March 1828. CAPE NOTCH—REMARKS. 155 
The shores of the Straits were seldom visible to us, from a 
thick mist with which they were clouded: it is, however, a 
bold coast on each side, otherwise the Strait would be utterly 
unnavigable in such weather. Near Cape Notch the mountains 
spire up into peaks of great height, singularly serrated, and 
connected by barren ridges. About their bases there are gene- 
rally some green patches of jungle; but, upon the whole, 
nothing can be more sterile and repulsive than the view. This 
afternoon we passed Playa Parda, and in the evening anchored 
in Marian Cove. 
“In the course of the next day the wind freshened to a 
strong and squally gale from the W.N.W., with much rain ; 
the weather was so thick that we could scarcely make out the 
coast. In this kind of weather, the lower parts of the shore 
are screened from view by mist, and the upper ones are seen 
looming through it in lofty masses, in a manner which would 
lead a stranger to believe that the ship was completely envi- 
roned with islands. 
“In the evening we anchored in the little cove called Half 
Port Bay, and next morning resumed our daily struggle against 
wind, tide, and weather. 
‘We crossed the mouth of a deep sound on the north shore, * 
where no tide or current was remarked: the delineation of the 
coast about this point is particularly defective in the old charts ; 
fortunately, however, for the navigator, he has here to deal 
with shores where the omission of a whole island, or even the 
addition of a few that do not exist, is of less consequence to 
his safety than the exact limit of one sand-bank in other parts 
of the world. This night we anchored in Upright Bay, which, 
though affording excellent shelter from the prevailing winds, is 
bad with a southerly one; as, from the steepness of the bottom 
requiring a vessel to anchor close to the shore, sufficient scope 
is not left for veering cable. 
“Sheltered by the high land under which we were anchored, 
* Afterwards examined by Capt. Fitz Roy. It was called Xaultegua 
by Sarmiento, who very correctly describes it.—(Sarmiento’s Voyage, 
p. 208.) 
