1828. SUPPOSED SAN SEBASTIAN CHANNEL. 123 
hence the channel shows itself, and continues, as far as we 
could see, of the same breadth. It seemed to be a large sea. 
The latitude was observed to be 53° 16’.” * 
From the above account, and from the chart that accom- 
panies it, in which this inlet is made to communicate with the 
Strait of Magalhaens by the opening round Cape Monmouth, 
our knowledge of the supposed St. Sebastian Channel was 
derived. That there is a deep bay, in the latitude of 53° 16’, 
not only appears from the account of the Nodales, who were 
within the heads, although it seems they did not proceed 
beyond the stony ground on the south side of the entrance ; 
but also from the accounts of vessels who have lately seen it ; 
and of one ship-master who was deterred from entering, by the 
formidable notice on our charts of its being “ only navigable 
for small vessels,” whence he conjectured that the tides would 
be very strong, and the channel occasionally narrow, as well as 
and shoal. 
Sarmiento, Narborough, Byron, Wallis, Bougainville, and 
Cordova, have severally noticed an opening, which corresponds 
to this supposed channel, namely, that between Capes Mon- 
mouth and Valentyn ; but the object of those voyagers having 
been to make the passage through the known Strait, to explore 
this opening was, in all probability, considered a waste of 
time ; yet, that such a channel was supposed to exist, we must 
conclude from the conspicuous figure it makes in the charts of 
Tierra del Fuego. 
Had there been a knowledge of its affording any com- 
munication with the sea, surely Sarmiento and Narborough, as 
well as the Nodales, who navigated the Strait from west to 
east, would have been induced to attempt to pass through ; 
and avoid the dangers, as well as difficulties, of the channels to 
the northward. 
Anxious to set the question at rest, I gave Captain Stokes 
orders to proceed to survey the western coasts, between the 
Strait of Magalhaens and latitude 47° south, or as much of 
* Relacion del Viage, &e. que hicieron los Capitanes B. G.de Nodales 
y Gonzalo de Nodales, p, 59. 
