THE ENGLISH NARROWS. 223 



mottled at first by projecting rocks, but evidently 

 lying deep upon the higher ridges. I can find no 

 language to give any impression of the marvellous 

 variety of the scenes that followed in quick succession 

 against the bright blue background of a cloudless sky, 

 and lit up by a northern sun that illumined each new 

 prospect as we advanced. At times one might have 

 fancied one's self on a great river in the interior of 

 a continent, while a few minutes later, in the openings 

 between the islands, the eye could range over miles of 

 water to the mysterious recesses of the yet unexplored 

 Cordillera of Patagonia, with occasional glimpses of 

 snowy peaks at least twice the height of the summits 

 near at hand. About two o'clock we reached the so- 

 named English Narrows, w^here the only known 

 navigable channel is scarcely a hundred yards in 

 width between two islets bristling with rocks. The 

 tide rushed through at the rate of a rapid river, and 

 our captain displayed even more than his usual 

 caution. Some ten men of the crew were posted 

 astern with steering gear, in readiness to provide for 

 the possible breakage of the chains from the steering- 

 house. It seemed unlikely enough that such an 

 accident should occur at that particular point, but 

 there was no doubt that if it did a few seconds might 

 send the ship upon the rocks. 



One of the advantages of a voyage through the 

 Channels is that at all seasons the ship comes to 

 anchor every night, and the traveller is not exposed 

 to the mortification of passing the most beautiful 

 scenes when he is unable to see them. When more 

 thoroughly known, it is likely that among the numerous 



