OTWAY AND SKYRING WATERS. 571 
western coast ; but from what we now know, it is not probabie 
that it can lead to anything of consequence. It is, perhaps, backed 
by low marshy land reaching to the hills at the bottom of Glacier 
Bay, which, from the distance being seventy miles, were not 
visible above the horizon. The northern opening probably passes 
Dynevor Castle, and, perhaps, nearly reaches the bottom of 
Obstruction Sound. The Skyring Water was not further ex- 
plored; partly from want of a sufficient quantity of provisions to 
undertake it with any prospect of succeeding, and partly from a 
strong south-westerly gale, from which there was no shelter for 
the open boats in which this examination was performed. The 
remainder, therefore, of Captain Fitz-Roy’s time was spent in com- 
pleting what he had commenced ; and, after an absence of thirty- 
two days, he rejoined his ship at Port Gallant. 
At the western end of the passage, which unites the waters, the 
shore is well clothed on the north side with luxuriant grass and 
trefoil, with here and there a sprinkling of brushwood, but is 
entirely destitute of trees. The soil, although dry, is light, and 
tolerably good ; but the ground is perforated everywhere by some 
burrowing animal, probably skunks, or cavias. The tracks of 
horses were noticed in many places, and the bones of guanacoes 
were scattered about. Water was not very plentiful, but several 
small brooks and springs in the sides of the hills were observed, 
sufficient for all useful purposes. 
On the south side of the passage the land is low, but wooded: 
the banks are from five to forty feet high, sloping to the water, 
and covered with grass. In the entrance the tide ran five or six 
knots at the neaps, but inside with only half that rapidity. On the 
north side, at the distance of a mile and a-half, there is a ridge of 
hills, to the summit of which Captain Fitz-Roy made an excursion, 
which is described in the Narrative. 
In consequence of the supposed communication of the Skyring 
Water with some part of the western coast, a careful examination 
was made of every opening trending into the interior behind the 
islands and archipelagoes that line the western coast ; the result of 
which has proved that the hypothesis so naturally formed was not 
confirmed by fact. A reference to the chart will show how care- 
fully the search was carried on, and with what want of success it 
was concluded. The deep opening discovered by Sarmiento, and 
