FUEGO, or TIERRA DEL FUEGO, c' the land of fire," was so denominated by Magellan, because he perceived many fires during the night, supposed to have been volca noes in the mountains, but probably nothing more than the numerous fires kindled by the natives on account of the cold. It is a large island, or rather group of islands, bound ed on the north by the straits of Magellan, and on all other sides by the sea; situated between 521° and 56° South Latitude, and between 65° 10' and 75° 30' West Longitude from Greewich. It is divided by narrow straits into eleven or more islands of considerable size, and extends about 300 miles from east to west, and from 100 to 200 in breadth. From Charlotte promontory, which is the north-east ex tremity, the coast extends west north-west, to a large pro montory, that forms the mouth of the first narrow passage in the strait ; and then, in a south south-west direction, form ing a circular basin, which terminates at the promontory of Sweep-stakes, on the south side of the second narrow channel. The inhabitants on this part of the coast behaved with great humanity to the crew of the Spanish ship Con ception, which was wrecked on their shores in 1765, assist ing them in saving part of their cargo, and in erecting sheds to shelter them irons the v eather; and discovered so little of the cruelty common to most savages, that the Spaniards of South America projected a missionary establishment among them. The coast next inclines southward, forming an arch of a great circle, cut by Cape Monmouth, and the inlet of St Sebastian, on to Savage bay, from which a moun tainous country stretches south-west, exhibiting the appear ance of several narrow straits. Beyond these is S wallow harbour, a well sheltered bay, where there is good landing and a sufficient supply of wood and water ; but the sur rounding mountains have a dreary aspect, and seem to be deserted by every thing that has life. The coast conti nues now in a north-west direction, forming many bays and inflexions, inclosed by barren rocks without any appearance of soil, having their summits covered with snow, and their deep vallies filled with immense masses of ice. To this part of the country Sir John Narborough gave the name of land of Desolation ;" and nothing more dreadful, says Bougainville, can be imagined. It is still high and steep, and terminates in Cape Pillar, the north-west extre mity where the Pacific Ocean opens to the view. This cape is a great mass of rocks, which rise into two huge cliffs resembling towers; and round it are several small islands or rocks, named the Twelve Apostles, reaching several miles into the sea. _ Two leagues south of Cape
Pillar is Cape Desire, from which the coast takes a South east direction, and is Woken into various inlets, or ratber composed of a number of islands, beyond which appear barren and rocky mountains, spotted with tufts of wood and patches of snow. From Cape Gloucester, which is about 23 leagues from Cape Desire, the coast turns south-south east for ten leagues, to Black Cape, a steep and high rock, shaped like a sugar loaf; a little towards the east from which is the great bay of St Barbara, supposed to communicate with the Straits of Magellan. Beyond this bay, the coun try is entirely composed of rocky mountains, without the least appearance of vegetation, terminating in dreadful precipices, and raising their craggy summits to an immense height. About 23 leagues from Barbara Bay appears Cape York Minster, a lofty promontory, terminating in two high towers, with a conical hill between them. To the cast of this opens Christmas Sound, in the bottom of which is a deep and secure harbour, named Devil's Basin, so com pletely encompassed by lofty rocks as to be entirely ex cluded from the rays of the sun. To the south-east of Christmas Sound is a group of rocks, called the Isles of Ildefonso, nearly east from which is Nassau Bay, whose west point is the most southerly extremity of Tierra del Fuego, and is sometimes denominated False Cape Horn. In front of Nassau Bay lie the Hermit Islands, the south point of which is the True Cape Horn, known at a distance by a round hill over it, and situated in 55° sa' South Lati tude, and in 67' 46' West Longitude. The coast stretching north-east from Nassau Bay is little known for the space of 30 leagues to Valentine's Bay, which forms the south west entrance of the Strait of Le Maire. About the mid dle of this strait, on the Tierra del Fuego side, is the Bay of Good Success; and on the south-east extremity are two low promontories, called Cape Diego and Cape Vincent, where Lie strait opens to the east. From these capes to Charlotte Promontory, the eastern coast of Tierra del Fuego is more level, noody, and s erdant, than any other part. The soil here in the A allies is rich and deep ; and a stream of a reddish hue, but of good water, runs at the bottom of almost every hill.