Robert Fitzroy - Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836

Excepting one for signals.

Twelve additional seamen having been ordered, by the Admiralty, for the Adelaide schooner.

On the north side of the river Plata.

Commonly called Magellan. See p. 11.

Dasyprocta patachonica : it is the Patagonian cavy of Dr. Shaw, and Pennant's Quadr., tab. 39, and the liévre pampa of D'Azara. M. Desmarest thinks that if the teeth were examined it would form a new genus, for which he proposes the name of Dolichotis (Ency. Meth. Mamm. p. 359). At present he has, from its external character, placed it amongst the genus Dasyprocta (agouti). The only one that was taken was not preserved, which prevented me from ascertaining the fact.

Dasypus minutus , Desm. Tatou pichiy , or tatou septième of D'Azara, &c. &c. It has seven bands.

A similar error was made by one of the ships of the fleet under Loyasa in the year 1525. The Nodales also, in their description of the coast, mention the similarity of appearance in the two capes, Virgins and Fairweather. "Y venido de mar en fuera à buscar la tierra facilmente podian hacer de Rio de Gallegos el Cabo de Virgenes," (and in making the land Cape Virgins may easily be mistaken for the river Gallegos). – Viage de los Nodales, p. 53.

Some of the specimens of the clay strata consist, according to Dr. Fitton, who has kindly examined my collection, of a white marl not unlike certain varieties of the lower chalk; and of a clay having many of the properties of fuller's earth. The pebbles on the beach consist of quartz, red jasper, hornstone, and flinty slate, but do not contain any stone resembling chalk flint.

Dr. Fitton considers these masses of clay to bear a resemblance to the upper green sand of England.

Ultimo Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes, part ii. p. 298.

A hill on the north shore of Possession Bay, having near it, to the westward, four rocky summits, which, from a particular point of view, bear a strong resemblance to the cropped ears of a horse or ass. These are described less briefly in the Sailing Directions.

Flowing into the strait from the east towards the west.

Fucus giganteus.

Usually called by seamen 'kelp.'

Columns of smoke rising from large fires.

Berberis.

Previous to the expedition quitting England, I had provided myself with medals, to give away to the Indians with whom we might communicate, bearing on one side the figure of Britannia, and on the reverse George IV. "Adventure and Beagle," and "1826."

Narborough, p. 67.

Ultimo Viage, p. 120.

From an attentive perusal of the voyage of Magalhaens, I have lately been led to think that this is the mountain which Magalhaens called Roldan's Bell. Sarmiento has, however, assigned that name to a mountain at the back of his Bay of Campana, which will be noticed in it's proper place. The name of Mount Sarmiento was too long, and too well established with us, or I should have restored the name bestowed upon it by Magalhaens. Herrera, in his Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales, cap. xxiii, notices the "Campana de Roldan" as a great mountain in the midst of the entrance of a channel; they gave it this name (Campana de Roldan) because one of Magalhaens's companions, named Roldan, an artillery officer, went to examine it. "Y la Campana de Roldan una Peña grande en medio al principio de un canal: dieron le este nombre porque la fué a reconocer uno de los compañeros de Magallanes llamado Roldan que era artillero."

but as the last observation, from the angle of elevation being greater, was more likely to be correct, 6,800 feet is considered to be its elevation.

At a subsequent visit, embracing a period of 190 days, it was only seen on twenty-five, and during seven days only was it constantly visible. On the remaining eighteen, portions only were seen, and those but for a few hours at a time.

Sarmiento's Voyage, p. 25.

Id. l.c.

See Burney, ii. p. 45, for a fuller account; also id. 71.

Who made a remark on the occasion, which became proverbial, "that if a ship carried out only anchors and cables, sufficient for her security against the storms in that part of the world, she would go well laden." Burney Coll. vol. ii. 45.

Burney, ii. 51.

The situation of "Jesus" must have been about half-way between the First and Second Narrow, near the point named in the chart N.S. de Valle, where some peaked elevations, dividing vallies near the coast line, are conspicuous. The Beagle anchored there, and found plenty of fresh water.

Close to Port Famine.

From Sarmiento's description of the coast, Point Santa Brigida is the outward point of Nassau Island.( 258 258 By Nassau Island is meant the land forming the south shore of the Second Narrow. – R. F. ) See Sarmiento's Voyage, p. 220.

Formerly spelled 'Candish.'

"Near to Port Famine they took on board a Spaniard, who was the only one then remaining alive of the garrison left in the Strait by Sarmiento. The account given by this man, as reported by Magoths, is, that he had lived in those parts six years, and was one of the four hundred men sent thither by the King of Spain in the year 1582, to fortify and inhabit there, to hinder the passage of all strangers that way into the South Sea. But that town (San Felipe) and the other Spanish colony being destroyed by famine, he said he had lived in a house, by himself, a long time, and relieved himself with his caliver( 259 259 A kind of gun. – R. F. ) until our coming thither." Burney, ii. p. 96. This man died on the voyage to Europe. Id. p. 97.

So named by Bougainville.

It belongs to the group which M. Temminck has lately named Hylobates , without attending to the name long since conferred upon it by Dr. Fleming. I designated it Oidemia Patachonica , from its large dimensions, in my communication upon the Ornithology of the Straits. Zoological Journal, vol. iv. p. 100. On my return to England, I found that M. de Freycinet had figured this bird, in the account of his last voyage in l'Uranie, where it is described by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard under the name of Micropterus brachypterus .

Cook's Second Voyage, 4to. p. 570.

On the shores of Eagle Bay we procured a large collection of shells, among which were Margarita violacea (Nob. in Zool. Journ. v. 346, No. 53), a beautiful Modiola ( M. trapesina , Lam. k), a new Pecten (P. vitreus Nob. in Zool. Jour. v. 337, No. 17), and a delicate transparent-shelled Patella , answering the description of P. cymbularia . These four species were found attached to floating leaves of the kelp ( Fucus giganteus ), and afford food to the steamer-duck. We also collected good specimens of Murex Magellanicus , Lam. k, of Fissurella picta , Lam. k, and a great number of the common patella of the Strait, which forms a considerable article of food for the Natives.