Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

April 1828. whales — structure — scenery. 131 with them. They were as vociferous as usual, and pointed to the shoi-e, inviting us to land. One of them, who stood up in the canoe while we passed, was ornamented about the hair and body with white feathers. This part of the Strait teems with whales, seals, and por- poises. While we were in Bradley Cove, a remarkable appear- ance of the water spouted by whales was observed ; it hung in the air like a bright silvery mist, and was visible to the naked eye, at the distance of four miles, for one minute and thirty- five seconds before it disappeared. A glance at the chart of this part of the Strait will show the difference of geological structtire in the opposite coasts. The north shore, from Cape Froward to Port Gallant, forms a straight line, with scarcely a projection or bight ; but on the opposite side there is a succession of inlets, surrounded by precipitous mountains, which ai'e separated by ravines. The northern shore is of slate; but the other is principally of green- stone, and its mountains, instead of running up into sharp peaks, and narrow serrated ridges, are generally round-topped. The vegetation on both sides is almost equally abundant, but the trees on the south shore are much smaller. The smooth- leaved beech {Fagus hetuloides) and Winter's-bark are the principal trees ; but here and there a small tree was observed, like a cypress, Avhich does not grow to the eastward, excepting on the sides of Mount Tarn, where it only reaches the height of three or four feet. The scenery of this part of the Strait, instead of being as Cordova describes it, " horrible," is at this season exceedingly striking and picturesque. The highest mountains certainly are bare of vegetation ; but their sharp peaks and snow-covered summits afford a pleasing contrast to the lower hills, thickly clothed with trees quite to the water's side, which is bordered by masses of bare rock, studded with ferns and moss, and backed by the rich dark -green foliage of the berberis and arbutus shrubs, with here and there a beech-tree, just begin- ning to assume its autumnal tints. In working into the narrow entrance of Port Gallant, the K 2