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C H A P T E R X IX .
Swmieuto Channel—Ancon sin Salida—Cape Earnest—Canal of the
Mountains—Termination of the Andes—Kirke Narrow—Easter Bay
—Disappointment Bay — O bstruction Sound — L ast Hope In le t —
Swans—Coots—Deer—River—Lagoon—Singular eddies—Passage of
the Narrow—Arrival at P o rt Famine—Zoological remarks.
“ (April 1st). T his morning the weather was very unsettled,
squally, and thick; but as no delay could be admitted,
when there was a possibility of moving, we left at eight o’clock,
and followed the course of Sarmiento Channel. I have no doubt
that a passage exists eastward of Point San Gaspar, leading to
Collingwood Strait, and forming an island between that point
and Cape San Bartolomé: but with the N.W. wind and bad
weather we then had, that bight was too leewardly for us to
venture into.
“ The knowledge of an opening there could be of no great
importance, yet had I been able to find an anchorage near Cape
San Bartolomé I would gladly have profited by it, in order
to assure myself of the existence of a passage. In hauling
round, the appearance of the land favoured my impression;
but our chief object being to seek a channel through the high
mountains, I stood toward Stewart Bay, the most southern part
examined by the boats. Finding I could not anchor there without
entering the bight and risking delay, which I was un willing
to do, as I wished to reach Whale-boat Bay as soon as possible,
we proceeded and anchored in the evening in Shingle
Boads, ready for moving the next morning. Having, last year,
passed along the whole line of coast, from Cape Earnest to this
place, there seemed to me no necessity for a closer examination,
for I knew there was no opening within that distance, and
I could very little improve what was then laid down on the
chart. The weather was very unpromising, and at daylight
tho next morning it blew hard from the N. W., hut we weighed
and ran to the southward. When in the ‘ Ancon sin Salida’ of
Sarmiento the wind suddenly shifted to the S.E., and was so
strong that we were quite unable to beat between Cape Earnest
and the northern island of the ‘ Ancon,’ hut passing round,
found anchorage near the east end in a small bay : however,
as the wind had moderated, and the Canal of the Mountains
was open to us, on the east side of which there appeared
to be several secure bays, we kept under sail, and in the
evening anchored in Leeward Bay, which we at first thought
would afford excellent shelter, but on reaching it found we had
erred exceedingly. There was no time to look for another, so
we moored, and prepared for bad weather, which, as usual,
was soon experienced ; and we were kept two days without a
possibility of moving, or doing any thing to make our situation
more secure. We had heavy squalls during the whole time;
the wind being generally west or AV.N.W., but at times nearly
S.W., when more swell was thrown into the bay.
“ On the oth we got clear of this bad and leewardly
anchorage, the wind being more to the N.AV.; but we had stiU
such very squally weather, with rain, that it was a work of
several hours to lieat to Whale-boat Bay, where we moored in
the evening, and prepared for examining the coast with our
boats, both to the east and west. Before leaving Leeward Bay,
a round of angles was taken from high ground north of the
anchorage, and it was satisfactory to reflect that the ‘ Ancon
sin Salida’ was traced far more correctly than could be done
in our former visit. There was constant rain and squally weather
all the morning, and only in the latter part of the day
could any work be performed in the boats. On the following
morning Mr. Kirke went to trace the Canal of the Alountains,
and I rejoice to say that I was again able to assist in the boat
service, and went to examine some openings. After leaving
Kirke Narrow on the right hand a wide sound appeared, about
nine miles in length; and having traversed it, we turned to
the east, through a narrow intricate channel (AA liite Narrow),