PUERTO BUENO BAY. 
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vegetation and trees, consisting of winter’s bark, 
evergreen birch, &c. ; while beyond, and as far as the 
eye can reach, are extensive bare hills, with occasional 
patches of stunted shrubs, and tracts of boggy ground 
covered with a thick, low vegetation. In the even- 
ing the weather was very squally, with thunder and 
lightning and heavy rain, and all were thankful we 
were lying in so comfortable a berth instead of 
being at sea. However, in the intervals many parties 
started for a run over the country with gun and rod, 
but the sport was not very encouraging. 
PUERTO BUENO BAY TO ISTHMUS BAY. 
Jan. 1 Oth . — Left the anchorage at an early hour ; 
the rain fell heavily, it was exceedingly cold, and 
the landscape presented a most wintry appearance ; 
the snowy hills ranging along on each side, and the 
bare rock looking most desolate and dreary in the 
surrounding haze, and this was midsummer. Steaming 
on through Sarmiento Channel, we dredged in 400 
fathoms (soft green mud) ; temperature 46*5° Fahr. ; 
we got several specimens of coral, sponges, and fish. 
On the conclusion of this operation, we proceeded, 
passing Esperanza, Vancouver’s, and Owen’s Islands, 
Staines Peninsula, Carrington Islands, and through 
the Farquhar Pass into Colling wood Straits ; passed 
Newton and Hunter Islands, and so through Victory 
Pass, a lovely spot studded with small islands ; 
reached the Zach Peninsula, and anchored on its 
