Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/190

164 entered an opening which at first had an appearance that was favourable to the desired communication, but it terminated in low woody land. There was, however, a wooded hill near the shore, which he ascended with the hope of obtaining a view of the country; but the sides and summit of the hill were so thickly clothed as to obstruct his view, and with the exception of some distant high land in the south-east quarter, and a sheet of water about six miles off in the same bearing, nothing was discerned to repay him for the fatigue and trouble of the ascent. Whether the water is a lagoon, or a part of the Skyring Water, or whether it communicates with the opening trending round the north side of Dynevor Castle, remains yet to be ascertained.

After being foiled in this attempt, Lieutenant Skyring proceeded onward in a S.S.W. direction, and after a pull of ten miles came to the bottom of the sound. It was terminated by high precipitous land encircling every part. 'Throughout the examination of this sound,' he writes, 'we never distinguished any strength of tide, and the rise and fall never appeared to have exceeded a foot; that there was a slight ebb and flow was evident from the streams of foam which extended from the water course, and also from the fallen leaves borne off the shore of the bays in long lines; but signs like these, I believe, will be considered indicative of there being no strength of tide. I have frequently noticed such appearances in large ports and inlet, but never in any channel.' Neither wigwams, nor traces of Indians, were seen in this sound, another proof, were one required, of the sound not communicating with the Skyring Water; for the Indians very rarely visit these deep inlets, but are always to be found in narrow straits or communicating channels, where, from the strength of the tide, seals and porpoises, which constitute the principal food of the Fuegian Indians, abound. Sarmiento's name, therefore, of 'Ancon sin salida' (a cove or inlet without a thoroughfare), a name, which we had hoped to have expunged from the chart, must now remain a lasting memorial of his enterprising character, and of a voyage deservedly one of the most celebrated as well the most useful of the age in which it was performed.

The termination of Obstruction Sound is one of the most remarkable features in the geography of this part of South America.

In this examination the southern extremity of the Cordillera was ascertained. The eastern shores of the interior channels were found to be low plains, with no hills nor mountains visible in the distance, and such being the feature also of the northern shores of the Otway and Skyring Waters, it is probable that all the country to the east of the sounds is a continued pampa or plain.

Recent traces of Indians were seen in some places, but at the time our party was there they were either absent or had concealed