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CHARLES KNIGHT AND Co., 22, LUDGATE STREET.

MDCCCXXXVIII.
838

Price Seven Shillings and Sixpence, bound in cloth.

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COMMITTEE.

Chairman-The Right Hon. LORD BROUGHAM, F.R.S., Member of the National Institute of France.

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Vice-Chairman-JOHN WOOD, Esq.
Treasurer-WILLIAM TOOKE, Esq., F.K.S.

I. L. Goldsmid, Esq., F.R. and R.A.S.
Francis Henry Goldsmid, Esq.

B. Gompertz, Esq., F.R. and R.A.S.
G. B. Greenough, Esq., F.R. and L.S.

M. D. Hill, Esq.

Rowland Hill, Esq., F.R.A.S.

Right Hon. Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Bart., M.P.

David Jardine, Esq., A.M.

Henry B. Ker, Esq.

Thomas Hewitt Key, Esq., A.M.

George C. Lewis, Esq., A.M.
Thomas Henry Lister, Esq.

James Loch, Esq., M.P., F.G.S.
George Long, Esq., A.M.

Sir Frederick Madden, K.C.H.

H. Malden, Esq. A.M.
A. T. Maikin, Esq., A.M.
James Manning, Esq.

R. I. Murchison, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S.

The Right Hon. Lord Nugent.

Wm. Smith O'Brien, Esq., M.P.

The Right Hon. Sir Henry Parnell, Bt., M.P.

Dr. Roget, Sec. R.S., F. R.A.S.

Edward Romilly, Esq., A.M.

The Right Hon. Lord John Russell, M.P.
Sir M. A. Shee, P. R.A., F.R.S.

John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P.

The Right Hon. Earl Spencer.
John Taylor, Esq. F.R.S.
Dr. A. T. Thomson, F.L.S.
Thomas Vardon, Esq.

H. Waymouth, Esq.

J. Whishaw, Esq., A.M., F.R.S.

John Wrottesiey, Esq., A.M., F.R.A.S.
Thomas Wyse, Esq., M P.

J. A. Yates, Esq., M.P.

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Ashburton-J. F. Kingston, Esq.
Barnstaple.- -

- Bancraft, Esq.

William Gribble, Esq.
Belfast-Dr. Drummond."

Birmingham-J.Corrie, Esq. F.R.S. Chairman.

Paul Moon James, Esq., Treasurer.
Bridport-James Williams, Esq.

Bristol-J.N.Sanders, Esq., F.G.S. Chairman,
J. Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer.

J. B. Estlin, Esq., F.I..S., Secretary.
Calcutta-Sir B. H. Malkin.

James Young, Esq.

C. H. Cameron, Esq.

Cambridge-Rev. James Bowstead, M.A.

Rev. Prof. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S. & G.S.
Rev. Leonard Jenyns, M.A., F. L.S.
Rev. John Lodge, M.A.

Rev. Geo. Peacock, M.A., F.R.S. & G.S.
Robert W. Rothman, Esq., M.A., F.R.A.S.
& G.S.

Rev. Prof. Sedgwick, M.A., F.R.S.& G.S.
Rev. C. Thirlwall, M.A.

Canterbury-John Brent, Esq., Alderman,
William Masters, Esq.

Canton-Wm. Jardine, Esq., President.
Robert Inglis, Esq., Treasurer.

Rev. C. Bridgman,

Rev. C. Gutzlaff,

J. R. Morrison, Esq.,

Secretaries.

Cardigan-Rev. J. Blackwell, M.A.

Carlisle-Thomas Barnes, M.D., F.R.S.E.
Carnarnan-R. A. Poole, Esq.

William Roberts, Esq.

Chester Hayes Lyon, Esq.
Henry Potts, Esq.

Chichester-John Forbes, M.D., F.R.S.

C. C. Dendy, Esq.

Cockermouth-Rev. J. Whitridge.
Corfu-John Crawford, Esq.

Mr. Plato Petrides

Coventry-Arthur Gregory, Esq.
Denbigh-John Madocks, Esq.

Thomas Evans, Esq.

LOCAL COMMITTEES.

Derby-Joseph Strutt, Esq.

Edward Strutt, Esq., M.P.

Devonport and Stonehouse-John Cole, Esq.
Norman, Esq.

Lt. Col. C. Hamilton Smith, F.R.S.
Dublin-T. Drummond, Esq. R.E., F.R.A.S.
Edinburgh-Sir C. Bell, F.R.S. L. and E.
Etruria-Jos. Wedgwood, Esq.
Exeter-J. Tyrrell, Esq.

John Milford, Esq. (Coaver.)
Glamorganshire- Dr. Malkin, Cowbridge.
W. Williams, Esq., Aberpergwm.
Glasgow-K. Finlay, Esq.

Professor Mylne.

Alexander McGrigor, Esq.
Charles Tennant, Esq.
James Cowper, Esq.

Guernsey-F. C. Lukis, Esq.
Hull-J. C. Parker, Esq.

Keighley, Yorkshire-Rev. T. Dury, M.A.
Leamington Spa-Dr. Loudon, M.D.
Leeds-J. Marshall, Esq.

Lewes J. W. Woollgar, Esq.

Liverpool Loc. As.-W. W. Currie, Esq. Ch.
J. Mulleneux, Esq., Treasurer.

Rev. Dr. Shepherd.

Ludlow-T. A. Knight, Esq., P.H.S.
Maidenhead-R. Goolden, Esq., F.L.S.
Maidstone-Clement T. Smyth, Esq.

John Case, Esq.

Malmesbury-B. C. Thomas, Esq.

Manchester Loc. As.-G. W. Wood, Esq., Ch.
Benjamin Heywood, Esq., Treasurer.
T. W. Winstanley, Esq., Hon. Sec.
Sir G. Philips, Bart., M.P.
Benj. Gott, Esq.

Masham-Rev. George Waddington, M.A.
Merthyr Tydvil-J. J. Guest, Esq.
Minchinhampton-John G. Ball, Esq.
Monmouth-J. H. Moggridge, Esq.
Neath-John Rowland, Esq.
Newcastle-Rev. W. Turner.
T. Sopwith, Esq., F.G.S.

Newport, Isle of Wight-Ab. Clarke, Esq.
T. Cooke, Jun., Esq.

R. G. Kirkpatrick, Esq.

Newport Pagnell-J. Millar, Esq.

Newtown, Montgomeryshire-W. Pugh, Esq.

Norwich-Richard Bacon, Esq.
Wm. Forster, Esq.

Orsett, Essex-Dr. Corbett, M.D.
Orford-Dr. Daubeny, F.R.S. Prof. of Chem.
Rev. Prof. Powell.

Rev. John Jordan, B.A.

E. W. Head, Esq., M.A.

Pesth, Hungary-Count Szechenyi.

Plymouth-H. Woollcombe, Esq., F.A.S., Ch,
Snow Harris, Esq., F.R.S.

E. Moore, M.D., F.L.S., Secretary.
G. Wightwick, Esq.

Presteign-Dr. A. W. Davis, M.D.

Ripon Rev. H. P. Hamilton, M.A., F.R.S
and G.S.

Rev. P. Ewart, M.A.

Ruthin-Rev. the Warden of

Humphreys Jones, Esq.

Ryde, I. of Wight-Sir Rd. Simeon, Bt.
Salisbury-Rev. J. Barfitt.

Sheffield-J. H. Abrahams, Esq.

Shepton Mallet-G. F. Burroughs, Esq.
Shrewsbury-R. A. Slaney, Esq., M.P.
South Petherton-John Nicholetts, Esq.
St. Asaph-Rev. George Strong.
Stockport-H. Marsland, Esq., Treasurer.
Henry Coppock, Esq., Secretary.
Sydney, New South Wales-

William M. Mauning, Esq.
Tavistock-Rev. W. Evans.
John Rundle, Esq.

Truro-Richard Taunton, M. D., F.R.S.
Henry Sewell Stokes, Esq.
Tunbridge Wells-Dr. Yeats, M.D.
Uttoxeter-Robert Blurton, Esq.
Warwick-Dr. Conolly.

The Rev. William Field, (Leamington.)
Waterford-Sir John Newport, Bt.
Wolverhampton-J. Pearson, Esq.
Worcester-Dr. Hastings, M.D.
C. H. Hebb, Esq.
Wrexham-Thomas Edgworth, Esq.

J. E. Bowman, Esq., F.L.S., Treasurer
Major William Lloyd.
Yarmouth-C. E. Rumbold, Esq.
Dawson Turner, Esq.
York-Rev. J. Kenrick, M.A.
J. Phillips, Esq., F.R.S

THOMAS COATES, Esq., Secretary, No. 59, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street,

THE PENNY CYCLOPÆDIA

OF

THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

FUE

FUEGO, TIERRA DEL, is the name by which the Archipelago is designated which constitutes the southern extremity of America. It is not known for what reason the Spaniards, who discovered it, gave it the name of Fire-land, but it is supposed that they observed some volcanic eruption on it, though modern navigators have never observed any thing of the kind, except Capt. B. Hall, whose description leaves no doubt that he really saw one.

If we exclude the islands lying along the western coast of South America, north of the Strait of Magalhaens, and consider those only as belonging to this Archipelago which are on the south of it as far as Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego lies between 52° 30′ and 56° S. lat., and between 65° and 76° W. long. Staten Land however extends more than a degree farther east, but is divided from the Archipelago by the Strait le Maire, which is nearly 20 miles across. The whole length of the Archipelago, from Cape Good Success, on Strait le Maire, to Cape Pillar, at the western entrance of the Strait of Magalhaens, exceeds 400 miles. Its greatest breadth, between 68° and 70° W. long., is not less than 250 miles. In surface perhaps it may be equal to Great Britain, or at least not much less.

Tierra del Fuego consists of one large island, four others of moderate extent, and a great number of smaller islands and rocks. The larger island forms the eastern and northeastern portion of the group, and occupies considerably more than one-half of the whole. It is called King Charles's Southland. On the south of it lie the islands of Navarin and Hoste, which are separated from it by Beagle Channel, extending in a straight line, east and west, for 120 miles, and being only from one-third of a mile to one mile across. Navarin island is separated from Hoste island by Ponsonby Sound. To the west of King Charles's Southland are two other large islands, Clarence island and South Desolation. The former is separated from King Charles's Southland by a crooked channel, which towards the Strait of Magalhaens is called Magdalen Sound, but towards the open sea Cockburn Sound. South Desolation, which forms the most western portion of the Archipelago, is separated from Clarence island by Barbara Channel.

The northern portion of King Charles's Southland is a plain, on which there are a great number of low hills, with a gentle ascent. No trees grow upon it, but there are shrubs and grasses. The shrubs are thinly scattered, but the grasses are abundant, and though of a harsh and dry appearance, they feed large flocks of guanacoes. Capt. Fitzroy considers this plain more fertile than those of Patagonia south of 45° S. lat., and thinks that parts of it may be cultivated. It is at present occupied by natives, resembling the Patagonians. [PATAGONIA.] The line of separation between this plain and the mountain-country begins on the Strait of Magalhaens, on the northern shores of Admiralty Sound, and extends thence to Cape Good Success. It is formed by mountains, which perhaps constitute an uninterP. C., No. 658.

FUE

rupted range, and some of which rise to an elevation of 4000 feet.

The mountainous portion of the Archipelago comprehends the southern and western part of King Charles's Southland, and all the other islands besides. It presents a succession of hills and mountains, valleys and ravines; the mountains rise in general to 2000 or 3000 feet, and several attain the snow-line, being more than 3500 feet in elevation. Mount Sarmiento, on Magdalen Sound, is 6000 feet high. The shores are intersected by deep but narrow arms of the sea, on whose sides rise the mountains, whose summits for the greatest part of the year are covered with snow, while their steep and rocky declivities are partially overgrown with evergreens. The natives of this country differ considerably from the Patagonians: they are low in stature, varying from 4 ft. 10 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. in height, and live in a very barbarous condition; they have frequently no other covering than a scrap of hide, which is tied to their waists. Their colour is darker than that of copper, and like mahogany or rusty iron.

The climate of this Archipelago is considered as extremely cold, and doubtless it is much colder than that of North Britain, which is situated at the same distance from the pole. The difference is perhaps best indicated by the different elevations at which the snow-line occurs. In North Britain it is supposed to be at an elevation of 5000 feet; but in Tierra del Fuego it occurs between 3000 and 3500 feet. The climate of Bergen, in Norway, is perhaps very similar to that of Tierra del Fuego, where, as at Bergen, cloudy weather, rain, and wind prevail throughout the year, and fine days are rare. No season is quite free from frost; the thermometer, even in February, which corresponds to our August, descends occasionally some degrees below the freezing point; but even during the winter, the mean temperature is, according to the observation of Capt. King, 24 degrees above that point, though it occasionally descends to 12° of Fahrenheit. It seems that this peculiarity of the climate is chiefly to be attributed to the high temperature of the sea, which on its surface is never lower than 45° of Fahrenheit, more especially in the Strait of Magalhaens, where the observations were made at Port Famine. The coasts, which are exposed to the influence of the open ocean, have probably a much colder climate, as during the winter they are surrounded by large fields of ice, which at that season occur as far north as 54° S. lat., along the shores of King Charles's Southland. The level portion of that island suffers rather from want than from abundance of moisture, like the eastern coast of Patagonia. The natural productions of this antarctic region are nearly unknown. Captain King found parrots and humming-bird on the shores of the Strait of Magalhaens. The natives of the mountainous portion live on fish, which seem to abound in the inlets. The extensive forests do not appear to contain trees fit for timber. Guanacoes feed on the extensive and Vol. XI.-B

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