March 18^28. 



CAPE NOTCH REMARKS. 



155 



The shores of the Straits were seldom visible to us, from a 

 thick mist with which they were clouded : it is, however, a 

 bold coast on each side, otherwise the Strait would be utterly 

 unnavigable in such weather. Near Cape Notch the mountains 

 spire up into peaks of great height, singularly serrated, and 

 connected by barren ridges. About their bases there are gene- 

 rally some green patches of jungle ; but, upon the whole, 

 nothing can be more sterile and repulsive than the view. This 

 afternoon we passed Playa Parda, and in the evening anchored 

 in Marian Cove. 



" In the course of the next day the wind freshened to a 

 strong and squally gale from the W.N.W., with much rain ; 

 the weather was so thick that we could scarcely make out the 

 coast. In this kind of weather, the lower parts of the shore 

 are screened from view by mist, and the upper ones are seen 

 looming through it in lofty masses, in a manner which would 

 lead a stranger to believe that the ship was completely envi- 

 roned with islands. 



" In the evening we anchored in the little cove called Half 

 Port Bay, and next morning resumed our daily struggle against 

 wind, tide, and weather. 



" We crossed the mouth of a deep sound on the north shore, ^ 

 where no tide or current was remarked : the delineation of the 

 coast about this point is particularly defective in the old charts ; 

 fortunately, however, for the navigator, he has here to deal 

 with shores where the omission of a whole island, or even the 

 addition of a few that do not exist, is of less consequence to 

 his safety than the exact limit of one sand-bank in other parts 

 of the world. This night we anchored in Upright Bay, which, 

 though affording excellent shelter from the prevailing winds, is 

 bad with a southerly one ; as, from the steepness of the bottom 

 requiring a vessel to anchor close to the shore, sufficient scope 

 is not left for veering cable. 



" Sheltered by the high land under which we were anchored, 



* Afterwards examined by Capt. Fitz Roy. It was called Xaultegua 

 by Sarmiento, who very correctly describes it. — (Sarmiento's Voyage, 

 p. 208.) 



