The Skyring Coal- Mines. 131 



considerable distance to the westward, where the basin is con- 

 tinuous with a number of long, narrow, winding inlets or channels, 

 which enter the hills of the coast range. Here they met with a 

 party of Fuegians, who were in all respects similar to those of the 

 western channels, possessing the usual canoe and hunting imple- 

 ments. They also found numerous traces of Fuegians in all the 

 sheltered coves which they examined among the inlets towards 

 the western part of Skyring Water. This would seem to indicate 

 a direct water communication with Smyth's Channel, but on the 

 other hand, the range of tide being found to be exceedingly small, 

 would tend to prove that its connection with the ocean was at all 

 eventsremote. This survey was brought to a close in a most 

 unsatisfactory way when almost on the eve of clearing up the 

 doubtful question as to the existence of through communication ; 

 the Magellanes having been ordered north on the outbreak of the 

 war between Chili and Peru. 



The Skyring coal-mines were originally started in the year 

 1877 by an enterprising German named Haase, who opened the 

 seam, extracted some coal, and erected sheds, but soon afterwards 

 (I believe through want of funds) abandoned the undertaking, so 

 that when the Chilian corvette Magellanes arrived here in October 

 1877, the settlement was found to be in a deserted condition. 

 Captain Latorre then made a trial of some coal which he found 

 lying in a heap near the pit's mouth, and after executing a partial 

 survey of Skyring Water was recalled to Sandy Point, on receiving 

 news of a disastrous mutiny in that colony. 



The settlement remained uninhabited from a few months before 

 the Magellanes first visit until the 15 th of November, 1879, 

 when the mine was reopened by Mr. Haase, provided with money, 

 furnished by a company which had been formed at Buenos Ayres. 

 Since that time the work has progressed steadily, so that the 

 mine and adjoining works are now in a tolerably efficient state. 

 At the time of our visit, the mines and the settlement were in 

 charge of Monsieur Arnaud, a French engineer, Mr. Haase having 



