May 1829. WARMTH OF WATER—JEROME CHANNEL. 935 
the water, between Englefield Island and the nearest land, 
one foot beneath the surface, was 42°; the air at the same time 
being 38°. While the sea water preserves this temperature, 
it must tend much to moderate the severity of cold, one would 
naturally expect in this latitude, near so many snow-covered 
mountains. We arrived at the Point of Islets, soon after sunset, 
on the 27th. 
“* 28th. Almost every night I observed that the wind sub- 
sided soon after sunset, the clouds passed away, and the first 
part of the night was very fine; but that, towards morning, 
wind and clouds generally succeeded. From Point of Islets, we 
sailed southward ; and were again close to the mountains: 
from whose appearance at this spot, no one would suppose that 
any passage lay between them; so intricate and winding are 
the channels. 
«< T was sorry to leave the open country, behind me; but time 
pressed ; and there was yet much to do with our loaded boats, 
which could not make very great progress in the short day- 
light afforded by this season. After passing Bennett Island the 
land became rugged, and mountainous on each side, covered, 
however, with wood and vegetation wherever it could grow ; 
and we were again in the Magalhaenic regions. 
“This day I examined as much of the west side of the 
channel, as time would allow, and reached Corona Creek at 
about eight o’clock. What I called the Sugar Loaf must be 
the Corona Island of Cordova’s officers ; for at some distance 
it looks somewhat like a crown. It is singular that they 
inserted (in their chart) an island near their Corona, which 
cannot be distinguished from the main-land,. until one is 
within two miles of it; and as at that distance the Otway 
Water is plainly visible, must they not have seen the open- 
ing? Tired of their job, did they return without prosecuting 
the discovery, or was the weather too thick to see far? Their 
description of the Jerome Channel, leads to the supposition of 
a continual current setting through in one direction, instead of 
a regular ebb and flood; and the surest sign of a passage 
between places in Tierra del Fuego, is a current or stream. 
