March 1830. nature of the countiiy---san lucas. 841 



steamers may be shot ; and shell-fish gathered. The country, 

 also, has the same appearance, and is of a similar nature ; for 

 if you force a passage through the woods, it is over fallen trees 

 and moss; if you walk over clear flat ground, the place is 

 found to be a swamp ; and if you ascend the hills, it is by 

 climbing over rocks, partially covered with spongy moss. 



" Mr. Kirke returned on the 24th, having found that the 

 opening beyond San Antonio led to the N.E., and at ten miles 

 from the cape communicated with that called the Canal San 

 Andres. 



" At daylight we left Schooner Cove, and in passing down 

 Sarmiento Channel I tried, though unsuccessfully, to reconcile 

 some of his remarks with our own observations. South of San 

 Marco and San Lucas there are two extensive bays, which 

 we afterwards found communicated with an opening between 

 San Mateo and San Vicente, separating the greater part of the 

 eastern shore of this channel from the main land. 



" I wished to anchor near Cape San Lucas, but around 

 that opening no place could be distinguished likely to afford 

 shelter, the shore in every part being bold, steep, and rocky. 

 A like uniformity of coast presented itself as far as Cape San 

 Mateo ; but on the west side, along both Esperanza and Van- 

 couver Island, lie many bays that are well adapted for vessels. 

 Sailing, however, under Cape San Lucas, we stood for San 

 Mateo, and succeeded in anchonng in a small port, formed by 

 Weasel Island, scarcely large enough, but perfectly safe, 

 when once we were secured. From this place the boats were 

 despatched. An opening east of our present station was to be 

 traced, and this part of Sarmiento Channel, with the entrance 

 between San Mateo and San Vicente, was to be laid down. 

 These operations, which in moderately fair v/eather would not 

 have occupied three days, were not completed before the 31st, 

 from our being delayed by violent winds, and almost continual 

 rain. We had also had exceedingly bad weather during our 

 stay in Puerto Bueno, and those employed in the boats had 

 undergone very severe fatigue, and had suffered much from 

 wet and cold. A short distance within the entrance of the 



