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ground, and abundance of wood and water. The two following
days, Mr. Kirke was away examining the coast; the third we
were confined by bad weather ; and, indeed, during our whole
continuance at tliis place, we had very much rain.
“ We sailed early on the 12th from Island Harbour, and
by night reached Waterfall Bay, an anchorage about fifteen
miles to the southward : the wind all day was light, and the
tide, the greater part of the time, against u s ; so that, with
every exertion, we scarcely gained anchoring ground before it
was quite dark : the strength of the tide was upwards of a mile
an hour, at neap-tides: the ebb and flood were of equal duration,
the former running to the S. b. E., the latter N. b.W. Thirty
miles within the Mesier Channel it is as wide as at the entrance,
and for several miles to the southward appears clear: so that
no one is liable thus far to mistake its course.
“ The land on the west side appears to be a number of large
islands, with here and there wide passages leading to the S. W.,
rendering it probable that there are many (although not direct)
communications between the Mesier and the Fallos Channels.
Our anchorages were chiefly on the eastern shore, that the
openings on that side might be more readily examined ; but all
which appeared to run far inland were found to be merely
narrow inlets, or sounds ending abruptly. On each side the
land is hilly, but not high; and this distinguishes the Mesier
Channel from many others, whose shores for miles are formed
by ranges of steep-sided mountains. Here, in many places,
there is much low land, which is generally thickly wooded, yet
with no greater variety of trees than is to met with in the Strait
of Magalhaens. The beech, birch, pine, or cypress, AVinter’s-
bark, and a kind of red-wood, form the forests; but none
were observed that could be at all serviceable for the larger
spars of a vessel.
“ (16th). Left AVaterfall Bay, and with a N.AV. breeze passed
Middle Island, entered Lion Bay, and moored in AVhite Kelp
Cove. The coast survey was soon finished, but we were confined
at our anchors here four days ; not by bad, but by extraordinarily
fine weather. During such intervals, so very rare
in these regions, the wind, if there is any, is almost always
southerly, and light.
“ At every anchorage we had found Indian wigwams, but
as yet had not met with any natives. Here we took a great
number of fish ; and, among them, one like the ling, found on
the east coast of Patagonia, off Cape Fairweather, but of
smaller size, for the largest did not weigh more than two pounds.
Very few water-fowl were seen; steamers and shags were the
only ones shot; but in the woods we noticed king-fishers, woodpeckers,
barking-birds, parroquets, and humming-birds.
“ (21st.) AVith a light northerly wind we left this cove,
and about ten miles to the southward the appearance of the
channel changed greatly. Instead of sailing through unconnected
land, of moderate height, we were confined between two
mountainous ridges.* At noon we were obliged to anchor in
Halt Bay, no opening appearing to the right or left, and being
apparently embayed. On the west side, the high land was
skirted by several low islands, among which our only way
of proceeding seemed to lie. This day and the next Mr.
Kirke was away, seeking a passage ; and having found one,
and noticed the tides, we sailed through on the 23d, and gave
it the name of the English Narrow. It is long and intricate,
chiefly formed by islands; and in three places, where the
shores approach each other, the distance across is less than four
hundred yards, yet with a fair wind and slack tide, there is no
hazard in passing. In the afternoon, we moored in ten or
twelve fathoms in Level Bay, a spacious anchorage near the
southern entrance of the Narrow ; the bottom mud and sand,
and the depth of water equal throughout. Mr. Kirke, who
was among the islands opposite this bay, saw numerous shoals
. On the w esfshore Mr. Kirke noticed what appeared to be a channel,
about twelve miles N .W . of H a lt Bay, in the mouth of w hich was a considerable
tid e -rip p le ; an almost certain indication of such an opening-.
“ I thought the inlet about twelve miles north-west of Halt Bay much
like a channel. I also noticed a distinct tide ripple, which I did not
remark ueai- any other opening. T o me this appeared the southernmost
inlet, of any d ep th ; or a t all likely to he a channel.”—Kirke MS.