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of fish in many of the bights; with a seine, therefore, an
abundant supply might be obtained.
“ The woodland eastward of our anchorage had very recently
been on fire, and the conflagration must have been extensive,
and very destructive; for throughout a space of ten or twelve
miles along shore, all the trees had been consumed, the dead
trunks of the larger ones alone remaining. We left Level Bay
on the morning of the 25th, and passed a canoe full of Indians
; but they pulled to the shore, and ran into the woods;
therefore, since they avoided us, and we had a fair wind, I
did not seek their acquaintance. We had noticed traces of them
in the neighbourhood of the Narrow, on each side of which
many wigwams, that had been recently occupied, were seen.
“ For the next ten or twelve miles we went through a fine
reach, whose shores were low, and whose channel was interspersed
with several islands, affording probably excellent anchorages ;
but to the southward the hills became more steep, and, except
in the ravines, were destitute of vegetation. At four or five
leagues to the E.S.E., beyond the English Narrow, an opening,
apparently a channel, presented itself, and the reach in which
we were sailing seemed to end. Doubtful which course to follow,
we anchored the vessel in Rocky Bight, and despatched
the boats to examine both passages. That to the E.S.E.
was found to run direct nearly ten miles, and to communicate
with a fine clear channel, trending to the S.S.W., which proved
afterwardstobetheWide Channel (Brazo Ancho) of Sarmiento.
At the junction, a considerable arm extended to the N.N.E.,
apparently a continuation of the Wide Channel.
“ On Mr. Kirke’s return from examining the passage in
which we were sailing, I learnt that the same width continued
about five miles southward of our present anchorage, and that
there the shores approached clo.sely, forming the intricate
passage called Rowlett Narrow ; which, after a S.E. course of
many miles, also joins Wide Channel. The island formed by
the two channels was named Saumarez Island, in honour of the
gallant admiral.
“ It rained hard and blew strongly the whole day, which
prevented our moving; but on the 27th we shifted our anchorage
to Fury Cove, in Wide Channel.
“ Mr. Kirke, on the 28th, examined an opening to the northward,
called Sir George Lyre Sound, which terminates in a
wide fresh-water river, running through low laPd from a large
glacier. The low grounds extend two or three miles from it,
and then the land becomes high. Behind the glacier there is
a ridge of high mountains, covered with snow, which we had
seen twice before ; first, from near White Kelp Cove, and again
from Halt Bay. In the sound, we saw three whales, and
being the first we had observed, since leaving the Gulf of
Peñas, they inclined us to think we were near the Gulf of
Trinidad. A great number of fur seal, besides two of their
rookeries, or breeding-places, were also seen. Several icebergs
were floating out of the sound, some of which were dark-
coloured ; and upon one I found a quantity of rock that had
come down with it from the mountains. There was serpentine
and granite, specimens of which were collected, and given to
Captain King. One of the bergs, which was large, was aground.
It was nearly seven fathoms above the water, and bottom could
not be found by sounding round it with twenty-one fathoms of
line.
“ Fury Cove is diminutive ; there is not more than sufficient
space for two small vessels; but the ground is good, and in
every other respect it is a secure haven. We sailed on the 3d
of March with the expectation of soon recognizing some known
points in the Gulf of Trinidad; but as the wind failed, we were
obliged to anchor for the night in Sandy Bay, in eight fathoms.
“ As we proceeded to the southwai-d, the appearance of the
country gradually changed : the mountains seemed more barren,
the trees and shrubs more stunted, the land rose more
suddenly, and the shores of the channel became bolder, and
presented an uniform rocky line of coast.
“ (4th.) We again steered southward, and at noon an
opening appearing on the east side, which ran several miles
inland, I sought an adjacent anchorage, in order that it might
be explored. Our boats were examining the shore all day, and
VOL. I . z
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