April 1828. wHaLes—sTRucTURE—SCENERY. 131 
with them. ‘They were as vociferous as usual, and pointed 
to the shore, inviting us to land. One of them, who stood up 
in the canoe while we passed, was ornamented about the hair 
and body with white feathers. 
This part of the Strait teems with whales, seals, and por- 
poises. While we were in Bradley Cove, a remarkable appear- 
ance of the water spouted by whales was observed; it hung in 
the air like a bright silvery mist, and was visible to the naked 
eye, at the distance of four miles, for one minute and thirty- 
five seconds before it disappeared. 
A glance at the chart of this part of the Strait will show 
the difference of geological structure in the opposite coasts. 
The north shore, from Cape Froward to Port Gallant, forms 
a straight line, with scarcely a projection or bight ; but on 
the opposite side there is a succession of inlets, surrounded 
by precipitous mountains, which are separated by ravines. The 
northern shore is of slate; but the other is principally of green- 
stone, and its mountains, instead of running up into sharp 
peaks, and narrow serrated ridges, are generally round-topped. 
The vegetation on both sides is almost equally abundant, but 
the trees on the south shore are much smaller. The smooth- 
leaved beech (Fagus betuloides) and Winter’s-bark are the 
principal trees; but here and there a small tree was observed, 
like a cypress, which does not grow to the eastward, excepting 
on the sides of Mount Tarn, where it only reaches the height of 
three or four feet. 
The scenery of this part of the Strait, instead of being as 
Cordova describes it, “ horrible,” is at this season exceedingly 
striking and picturesque. The highest mountains certainly are 
bare of vegetation; but their sharp peaks and snow-covered 
summits afford a pleasing contrast to the lower hills, thickly 
clothed with trees quite to the water’s side, which is bordered 
by masses of bare rock, studded with ferns and moss, and 
backed by the rich dark-green foliage of the berberis and 
arbutus shrubs, with here and there a beech-tree, just begin- 
ning to assume its autumnal tints. 
In working into the narrow entrance of Port Gallant, the 
KQ 
