Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/188

162 which communicates with the Strait in that part called Crooked Reach, discovered 'Otway Water,' a large inland sea fifty miles long, trending to the N. E., and separated from the eastern entrance of the Strait by a narrow isthmus; the actual width of which was not ascertained, for in the attempt the boats were nearly lost. The south-eastern shore is high and rocky, and generally precipitous, but the northern is formed by low undulating grassy plains, free from trees, and precisely like the country about the entrance of the Strait. At the north-west corner of the water, Captain Fitzroy found the mouth of a channel which carried him in a north-west direction for twelve miles, when it opened into another inland saltwater lake, about thirty-four miles long and twenty wide. This was called the Skyring Water. The southern and western sides of the water are bounded by mountainous lad, but the northern shore is low, apparently formed of undulating downs and grassy plains, and in some places watered by rivulets. At the western extremity of the water, Captain Fitzroy observed two openings, separated by a remarkable castellated mountain which he called Dynevor Castle. Beyond the southernmost opening there was no land visible, not even a distant mountain, which induced Captain Fitzroy to suppose that it was a channel communicating with the 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 winds under Dynevor Castle, and perhaps very nearly reaches the bottom of Obstruction Sound. The Skyring Water was not further explored; 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 Fitzroy's time was spent in perfecting what he had commenced; and, after an absence of thirty-two days, he rejoined the ship at Port Gallant.

At the western end of the Fitzroy Channel, 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 channel the land is low but wooded: