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

1583. SABMTENTO''s EXPEDITION. 29 Transit, and Altitude circle, were set iij) ; but from the very unfavourable state of tlie weather, and the interference of other occupations, I was only enabled to procure a series of zenith distances of the sun, and stars, for the latitude. Port Famine, a name well known to all who have interested themselves about the Strait of Magalhaens, was selected by Sarmiento as the most convenient place for the site of an establishment formed, at his suggestion, by Philip II. King of Spain. The voyage of Sir Francis Drake through the Strait into the Pacific, and his successes against the Spanish colonies and trade on the western side of the continent of America, induced the Viceroy of Lima to send an Expedition to pursue the " Cor- sair," with orders to fight and take him, dead or alive.* This Expedition, commanded by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, who had already been engaged twice with Drake, consisted of two ships, containing in all two hundred armed men, sailors and soldiers ; a force which was considered sufficient to ensure the capture. *!- The Strait of Magalhaens being the most likely place to meet with Drake, Sarmiento was ordered to proceed througli it, and take the opportunity of exploring its coasts. All this he performed in a manner highly creditable, as well for the excellent description handed down in his unpretending joui'nal, as for the enterprising zeal, and steady perseverance, shown among difficulties of no trifling nature. To his accounts of various places there will be frequent occasion to refer. Our object, at present, is to give a short account of the Colony. Sarmiento sailed from Peru (1583), and entered the Strait from the Pacific. After experiencing many serious difficulties, and escaping imminent dangers, in the western part of the Strait, where the climate is so rigorous and the country so deso- late, it was not surprising that he should become enraptured with the verdant, and picturesque appearance of the shores to the eastward of Cape Froward, and with the open country ia * Sarmiento'a Voyage, p. 25. f Id. I.e.