OTWAY AND SKYRTNG WATERS. 



571 



western coast ; but from what we now know, it is not probable 

 that it can lead to anything of consequence. It is, perhaps, backed 

 by low marshy land reaching to the hills at the bottom of Glacier 

 Bay, which, from the distance being seventy miles, were not 

 visible above the horizon. The northern opening probably passes 

 Dynevor Castle, and, perhaps, nearly reaches the bottom of 

 Obstruction Sound. The Skyring Water was not further ex- 

 plored ; partly from want of a sufficient quantity of provisions to 

 undertake it with any prospect of succeeding, and partly from a 

 strong south-westerly gale, from which there was no shelter for 

 the open boats in which this examination was performed. The 

 remainder, therefore, of Captain Fitz-Roy's time was spent in com- 

 pleting what he had commenced ; and, after an absence of thirty- 

 two days, he rejoined his ship at Port Gallant. 



At the western end of the passage, which unites the waters, the 

 shore is well clothed on the north side with luxuriant grass and 

 trefoil, with here and there a sprinkling of brushwood, but is 

 entirely destitute of trees. The soil, although dry, is light, and 

 tolerably good ; but the ground is perforated everywhere by some 

 burrowing animal, probably skunks, or cavias. The tracks of 

 horses were noticed in many places, and the bones of guanacoes 

 were scattered about. Water was not very plentiful, but several 

 small brooks and springs in the sides of the hills were observed, 

 sufficient for all useful purposes. 



On the south side of the passage the land is low, but wooded : 

 the banks are from five to forty feet high, sloping to the water, 

 and covered with grass. In the entrance the tide ran five or six 

 knots at the neaps, but inside with only half that rapidity. On the 

 north side, at the distance of a mile and a-half, there is a ridge of 

 hills, to the summit of which Captain Fitz-Roy made an excursion, 

 which is described in the Narrative. 



In consequence of the supposed communication of the Skyring 

 Water with some part of the western coast, a careful examination 

 was made of every opening trending into the interior behind the 

 islands and archipelagoes that line the western coast ; the result of 

 which has proved that the hypothesis so naturally formed was not 

 confirmed by fact. A reference to the chart will show how care- 

 fully the search was carried on, and with what want of success it 

 was concluded. The deep opening discovered by Sarmiento, and 



