348 TERMINATION OF THE ANDES. April 1830. 



obstructed by several small islets, and passed suddenly out 

 into a clear, open bay. Our prospect here became wholly differ- 

 ent to that which for months before we had daily witnessed. 

 North and south of us were deep bays, while to the east, between 

 two points seven or eight miles apart, our view was unob- 

 structed by land, and we were sanguine in hoping that we had 

 discovered an extensive body of water. There was also a con- 

 siderable change in the appearance of the country, which no 

 less delighted than astonished us ; for so gratifying a prospect 

 had not been seen since leaving Chiloe. Eastward, as I said 

 before, we could perceive no land ; to the north-east and 

 south-eastward lay a low flat country, and the hills in the 

 interior were long, level ranges, similar to that near Cape 

 Gregory, while behind us, in every direction westward, rose 

 high rugged mountains. I fully believed that our course here- 

 after would be in open water, along the shores of a low coun- 

 try, and that we had taken leave of narrow straits, enclosed by 

 snow-capped mountains : the only difficulty to be now over- 

 come was, I imagined, that of getting the vessel safely through 

 the Kirke Narrow ; which^ hazardous as I thought the pass, 

 was preferable to the intricate White Narrow, through which 

 we had just passed. Such were my expectations; and with 

 so noble a prospect in view, I hastened to look for anchor- 

 age for the schooner, which I succeeded in finding at a place 

 named by me Easter Bay, and returned on board the next day 

 through Kirke Narrow. Mr. Kirke employed three days about 

 his work, having traced the inlet, which trended northward 

 from Cape Grey for nearly eleven leagues. He found that it 

 was bordered on each side by a steep range of mountains, 

 broken here and there by deep ravines, which were filled with 

 frozen snow, and surmounted by extensive glaciers, whence 

 huge avalanches were continually falling. The western side of 

 this canal is formed by the southern termination of the Andes. 

 At the northern end are two bays, with sandy beaches, backed 

 by low land, which, however, rises gradually to high peaked 

 mountains, (hstant about two miles. 



" Early on Easter Tuesday we left Whale-boat Bay, and 



