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kept a boat a-head the whole day. Slie anchored in a small
bight, formed by Chance Islands, about seven miles from Guard
Bay.
The 27th was rainy, but the boats went to different points,
and angles were taken before the schooner weighed and worked
northward. At noon slie came to an anchor in a small hay,
northward of the Hocico de Caiman. Constant rain during
the remainder of the day.
On the 28th it rained too incessantly the wliole morning, to
allow the party to work, even in boats; and the day was passed
in laying down former observations.
29thi After angles had been taken near the anchorage, the
schooner was moved, and worked along the coast. A strong wind
from the N.AV., with a heavy sea, brought the vessel under
close-reefed sails, and obliged her to anchor in Walker Bay.
On the SOth, the Adelaide anchored in Molyneux Sound.
To give a clearer idea of the delays experienced in making
progress to the northward through these intricate channels, I
shall now extract part of Lieutenant Skyring’s Journal, in his
own words :
“ 31st. AVind N.N.AV. with a heavy swell in the Strait; the
boats at daylight went north and south of the anchorage, and
angles were obtained. At nine, ready for starting; but the
weather was too unfavourable, and continued so until the 4th
of September, when, at seven o’clock in the morning, we
weighed. At nine, squally—obliged to double-reef; but the
tide serving, we gained a few miles to windward, and at one,
P .M ., stood among a mass of islands on the west side, and
moored in Tom’s Bay, steadying the vessel with the stream
anchor. In the afternoon the survey was continued, and from
the heights a view was obtained of the Gulf of Trinidad, and
of several points observed last year. Another detention of two
days, owing to bad weather.
“ 7th. Cloudy; weighed at daylight, and stood for the
narrows. At eight, squally, with thick snowy weather; but,
being once under weigh, we refrained from returning, until
compelled. It certainly was not a favourable day for working
through ; but the wind moderated, and our attempt succeeded.^
No anchorage being found by the boats on the north side of
the narrows, we made for the weather-shore of the gulf, and
anchored early in AVindward Bay. In the afternoon, angles
were taken on Middle Island, and east and west of the anchorage.
The time of our departure drawing near, it became
doubly necessary to work constantly, that we might join this
survey with that of last year, in the Beagle.
“ 8th. AVeighed at daylight; wind light from N.AV. ; but,
falling calm, boats were detached for continuing the angles, and
the latitude was observed on Red Beak Bocks. At five o’clock,
we gained an anchorage, close to the eastward of the Ancon
del Morro, on the S.E. side of Division Isle, in a bay which
answered our purpose, although it was rather a confined place.
Some angles were taken on Point Candelaria, preparatory to
Continuing our course next morning.
“ 9th. At daylight weighed and stood over to the northern
shore, and at eleven, anchored inNeesham Bay, in eleven fathoms.
Boats employed in the afternoon, on the survey. AVhile at
anchor, two canoes, containing together thirty-two Indians,
came alongside ; they were chiefly men, a finer race of people,
better formed, and better featured than the Puegians, and much
less noisy. Their canoes were made of planks, the longest upwards
of twenty-three feet in length; they appeared exceedingly
buoyant, and pulled quickly.
“ 10th. At daylight, we sailed out of the bay, with a
light breeze from the eastward ; at seven, the wind increased,
and a heavy sea rose in the gulf. It was my intention to get an
anchorage under Mount Corso; but, as that was now a leeward
coast, with a heavy sea setting upon the shore, it would have
been improper to attempt seeking for one. I f it had answered
our purpose, we might have gone to Port Henry, and, indeed,
this was the only safe course we could have pursued, if our
object had been to remain in the gulf; hut no time was left
to wait for favourable weather ; therefore I chose in preference
to leave the gulf, and take advantage of the fair wind to gain
an offing, the time of our return being so near.
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