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to the eastward. The low points, before mentioned, beyond
which, from Easter Bay, we could distinguish no land, and
between which we expected to make good our course to the
S.E., appeared to be connected by a low flat country. An extensive
sheet of water was indeed observed to the eastward, yet
I coidd only, from its appearance, conclude that it was a spacious
bay.
“ My attention was next drawn to the southward, in which
direction, to the east of Woolley Peninsula, appeared a wide
and deep opening, and this I determined to explore on the
morrow; for it was now the only course likely to lead us to
Fitz Roy Passage, where it became every day more indispensable
that we should arrive, since our provisions were getting
short. At iny return on board, I learnt from Mr. Kirke that
he had examined the greater part of Worsley Sound, whose
eastern shore formed a line of coast almost connected with that
of the bight before us, to which the name of Disappointment
Bay was given.
“ It was arranged that he should proceed from his last point,
and carefully trace the shore of Disappointment Bay to the
eastern headland of the southern opening, down which it was
my intention to proceed. With these objects in view, we left
the schooner next morning. A fair wind soon brought me to
the entrance, where I landed to take hearings on the west side,
and arrived at the promontory of ‘ Hope’ by noon. There I
ascended to the summit of the hills, but found them so thickly
wooded, that my anticipated view of the land was almost intercepted,
and the angles taken were in consequence very limited.
“ At this promontory the course of the channel trends
slightly to the eastward; and its direction is afterwards to the
S.S.E., being open and clear for eight or ten miles, when low
land stretching across from the west side intercepts the view.
In passing to the southward, I landed frequently to continue
the angles, and hauled up, at the close of day, in Bara Avis
Bay, still doubtful of the nature of the opening.
“ Next morning, passing Point Intervene, we pulled into an
extensive reach ; and having landed, to take bearings, on the
east side, near Cape Thomas, I proceeded, in hopes tliat beyond
the next point some better prospect would be gained : on
arriving there, however, my expectations were instantly checked
by a hold rising shore, continuing uninterruptedly as far as the
Oliver Islands, which we passed soon afterwards.
“ The width of the channel between the Oliver Islands and
the northern shore is not more than a mile, but it afterwards
increases, and turns sharply first to the west, and then S.S.W.
In the west reach there are many small islands, and the high
ranges on both sides being detached from each other, gave me
yet some hopes of finding a passage between them. Proceeding
in the afternoon, a bight appeared to the S.S E., about two
miles to the westward of Cape Up-an’down, which was examined,
although there was no prospect of meeting with success
hy tracing it, and in it were found two small passages leading to
the S.E., suitable only for boats. W e ran down the largest, and
a mile within the entrance were embayed. At the bottom of this
bight the land was low, and I tried to get on some eminence, that
I might command a view to the S.E., hut was always impeded
hy an impervious wood. I observed, however, distant
high land in that direction, and could see a sheet of water,
about six miles from me; but whether it was a lagoon, or a
part of the Skyring Water, was doubtful. I could not, at this
prospect, rejoice as Magalhaens did, when he first saw the
Pacific, for my situation, I began to think, resembled that of
Sterne’s starling.
“ Keeping along the south shore, until late in the evening^
we gained the west end of this reach, and finding no shelter for
the boat, crossed to the broken land on the west side, and passed
that night in Hewitt Harbour.
“ On the following morning, we pursued our course to the
S.S.W., and at eleven o’clock reached the extremity of this
extensive sound. All our suspense was then removed, and aU
our hopes destroyed ; for the closing shores formed but a small
bay in the S.W., and high land encircled every part without
leaving an opening.
“ Throughout the examination of this sound, we did not
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