to the Strait of Magellan. 



31 



the water, but the interior mountainous ; the west coast is, on 

 tfie contrary, a continued range of loft}^ perpendicular cliffs. 

 As far as we could see up this NNE. channel, it appeared 

 much broader than the external channel which opens into the 

 strait, and to extend to a great distance in the same direction, 

 a«:reeal)l3^ to the course of the mountains. To follow that 

 channel towards the interior of Patagonia would be, doubtless, 

 very desirable ; but, besides that sucii an attempt, in our cir- 

 cumstances, would have been very hazardous, it would have 

 led us quite away from the peculiar object of our orders. We 

 therefore turned towards the bay on the west, in which we 

 imagined a passage might be found to Buckley Cliannel, or 

 some other part of the strait. Our rowers being fatigued, at 

 6f P.M. we put in to the north shore of the bay; but, finding 

 neither beach nor level where we could place our tents, were 

 obliged to pass the night, some in the boats, and others on the 

 rocks. 



About three next morning, when our men were fast asleep, 

 the tide flowed up to tliose on shore, and forced them to em- 

 bark, drenched with the rain, which had poured down the whole 

 night. Perceiving in the bottom of the bay a passage of no 

 great breadth indeed, pointing WNW. we made towards it, 

 and found that it opened into what may be called a lagoon, 

 two leagues long and one mile broad. The water in it had no 

 sensible motion, and was much fresher than that on the outside. 

 The depth of water was considerable, excepting near the inner 

 end, where it shallowed gradually, correspondiiig to the gentle 

 slope of the adjoining land. In all other parts, the lake is en- 

 closed by high steep mountains. The lake was covered with 

 incredible numbers of penguins, of the same kind with those in 

 all other parts of the strait. It was now evident that no com- 

 munication existed, in that quarter, between the channel of 

 San Geronimo and the proper Strait of Magellan ; and that the 

 other branch extending NNE. led away in a very different 

 direction; wdien Sarmiento therefore affirmed such a communi- 

 cation to exist, he must have misunderstood the natives, from 

 whom he had his information. Being satisfied on this point, 

 we placed, in a projecting point, at the bottom of the lake, a 

 bottle, containing an mscription, which noticed our observations 

 on the spot. 



Early next morning w^e departed with a fresli breeze at WNV/. 

 a smooth sea, and a rapid current to the SE. But, when we 

 reached the VV. end of the channel of San Geronimo, the wind came 

 to blow so hard from the W. in addition to a current of three miles 

 an hour, that, seeing every appearance of ai] approaching vioieut 



