Jan. 1828. 



GREGORY BAY VIEW. 



Ill 



in order to save her anchor and cable, we should j^robably 

 never have seen her again. 



The succeeding morning, after a hard beat to windward, 

 both vessels anchored in Gregory Bay. No Indians were in 

 the neighbourhood, or we should have seen their fires. In the 

 afternoon the wind moderated, and as there was every appear- 

 ance of fine weather, I remained to survey the coast. 



On the summit of the land, about half a mile northward of 

 the extremity of the Cape, while Lieutenant Graves and I were 

 taking bearings, and making observations, two guanacoes came 

 up and stood neighing at us ; the observation, however, was 

 of consequence, and as they were not disturbed, they remained 

 watching us for some minutes before they took alarm and 

 fled. 



Lieutenant Wickham and Mr. Tarn made an excursion to 

 the summit of the Table Land, previously described as extend- 

 ing from the low land behind the Second Narrow to the N.E., 

 in the direction of Mount Aymond, and were amply repaid 

 for a fatiguing walk, with the thermometer at 81°, by a magni- 

 ficent view : Cape Possession to the eastward, and to the south 

 the mountains near Mount Tarn, eighty miles distant, were 

 plainly distinguished. The view to the westward, stretch- 

 ing over a large extent of grassy plains, was bounded by lofty 

 ranges of snow-capped mountains; but to the north it was 

 intercepted by another summit of the mountain upon which 

 they stood. The country they passed over was covered with 

 short grass, through which a mass of granite occasionally 

 protruded. Neither trees nor shrubs were observed, excepting 

 a few herbaceous plants, and the berberis; a goose, some 

 ducks, snipe, and plovers were shot ; and guanacoes were seen 

 at a distance, but no ostriches, nor did they meet any Indians. 

 Large fires were, however, kindled on both shores of the Strait, 

 in answer to the fire which they made for cooking. In con- 

 sequence of those on the Patagonian coast appearing so close 

 to us, we expected a visit from the natives before night, but 

 none made their appearance. 



Next morning, Mr. Graves accompanied me in a boat to a 



