1828. 



SUPPOSED SAN SEBASTIAN CHANNEL. 



123 



hence the channel shows itself, and continues, as far as we 

 could see, of the same breadth. It seemed to be a large sea. 

 The latitude was observed to be 53° 16'.^' * 



From the above account, and from the chart that accom- 

 panies it, in which this inlet is made to communicate with the 

 Strait of Magalhaens by the opening round Cape Monmouth, 

 our knowledge of the supposed St. Sebastian Channel was 

 derived. That there is a deep bay, in the latitude of 53° 16', 

 not only appears from the account of the Nodales, who were 

 within the heads, although it seems they did not proceed 

 beyond the stony ground on the south side of the entrance ; 

 but also from the accounts of vessels who have lately seen it ; 

 and of one ship-master who was deterred from entering, by the 

 formidable notice on our charts of its being " only navigable 

 for small vessels,"*' whence he conjectured that the tides would 

 be very strong, and the channel occasionally narrow, as well as 

 and shoal. 



Sarmiento, Narborough, Byron, Wallis, Bougainville, and 

 Cordova, have severally noticed an opening, which corresponds 

 to this supposed channel, namely, that between Capes Mon- 

 mouth and Valentyn ; but the object of those voyagers having 

 been to make the passage through the known Strait, to explore 

 this opening was, in all probability, considered a waste of 

 time ; yet, that such a channel was supposed to exist, we must 

 conclude from the conspicuous figure it makes in the charts of 

 Tierra del Fuego. 



Had there been a knowledge of its affording any com- 

 munication with the sea, surely Sarmiento and Narborough, as 

 well as the Nodales, who navigated the Strait from west to 

 east, would have been induced to attempt to pass through ; 

 and avoid the dangers, as well as difficulties, of the channels to 

 the northward. 



Anxious to set the question at rest, I gave Captain Stokes 

 orders to proceed to survey the western coasts, betv/een the 

 Strait of Magalhaens and latitude 47° south, or as much of 



* Relacion del Viage, &c. que hicieron los Capitanes B. G.de Nodales 

 y Gonzalo de Nodales, p, 59. 



