April 1830. obstruction sound. 351 



east side, near Cape Thomas, I proceeded, in hopes that beyond 

 the next point some better prospect would be gained : on 

 arriving there, however, my expectations were instantly checked 

 by a bold rising shore, continuing uninterruptedly as far as the 

 Oliver Islands, which we passed soon afterwards. 



" The width of the channel between the Oliver Islands and 

 the northern shore is not more than a mile, but it afterwards 

 increases, and turns sharply first to the west, and then S.S.W. 

 In the west reach there are many small islands, and the high 

 ranges on both sides being detached from each other, gave me 

 yet some hopes of finding a passage between them. Proceeding 

 in the afternoon, a bight appeared to the S.S E., about two 

 miles to the westward of Cape Up-anVlown, which was exa- 

 mined, although there was no prospect of meeting with success 

 by tracing it, and in it were found two small passages leading to 

 the S.E., suitable only for boats. We ran down the largest, and 

 a mile within the entrance were embayed. At the bottom of this 

 bight the land was low, and I tried to get on some eminence, that 

 I might command a view to the S.E., but was always im- 

 peded by an impervious wood. I observed, however, distant 

 high land in that direction, and could see a sheet of water, 

 about six miles from me : but whether it was a lagoon, or a 

 part of the Skyring Water, was doubtful. I could not, at this 

 prospect, rejoice as Magalhaens did, when he first saw the 

 Pacific, for my situation, I began to think, resembled that of 

 Sterne's starling. 



" Keeping along the south shore, until late in the evening^ 

 we gained the west end of this reach, and finding no shelter for 

 the boat, crossed to the broken land on the west side, and passed 

 that night in Hewitt Harbour. 



" On the following morning, we pursued our course to the 

 S.S.W., and at eleven o'clock reached the extremity of this 

 extensive sound. All our suspense was then removed, and all 

 our hopes destroyed ; for the closing shores formed but a small 

 bay in the S.W., and high land encircled every part without 

 leaving an opening. 



" Throughout the examination of this sound, we did not 



