Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/189

Rh the banks are from five to forty feet high, sloping to the water, and covered with grass. In the entrance the tide ran live 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, at the summit of which Captain Fitzroy made an excursion, which he thus describes:

'Our way led through a scattered wood, the only one I saw on the north bank of the channel. Most of the trees appeared to have been either burned or blown down by the wind, and then blackened by decay. We reached the foot of the hills at eleven o'clock, having commenced our journey at eight, and attained the summit at twelve o'clock, whence the view we obtained amply repaid us for our trouble. It is a central spot, and, although not more than six hundred feet above the level of the sea, offers as extensive a view as any spot near it. We could see the hills near Cape Gregory, the Sweepstakes Foreland, Elizabeth Island, Cape Monmouth, the high peaks near Cape Froward, and the range of mountains between it and Jerome Channel, some of the mountainous and between Capes Phillip and Parker, and the whole extent of the Otway and Skyring waters. The latter seemed to be bounded to the north-east by down-like hills, about three or four hundred feet high. To the north of the station extends a range of similar downs, and to the east a succession of lagoons completely intersect the flat country between it and Peckett's Harbour. No opening was observed in the eastern side of Otway Water, and the neck of land separating it from the strait near Elizabeth Island, did not seem to be more than three or four miles wide.'

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 archipelagos that line the western coast; the result of which has proved that the hypothesis so naturally formed by Captain Fitzroy was not confirmed by fact. A reference to the chart will show how carefully the search was carried on, and with what want of success it was concluded. The deep opening discovered by Sarmiento, and named by him 'Ancon sin salida,' was found upon examination to extend so far into the interior, and in the direction of the Skyring Water, that the most minute investigation of the numerous sounds and canals was made in the perfect conviction of finding the desired communication. But after a patient, laborious, and minute investigation, particularly of those openings which led to the southward, among which Obstruction Sound held the most flattering appearance, Lieutenant Skyring, who performed this service, was obliged to give up the search and return. At one part, near the south-eastern end of the sound, he