348 TERMINATION OF THE ANDES. April 1830. 
obstructed by several small islets, and passed suddenly out 
into a clear, open bay. Our prospect here became wholly differ- 
ent to that which for months before we had daily witnessed. 
North and south of us were deep bays, while to the east, between 
two points seven or eight miles apart, our view was unob- 
structed by land, and we were sanguine in hoping that we had 
discovered an extensive body of water. There was also a con- 
siderable change in the appearance of the country, which no 
less delighted than astonished us; for so gratifying a prospect 
had not been seen since leaving Childe. Eastward, as I said 
before, we could perceive no land; to the north-east and 
south-eastward lay a low flat country, and the hills in the 
interior were long, level ranges, similar to that near Cape 
Gregory, while behind us, in every direction westward, rose 
high rugged mountains. I fully believed that our course here- 
after would be in open water, along the shores of a low coun- 
try, and that we had taken leave of narrow straits, enclosed by 
snow-capped mountains: the only difficulty to be now over- 
come was, I imagined, that of getting the vessel safely through 
the Kirke Narrow; which, hazardous as I thought the pass, 
was preferable to the intricate White Narrow, through which 
we had just passed. Such were my expectations; and with 
so noble a prospect in view, I hastened to look for anchor- 
age for the schooner, which I succeeded in finding at a place 
named by me Easter Bay, and returned on board the next day 
through Kirke Narrow. Mr. Kirke employed three days about 
his work, having traced the inlet, which trended northward 
from Cape Grey for nearly eleven leagues. He found that it 
was bordered on each side by a steep range of mountains, 
broken here and there by deep ravines, which were filled with 
frozen snow, and surmounted by extensive glaciers, whence 
huge avalanches were continually falling. The western side of 
this canal is formed by the southern termination of the Andes. 
At the northern end are two bays, with sandy beaches, backed 
by low land, which, however, rises gradually to high peaked 
mountains, distant about two miles. 
“« Early on Easter Tuesday we left Whale-boat Bay, and 
