340 



WALKER BAY — GUiA NAREow. March 1 830. 



de Dios, and brougjit up in Walker Bay. Fortunate we were, 

 too; for before midnight the weather became so stormy as to 

 oblige us to strike the topmasts and yard, let go a second anchor, 

 and veer a long scope of cable. At few places in these chan- 

 nels where we had anchored, could we have veered even half a 

 cable. We remained the following day, and on the 21st, the 

 weather being moderate, ran for the Guia Narrow, and having 

 a favourable tide, passed through easily. 



"It was my wish to have anchored among the islands to the 

 southward of Cape Charles, since that would have been the 

 most convenient place for the Adelaide, while examining the 

 opening beyond Cape San Antonio; but hauling round the 

 headland into a bay formed by those islands, no soundings 

 could be gained ; and not perceiving any bight at all likely to 

 afford shelter, I continued my course for Puerto Bueno, where 

 Sarmiento thought there was good anchorage. In the evening, 

 with the assistance of the boats, we moored in Schooner Cove, 

 Puerto Bueno, and the next day, Mr. Kirke went to examine 

 the opening north of San Antonio. 



" While we remained, a plan was made of this port, which 

 lies five miles S.E. from Cape Charles and three and a-half from 

 Bonduca Island. The shore is steep, and without any inden- 

 ture. To the southward is Lear Bay, a mile in extent, affording 

 anchorage, but not to be chosen when such an excellent haven as 

 Puerto Bueno is near. The south extreme of this bay forms the 

 north point of Puerto Bueno, and a few hundred yards south 

 of that point is Rosamond Island, which is low and pointed ; 

 four hundred yards S.S.E. of this, is a small round islet, bold 

 to on every side ; and between this islet and a low point, a 

 quarter of a mile to the S.E., is the widest channel to the ancho- 

 rage. Sarmiento, indeed, most appropriately named it Puerto 

 Bueno. It has both an inner and an outer port, the depth of 

 water throughout is from nine to six fathoms, and any position 

 in either I consider safe ; but excepting that it affords better 

 shelter, it differs in no respect from other anchorages in these 

 regions. Wood and water are generally found in abundance 

 near them all : fish may be caught ; geese, ducks, shags, and 



