58 



ADMIRALTY SOUND. 



Feb. 1827. 



The harbour was full of fragments of ice, the succeedmg 

 morning, drifting into the Sound, where the sea-water, being 

 at a higher temperature than the air, rapidly melted them. 



Since our departure from Port Waterfall, the weather had 

 been mild, clear, and settled ; but as it wanted only three days 

 of the change of the moon, at which period, as well as at the 

 full, it always blew a gale, I wished to reach a place of security 

 in the Gabriel Channel or Magdalen Sound. 



Near the islands of Ainsworth Harbour, three canoes passed 

 us, steering across the Sound, each with a seal-skin fixed up in 

 the bow for a sail ; and we recognised in them the party left at 

 Port Cooke, among whom was the Indian who had been detected 

 in stealing a tin pot. They did not come along-side ; but as we 

 went by, pointed to the north, apparently urging us to go in 

 that direction. 



We had noticed several wigwams at Parry and Ainsworth 

 Harbours, which shows that they are much frequented by 

 Indians, perhaps on their way to the open low country east 

 of Mount Hope, where numerous herds of guanacoes may be 

 found. 



Porpoises and seal were not scarce in this inlet, and in the 

 entrance there were many whales. The presence of seal and 

 whales made me think it probable there was a channel ; but I 

 believe every person with me was satisfied of its being a sound, 

 terminating under Mount Hope. Since my later experience of 

 the deceptive character of some passages in Tierra del Fuego 

 (the Barbara Channel, for example), I have felt less certain 

 that there may not be a communication with the low land, 

 behind Mount Hope, round its northern base. The improba- 

 bility was, however, so great, — from the bottom of tlie sound 



formado en el seno de alguna de las montanaa inmediatas, en que 

 parece haber algunos minerales, y aun volcanes, que estan del todo 6 

 casi apagados, movi^ndonos a hacer este juicio, el haberse encontrado, 

 en la eima de una de ellas, porcion de materia compuesta de tierra y 

 metal, que en su peso, color, y demas caracteres, tenia impreso el sello 

 del fueg-o active en que habia tornado aquel estado, pues era unaperfecta 

 iniagen de las escorias del hierro que se ven en nuestras ferrcn'as.— 

 Apendice al l^iage de Cordova al Ma.gallancSy p. 65. 



