The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20

channel leading In that direction, we caught q
glimpse OF vast ice-feld stretching apparently
down into the water, glittering and blazing under
the SUMS rays and wonderful In its extent The
absence of fresh snow at this season OF the year
makes the lovely greenishblue Of the gaciaice very
distinct from the dead white OF the snowfelds, and
probably enabled us to recognize glaciers where at
other times they could not be noticed. The variety
OF the scenery which we passed was az wonderful
as Its sublimity. Black rugged cliffs
were succeeded by stretches Of wild forest;
smooth regular faces OF rock where the strata had
reposed peacefully since their deposition by sur
faces, gnarled twisted and distorted as by some
mighty CONFUSION Of nature; forked peaks or sharp
cones by rounded summits grassy knobs by bare
patches, rOches naOutonnes where the fertility,
crushed and ground out during the glacial epoch,
had never been re-estabHshed. On this day and
during the entire passage we noticed that any DIFF
ference In smOOthness between the northern and
southern shores was always in favor OF the former,
they often presenting polished regular rounded
surfaces, while those directly opposite were sharp,
Jagged and uneven. These appearances were sum
dence that the passage OF the ice mass had been
from the south northward, and to give complete
predictions on the subject. The rocks on the north
side facing and opposing the progress OF the Ice
oan peen in atm the Of it's
escaped untouched. At about ten O'Clock In the
morning we approached Cape Froward, whose bold,
steep, slaty bluff constitutes
THE soUTHERNMosT POINT OF THE AMERICAN con-
TINENT
Sailing vessels often have great difnculty In pass
ing it on account OF the strong winds which pre-
vail; but rounded it without any difficulty, and,
heading northward, were .'homeward bound, an
event which was duly recognized and celebrated.
During the morning we had passed Fuegian
canoe containing four or five natives, males and
very small guanaco and puma skins as protection
from the cold. The women were. rowing and suck
ns in he al sas
us to stop, gesticulating and shouting with the
utmost yehemence Their n only English phrases ;ss
repeated necessarily, while they motioned towards
an arbor and smoke on the beach, probably the
deemed advisable to round Cape Froward while
the weather was favorable no attention was paid
to their outcres and the last we saw OF them they
were slowly returning to the Shore the women ex-
ercising without opposition the privilege demanded
by their more cultivated sisters Of sharing the labor
Early in the afternoon we anchored in Fortescue
Bay, at Port Gallant Of the safest and most con-
venient harbors In the Straits 1t is completely en-,
shields the fourth but allows OF ready ingress and
egress. The usual exploring party went ON shore
with the soft rock In which they were embedded
were discovered and thickets ftlcSt0 Mageld'etCd
We're on both the island and the main and
THE BEAUTY AND LUxURIANCE OF THE VEGETATION
has been an overcoming surprise to u.s. Here
sand feet Of the sea, where we had read Of storms
of rain and sleet lasting for months, where mid
summer snow squalls are not infrequent we found
wild fnchsias reaching height Of ten twelve feet
scarlet dest0ntdtseG, rose cOored phflestB and
numerous other brilliant and attractive flowers IN
wonderful In their great numbers large size and
variegated colors
Early on the following morning March Ply we
continued our course, after dredging which was
moderately successful The mild breeze with which
tntr in cn1 Crnn Uh
the narrow channel with great fury. These sudden,
short violent squalls, peculiar to this region are
but which grew to have weighty import to our
ears. The bursts OF sunshine and NANTES OF cloud
which alternately condensed ana rarihe Zee the ar
the currents Of winds to certain limits and direc-
tiOns seemed to combine to intensity the violence Of
in use all the morning, and during the commence.
ment Of ne gale several pictures were secured but
Cling against the head wiS qnvern and tossing
and veering occasionally nom side to side;
The had SDg to blown be held
its keeper and suffered ,, some da;msge The
any results whatever was by employing lenses with
an extremely short focus thus reducing the motion
with our large cameras and long focus lenses were
failures It was found impossible to so shorten tho
time or exposure as to avoid the effects OF the mo.
source Of congratulation, as even the most imper-
feet pictures Of these localities only mere outlines,
STRUGGLING AGAINST THE "wILLI-wAw.n
we had started with the intention Of reaching
the as
s sna Snss ps We're their highest
Sns he '%s @ III BY drowning
all otnsr sounds An effort S WAS made to
finally compelled to turn before the wind, an opera
tion not without danger and to retrace our course.
by the gale as we had been previously retarded.
In an astOnishngly short space OF time we had
swept over leagues Of ioaming water, and shot by
glaciers and snow fields, peaks and dOmes, which
had attracted our admirlng attention hours pre-
viously Fuctlts descersAs ADe'7t, and we were far
devoid of personal application. We soon reached
BORA Bay, the cove on the north side, for which we
were running The vessel was headed inwards, the
scene Of wild fury to OF comparative peace and
cuiar sheet Of water, surrounded by high,
precipitous bluffs on twO-thirds OF Its cir.
Se w grfa S NOT %nn n acn
sometimes be as smooth as mirror, while outside
In the channel we had left we could see the foam
shrubs and trees the shore fattened by its vio-
lence. At intervals however, the storm, gathering
Its would sweep over the tops Of the cliffs
from their submits, chilled by their SHOWS and
laden with mist and rain. The vessel would rock
from side to side, the water roth up as If boiling
and then, with equal suddenness everything would
be quiet again. Some idea of the force OF these
gusts may be gained from the fact that we repeat
eddy saw beautiful cascade which fell almost per-
pendicularly down the eastern wall of our harbor,
arrested in its descent, gathered up in the resist.
less force Of the blast and actually carried upwards
giving the singular optical impression Of
WATER RUNNING UP HILL.
the inevitable descent upon the life Of the locality,
vegetable and animal, fossil and existent, which Is
always the inaugural ceremony gone through with
on our arrival at new place. The next day,
March 20, opened with fog and seet; there were
fresh patches Of snow on the hills and scum Of Ice
on the surface Of the water The weather looked
very unsettled, willi- waws still paid their unwel-
come visits occasionally, and 1t was not considered
prudent to venture out OF the harbOr. During the
day work was continued in various directions. The
hills were climbed and their geology investigated,
photographs OF the bay and its surroundings were
taken and botanical and other collections made.
The sailors secured several boatl0ads Of fine large
mussels, which were subsequently served up to US
In great variety Of styles and for some time con-
stltuted chief article of diet About four O'Clock
m no aft m uta nod