening, and saw fandango. In Spain
the dance may be graceful. Here no won.
der that the wretches pay one dollar pound
for soap, and they make good bargain at
that.
Most vessels stop here necdlcssly for wood
and water. Both can be procured as well,
if not better, in most harbors farther on, and
time spent here is lost; for there is always a
fair wind in this portion Of The Straits. and
many DAYS must be spent at anchor before
the Pacific is reached. Yet the water nj
Port Famine cannot be surpassed. Men of
experience say that months at sea do not al
ter its taste.
At San Nichoas's Bay we saw fair
specimen of the Patagonans. This is that
singular race Of men which have so incxpi-
cabIv lost half their stature in the last two
hundred years Maga!haen affirmed them
in he nearly Twelve feet high. Cnrd0va and