March 1830. NatTURE oF THE COUNTRY—SAN LUCAS. 341 
steamers may be shot ; and shell-fish gathered. The country, 
also, has the same appearance, and is of a similar nature; for 
if you force a passage through the woods, it is over fallen trees 
and moss; if you walk over clear flat ground, the place is 
found to be a swamp; and if you ascend the hills, it is by 
climbing over rocks, partially covered with spongy moss. 
*¢ Mr. Kirke returned on the 24th, having found that the 
opening beyond San Antonio led to the N.E., and at ten miles 
from the cape communicated with that called the Canal San 
Andres. 
** At daylight we left Schooner Cove, and in passing down 
Sarmiento Channel I tried, though unsuccessfully, to reconcile 
some of his remarks with our own observations. South of San 
Marco and San Lucas there are two extensive bays, which 
we afterwards found communicated with an opening between 
San Mateo and San Vicente, separating the greater part of the 
eastern shore of this channel from the main land. 
*‘T wished to anchor near Cape San Lucas, but around 
that opening no place could be distinguished likely to afford 
shelter, the shore in every part being bold, steep, and rocky. 
A like uniformity of coast presented itself as far as Cape San 
Mateo; but on the west side, along both Esperanza and Van- 
couver Island, lie many bays that are well adapted for vessels. 
Sailing, however, under Cape San Lucas, we stood for San 
Mateo, and succeeded in anchoring in a small port, formed by 
Weasel Island, scarcely large enough, but perfectly safe, 
when once we were secured. From this place the boats were 
despatched. An opening east of our present station was to be 
traced, and this part of Sarmiento Channel, with the entrance 
between San Mateo and San Vicente, was to be laid down. 
These operations, which in moderately fair weather would not 
have occupied three days, were not completed before the 31st, 
from our being delayed by violent winds, and almost continual 
rain. We had also had exceedingly bad weather during our 
stay in Puerto Bueno, and those employed in the boats had 
undergone very severe fatigue, and had suffered much from 
wet and cold. A short distance within the entrance of the 
