The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-12-08
TERRA DEL FUEGO.
Information About the Country
and its Inhabitants.
Geological Formation as Deter
mined by Recent Surveys.

have arisen which give the country in
terest and supply information about it.
Within tho last five years it has been
the subject of moro thorough and scien-
tifc investigation than has ever been
previously attempted. Lieutenant Bove
of the French Navy has, by permission
of the Argentine Government, and
partly under its patron age, made An
expedition to the southeast portion OF
Terra del Fuego; and his labors have
resulted in valuable report on the
fauna, fora and general characteristics
of the country and the condition and
language Of the people.
Another even moro valuable contri-
button to our knowledge on the subject
has been made by Rev. Thomas Bridges,
Church Of England missionary, who
has lived in the southeastern part Of
Terra del Fuego foS over IS yeafs, and
has during that long residence accumu-
lated an important amount Of informa-
jon about the country and its inhabit-
ants. Mr.. julius Pepper, man of
scientific antecedents, but also on be.
half of q mining company, recently
made an expedition right across the
country from Useless Bay on the west
to San Sebastian on the east and thence
along tho coast. Lastly, Don Ramon
Lista, a well-known explorer aud
member of the Geographical society Of
Buenos Ayres, has just returned from q
scientific and geographical expedition
to the east and southeast coast, under
taken at the instance of the Argentine
government These combined sources
Of information have served to correct
many errors hitherto current about the
country, and to add to our knowledge
in many impor tant respects.
The group of island, which form the
archipelago of Terra del Fuego have an
area of about eighty thousand square
miles, nearly the same size as England
and Scotland. Darwin describes the
country as mountainous land partly
submerged in the sea so that deep iulets
and bays occupy the place where the
valleys should exist. To fiud an acre OF
level land in any part of the country is
most rare. Don Ramon Lista, however,
who had greater and more recent oppor-
tunities, thinks this investigation o
mistaken one. He describes Argentine
Terra del Fuego as presenting two as
poets. In the north there are valleys
more or less extensive, covered with
splendid groves and irrigated by large
rivers, some Of which are navigable,
this region Enjoying an agreeable tenn
perature, with very little snow during
the winter.
South of this he reports that the ap
pcarance of the country changes, and
extended forests appear, where thu
grass Is not so abund ant or the rivers Sc
large. The face of the land is in thi
part something like Switzerland, will
small lakes, elevated mountains ant
valuable timber forests. He seems t
think the country capable OF great de-
velopment, for he adds: ''On the plain!
, there will yet be planted a greet pas
toral industry, while l believe thu
mountains will be found to contain val
liable mineral deposits"
The geological formation of Terra de
Fuego corresponds with that of Pata
gonia; its mountains are the continue.
ton and southern extremity OF thu
, Andes, while the plains and uplsndl
correspond to the Patagonian steppes,
In some parts the formation is DECIDEDLY
volcanic, pumice stone is found in large
quantities, and granite and quartz az
abundant On the other hand, lime
stone, iron and coal seem to be wanting.
, Gold has been found in considerabl,
r quantities in the north, and for a mum.
Der of years the eaterpri'ing Chillian'
have been washing it at tho foot of thu
! chain hills which form the coasts of tn,
Useless and Future bays
The climate is certainly not the bes
in the world, but its Disadvantages
seem to have been q good deal ex
sggerated by casual visitors, who have
perhaps been unfortunate as to time
and localities. Mr.. Bridges tells u
that in the humid regions Of the ives