Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

May 1830. fossils — Adelaide arrives — sail. 321 large; orthoceratite : * the other was a Venus. From Rocky Point we descried a strange sail, which, by her movements, we thought must be the Beagle : I returned, therefore, and sent Lieutenant Mitchell out to her. She arrived in the evening, but proved to be a ship belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, called the Dryad, bound to the Columbia River, and last from the Falkland Islands. She came to wait for Mr. Low, of the Adeona, wlio had promised to pilot her through the Magdalen Channel. The Adeona arrived on the 3d of May ; and the following day, to our great joy, the Adelaide hove in sight and being becalmed, was towed to an anchorage. The result of her cruise proved to be very interesting, although no communication had been discovered between the ' Ancon sin Salida," and the Skyring Water. The only loss they had sustained was, however, a severe one; Mr. Alexander Millar having died of inflammation in the bowels. The death of this promising young man threw a damp over the happiness we felt at meeting again, after having so nearly completed this long and tedious voyage. We had, for some days, been getting ready for sea, and nqw hastened to complete our preparations. The Dryad, after re- ceiving some assistance from us, sailed in company with the Adeona, and passed out to the Pacific, by going through the Magdalen Channel. The day afterwards we took our final de- parture — crossed the shoal that extends off Magdalena Island, in five fathoms, sailed on rapidly, and passed Gregory Bay at noon. Seeing us approach, a large party of Patagonians, at least a hundred in number, assembled at the usual place of communication ; but as both wind and tide were in our favour, and we could derive no novel information from them, we con- tinued on our course. The Indians were probably much morti- fied and disappointed ; but all on board were delighted by avoiding the anticipated delay. We showed our colours to them, but I dare say our friend, Maria, was not very well pleased with my want of courtesy, in passing by so old an acquaintance * They are deposited in the Museum of the Geological Societj'. VOL. I. Y