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tending towards the N.W., with a multitude of islands scattered
about it. From its east side the laud trends away towards
a point which is curiously peaked, like a horn, and which I
supposed to be the western point of Nassau Bay.*
“ 22d. We had hardly left our cove, when steady rain set in
however, we went across towards New Year Sound, sometimes
favoured by the wind, but could do little. As far as I saw the
day before, the snowy chain of mountains continued to the
eastward, therefore I had little hope of finding a body of water
in the interior of Tierra del Fuego, about the head of Nassau
Bay. About noon we were near Weddell’s ‘ Indian Cove,’ but
the weather being thick I did not recognise it, so we stood up
the sound with a fresh breeze from the W.S.W. I soon found
that it led only to the north and west, and probably communicated
with some of the passages which Mr. Murray saw leading
to the eastward from the neighbourhood of Christmas
Sound. Towards the north and east I had already noticed a
long range of mountains. Concluding therefore from what I
then observed, and from views obtained from the heights, that
no passage leads from this sound direct to Christmas Sound,
and that to return to the Beagle I must go part of the way by
the sea-coast, or else go round, by a series of intricate passages,
to the places which Mr. Murray had seen in the cutter ; I preferred
the coast, as a second view of it would be of use, while a
traverse among the islands could not be very beneficial.
“ Putting about, we returned down the sound, the breeze still
allowing us to sail fast. We closed the western shore to look for
Indian Cove, and, as the weather had cleared up, found it
without difficulty. It is not so good a place as I expected ; for
except at the inner corner close to a run of water, I found only
rocky soundings. The few casts of good ground were so close
to the shore that the place can only be considered fit for a cutter,
or small craft, which could lie quite close to the land. This
cove is, in my opinion, too far inland to be of general use; and
an anchorage under Morton Island would be far preferable
• False Cape Horn, or Cape False.
for a vessel arriving from sea. We found an empty North-
American cask, apparently left that season : on a height near
the cove there was a pile of stones we had not time to examine:
and much wood appeared to have been cut down lately by the
crew of some vessel. We saw several wigwams, but no Indians.
That night we stopped near the S.W. point of the sound,
close to Gold-dust Island.
“ 23d. After examining the cove, in which we passed the
night, and taking observations, we crossed Duff Bay, towards
Leading Hill. I wished to have seen more of a promising bay
on the east side of Morton Island, where I thought there was
good anchorage, but could not afford time, as it was probable
that we should be delayed in our return along this exposed
part of the coast against the prevailing winds. There is a considerable
tide between Morton Isle and the point next to Gold-
dust Isle. The flood comes from the westward, about one
knot, or at times two knots, an hour. AVith the ebb it is nearly
slack water, or perhaps there is a slight tendency towards the
west; and such appears to be the case all along this coast, from
Christmas Sound. We reached Leading Hill late in the afternoon,
although the wind had increased much and was directly
against us I at night it blew a gale from the westward.
“ 24th. A strong gale prevented our moving, or making any
beneficial use of our time.
“ 25th. Still blowing very fresh; but I thought we could pull
round into the next bay, and there do some good by planning
the harbour, &c., although we might get no farther for some
days. From the season, the state of the sympiesometer, and the
appearance of the weather, I did not expect any favourable
change until about the end of the month. The sympiesometer
was my constant companion : I preferred it to a barometer, as
being much more portable and quicker in its motions. By great
exertion on the part of the men, for it required five hours’ hard
pulling, we got round a headland into the next bay, a distance
of only four miles. It rained great part of the time, and
in the afternoon poured steadily, but we succeeded in finding
a sheltered spot for our lodging, and soon put ourselves into
I