Yet if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of the kelp.

Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter; with their destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon perish also; and lastly, the Fuegian savage, the miserable lord of this miserable land, would redouble his cannibal feast, decrease in numbers, and perhaps cease to exist.
JUNE 8, 1834.
We weighed anchor early in the morning and left Port Famine.
Captain Fitz Roy determined to leave the Strait of Magellan by the Magdalen Channel, which had not long been discovered.

Our course lay due south, down that gloomy passage which I have before alluded to as appearing to lead to another and worse world.

The wind was fair, but the atmosphere was very thick; so that we missed much curious scenery.

The dark ragged clouds were rapidly driven over the mountains, from their summits nearly down to their bases.