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PI . H
168 CAPE T E E S MONTES.
rugged outline than that we had been hitherto coasting, since
leaving the Strait. We steered along the western coast of the
land near Cajie Tres Montes, and at noon, lieing three miles
from the shore, observed, in latitude 46° 5. south, the cape,
bearing N. 80° E. (mag.), distant seven miles. The northernmost
cape in sight N. 26° W., distant ten miles, soundings
ninety-seven fathoms. Shortly afterwards another cape opened
at N. 87° W. (mag.).
“ The parallel of forty-seven degrees, the limit assigned for
our survey, being already passed, I did not venture to follow
the coast further, although we were strongly tempted to do so
by seeing it trend so ditferently from what is delineated on the
old charts. An indentation in the coast presenting itself
between mountainous projections on each side of low land (of
which the northernmost was the cape set at noon), we hauled
in to look for an anchorage ; but it proved to be a mere
unsheltered bight, at the bottom of which was a furious surf
We then stood to the southward, along the land of Cape Tres
Montes, with the view of examining the north side of the Gulf
of Peñas.
“ The following morning was fine ; Cape Tres Montes bore
N.E., distant about three leagues. We lay otf and on during
the day, while the master went in the whale-boat, to examine
a sandy bay (of which Cape Tres Montes was the easternmost
point) for anchorage : he returned about sunset, and reported
that it did atford anchorage; hut was quite unsheltered from
wind, and exposed to a great swell. The boat’s crew had fallen
in with a number of seals, and the quantity of young seal’s fry
they brought on board afforded a welcome regale to their messmates
and themselves.
“ At daylight (27th) we were four leagues from Cape Ti'es
Montes, bearing N. 68“ W. (magnetic) a remarkable peak,
marked in the chart the ‘ Sugar Loaf,’ N. 19° E., distant
twenty-four miles, and our soundings were sixty-eight fathoms.
This peak resembled in appearance, the Sugar Loaf at Rio
de Janeiro ; it rises from a cluster of high and thickly-wooded
islands, forming apparently the eastern shore of an inlet, of which
the land of Cape Tres Montes is the western liead. Further to
the N.E. stands a lofty and remarkable mountain, marked in
our chart as ‘ the Dome of Saint Paul’s.’ It is seen above the
adjacent high land. The height of the Sugar Loaf is 1,836 feet,
and that of the Dome of Saint Paul’s, 2,284 feet.
“ During the day we worked up towards the land, eastward
of Cape Tres Montes, and at night succeeded in anchoring in
a sandy bay, nine miles from the Cape, where our depth of
water was twelve fathoms, at the distance of a cable and a half
off shore. We lay at this anchorage until noon the following
day, while Lieut. Skyring landed on some low rocks detached
from the shore, where he was able to take some advantageous
angles; and on his return we weighed and worked up the gulf,
between the eastern land of Cape Tres Montes, and high, well
wooded islands. The shores of the main land, as well as of
the islands, are bold, and the channel between them has no
dangers : the land is in all parts luxuriantly wooded. About a
mile and a half to the northward of the sandy beach which we
had left, lies another, more extensive; and a mile further, a
considerable opening in the main land, about half a mile wide,
presented itself, having at its mouth two small thickly-wooded
islands, for which we steered, to ascertain whether there was a
harbour. The water was deep at its mouth, from thirty-eight
to thirty-four fathoms; but the comparative lowness of the
shores at its S.W. end, and the appearance of two sandy
beaches, induced us to expect a moderate depth within. As we
advanced, a long white streak was observed on the water, and
was reported from the mast-head as a shoal; but it was soon
ascertained to be foam brought down by the tide, and we had
the satisfaction of anchoring in sixteen fathoms over a sandy
bottom, in a very excellent port, which we named Port Otway,
as a tribute of respect to the Commander-in-chief of the South
American Station, Rear Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway,
K.C.B.”
* * * *
A deficiency here occurs in Captain Stokes’s journal, which
tlie Beagle’s log barely remedies. From the SOth of April to
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