, 1875-01-17
Tho Straits Of Mage1lan---Patagonia
and Terra del Fuego.
The River Plata---Gannets and Pen
Observation-Disclosures Pigeons.

| wsy between Patagonia aud the Island Of Terra
| del Fuego. The Straits. At their entrance, are
| upwards Of 80 miles vide, but 1t present the
shores on both sides may plainly be distinguish
| ed especially those OF
| This coast-lins presants bleak aud barren ap-
! pseranop aud oQnsiste OF = fat and elevated
! table-land, extending for milea unhrokan, and
running precipitately down to ths waters edge.
It is, in fact, i steep End rugged bluff OF sand,
relieved here ane there, whera the surface slopes,
| by cover Of dull-looking erass.
On the opposite side, the Ialand Of Terra del
Fusgo is to bo seen, And appears to be m undn-
lating aud billy country,
| The weather is delightful, and nothing like a.
| cold - s1pected to find it in thssa low lati-
| tudes. OF course, it is the beginning OF summer
| in this region and consequently will be soH1e-
| what mora pleasant. The water ia ot light
| green color, and strowed with white-caps, while
the aky il OF 1 pale-azure~ blue, scattered oyor
! with aoft and heeoy clouds in fantastic forms.
The Bun ia wa1rn with wind brisk and oool.
| : TUESDAY, Nov. 34-2 p. rn:-About o'clock
last evening ne reached Rossesslon Bay and
dropped anchor for the night atA distance of 80
miles from tho entrance of tht strsita> Shortly
| after our arrival, ~
LARaE WnAIk
| began to sport in the region Of the Bay, and
| oace appeared within half mile Of the vessel,
| showing his tail above Mater. Ons OF the pas
sensers fired at him twice with IN Express rife,
and tho second ahot seemed to hit hia tzil, and
he VAS not seen again.
Tho sun did not set until past 8; and It MAS
the most glorious sunset hare ever Witnessed.
OF coprsa, it is past description. Its bright
vermiion hues, and dark clouds lined With the
richest gold, combined With tha ret1ection on the
water, and faint rainbow In the Vest formed
MAGNIFICENT s1oHt.
Wo lett Possession Bav 1t half f-pass this
| morning. and it Was thon daylight We ara low
a1moat ii SANDY, Point. where we are to snchor
for this evening. There is Christian settlement
We have passed three vessels this morning
tia first an Argentine bsig4utiue; then English
steamer, bound for Valparaiso named Iberia;
! afterwards Peruvian man-of-War; and NON as
no approach Sandy Point, We see a steamer
anchored there,
While at anchorage At Fortesaue Bay, party
OF uB went ashore after breakfast, aud remained
roaming In the woods until luncheon. After
luncheon returned again, in company with ono
through tha very thickeat jungle and under
rush,-having several shots 1T Wild geesc,-
oyor hills and creeks to tho other side Of the
Bay. There ne met large party Who had been
shooting, inclose some specimens OF Vegeta~
ton from this quarter Of tho GLOBE.
have written this letter in order to mail it, il
possible, in the Straits Of Magellan, but whica
will ba but mere chance. II it does not reach
you, it matters little; If it should you will ap-
prectata 1t all the more. coming, as it does, from
these low ATTITUDES, and almost the
LOWEST INHABITED QUARTER OF THE GLOBE
TUESDAY, Dec. i5.-OF Point Parma. We are
now drawing near to Panama, where it il Ak
pected We viii arrive On Monday next. and prob
~. rn+s ALM halt &ha+n
have n opportunity OF hearing from you for tho
first timo since our departure from New fosk,
and also be able to send yuu au account Of my
long. ssa-voyage and aafa arrival above the
Equator once more.
My last letters we're written from Rio Janeiro,
where ne remained three Teeks, and left on
Monday, Nov. 8, for tbs Straits OF Magellan.
We had a very fair run from Rio to the Straits,
which occupied just two weeks, and proved .
very pleasant trip "a we had favorable winds
most Of tho time, aad 10 storms to contend i
against. However, our short stay In Rio Ja-
neiro had been Al
EXCEEDINGLY AGREEABLE ONE,
and it was not without soue feelings Of reluo-
tance that re took our departure. Everything
in the city hal seemed new and full OF interest. j
There ware 20 many pleasant rides outaide OF the
city, and tbs scenery around the harbot and III
the country was grand in the extreme. Tho day
We left was beautiful, and, BY half-past 2, we
which was studded With vessels OF almost
all nationalities. Al we passed the Dart, an
English man:of-war, aalutes wera exchanged,
and they Immediately 1owereda 4 boat to try and
meet us, but found they wore too late. Attor,
ve got outside tho hsrbor. we heard salute Of
fifty guns from ons Of the forts within. and
conjecsured that It wss given In honor OF the
Emperor. -.
On getting fnirly ont on the ocean, We found
the sea rather rough, aud tbs vessel rolled con-
slderably. Some OF us we're sea-sick. and hhd
= slight touch. but nothing SERIOUS. The second
day after leaving Rio. Nov. II, ne sighted Tho
island Of
and passed it at : distance Of : or miles. It is
q billy, undertaking island, said to be 40 miles In
length, aud belongs to Brazil. The only eign OF
lfa ws could distinguish Was a hre built on
the coast, mostly after SUNSET though the Inland
ia said to contain 40, GOO inhabitauts.
The wind was uo, On cur BON, and tbs tenn
perature OF the atmosphere becoming percepti-
bIy cooler as ne advanced farther South: But
the following day "as sgain mild and delightful,
with smooth sea, and lots OF
'*MoruER cAnEY's CHICKENS
following In The wake OF the vessel. Theso latter,
which are often known as '4storm5 pstrsls," are
pretty little birds, about the size Of common
swallow, with long wings and wehbed feet Their
color is Of Light brown on the back, but shades
gradually till It becomes quite dark at the tips
OF tha wings. Detween their back and tail is q
white spot and it il their custom to fit lightly
over the surface Of the water. Wehave had several
OF them on deck, which we're caught by means |
Of y THREAD" suspended from the stern Of the
vessel in which their wings bscomo entang1ed.
The minute after they ars brought on deck,
they begin to bs eea-sick, and throw up;
and. besides, they cannot fy upward from
the deck, untess raised. This, /, beliare, IS
We we're 1t this time in the region OF 4 whal- !!
ing ground, and passing through long streaks Of |
WHALES FOOD
floating on the wster. Tbis substance, which |
~ &-~ rt.n1-