Connecticut western news., 1888-09-26
TERRA DEL FUEGO.
Information About the Country
 and it's Inhabitants.
Geological Formation as Deter
 mined by Recent Surveys.


 busy world has been content to let it alone. Of l,tc, however, T, circumstances have arisen which give the country in- forest and supply information about it. Within the last five years it has been tho suaj ct of moro thorough and sciou- tific investigation than has ever been preyious:y attempted. Lleutcn ant B vo ofth, French Nsvy has, by permissi on of tho Argentine Government, and partly under its patron age, made an expedition to tho southeast portion of Terra del Fucgo; and his labors have resulted in valuable report on the fauna, flora and general characteristics of the ecu try and tho condition and language of tho people.
 Another even moro valuable contri- button to our knowledge on tho subject has been made by Rsv. Thomas Brydges, Church of England missionary, who has lived in tho southeastern part of Terra del Fuego for over 25 years, and has during that long residence accumu- lated m important amount of informa- tion about tho country and its inhabit- ants. MT. Julius Pepper, man of scientific anteccdents, but also on be- half of mining company, recently made an expedition right across the country from Useless Bay on the west to San Sebastian on the cast and thence along tho coast. Lastly, Don Ramon Lista, wellknown explorer and member of tho Geographical society of Buenos Ayres, has just returned from scientific and geographical expedition to the east and southeast coast, under taken at the instance of tho 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 important respects.
 The group of island, which form the archipelago of Terra del Fuogo have an area of about eighty thousand square miles, nearly tho samo size as England and Scotland. Darwin describes the country as mountainous land partly submerged. .ia the sea so that deep inlets and bays occupy tho placs where the valleys should exist. To fad an acre of 1'lcvel@ land in any part of the country is most rare. Don Ramon Lista, however, who had greater and more recent oppor- tunities, thiaks this investigation a mistaken one. Ho describes Argentine Terra del Fuego as presen ting two as poets. In the, north there arc valleys more or less extensive, covered with splendid groves and irrigated by large rivers, some of which are navigabIe, this region en toying an agreeable tenn perature, with very little snow during tho winter.
 South of this he reports that the ap- pcarance of tho country changes, and extended forests appear, where the grass IS not so abund ant or the rivers so large. The face of the land is in this part something like Switzerland, with small lakes, elevated mountains and valuable timber forests. H. seems to think the country capable ot great de- 1. vslopment, for he adds: "Oa the plains there will yet be planted great pas ,toral industry, while I believe the 4 mouatains will be found to contain val lable mineral deposits"
 }. Tho geological formation of Terra del Fuego corresponds with that of Pata- gonia; its mountains arc the continua- tion and southern extremity of the EAndes, whilo tho plains and uplands correspond to the Patagonian steppes. In some parts the formation is decidely volcanic, punice stone is found in large I quantities, and granite and quartz are abundant Oa the other hand, lime ! stone, iron and coal seem to be wanting. < Gold has been found in consider able quantities in the north, and for a num- Der of years the enterprisiag Chillians have. been washing it at tn, foot of the chain hills which form the coasts of the Useless and Future bays.
 The climate is certainly not the best 1 in the world, but its disadvantages seem to have been good deal cx- a3gerated by casual visitors, who have, perhaps, been unfortunate as to times afd localities. Mr. Bydgcs tells us tilt in tho humil regions of the west fr&ts are almost unknown; while in -th6 central and eastern parts, where the sky is nearly always cloudlcss, there is intense cold during tho four months from June to September.
 ,Hs adds that the want of sufficient heat in summer is the great drawback td the climate, and is a greater ia con- vdnience than the cold in winter, which hts never been known to be lower than 1a degrees Fahren heit, while the high est summer temperature is only 75 de. gfees. If it were not for the raw, damp winds the climate of Terra del Fuego would bo much better than that of Can ada. Whilo thero arc probably few streams in the country which are oi sufficient size ever to le utilized fol navigation, there is q large number ol small rivers and watercources, which carry eff the rains anf. melted snow from the mouutains, and thus assist te irrigato the lower plains. -[Chamters Journal.
 He- "Do you sess That peculiar cloud in fhn horiz an 21 M Sha-tI dnn,t knnu