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

CHAPTER XVIII. Adelaide's last cruise — Port Otway — San Quintin — Marine Islands Unknown river or passage — San Tadeo — Isthmus of Ofqui — San Rafael — Suiferings and route of the Wager's party — Channel's Mouth — Byron — Cheap — Elliott — Hamilton — Campbell — Indian Cacique Passage of the Desecho — Osorio — Xavier Island — Jesuit Sound Kirke's report — Night tides— Guaianeco Islands — Site of the Wager's wreck — Bulkeley and Cummings — Speedwell Bay — Indigenous wild potato — Mesier Channel — Fatal Bay — Death of Mr. Millar — Fallos Channel — Lieutenant Skyring's illness — English Narrow — Fish Wigwams— Indians — Level Bay Brazo Ancho — Eyre Sound — Seal — Icebergs — Walker Bay — Nature of the country — Habits of the natives — Scarcity of population. I WILL now relate the principal incidents of the Adelaide's last cruise. The following pages contain extracts from Lieu- tenant Skyring's journal, and also notices obtained from other sources. The Adelaide sailedfrom Chiloe on the 8th of December 1829, made Cape Tres Montes on the 14th, and anchored in Port Otway the same evening. Of this place Lieutenant Skyring writes : " Good anchorage, wood, water, and shell-fish (such as muscles and clams). Port Otway affords : but no more. Excepting in one or two sandy bights, a landing is hardly to be effected ; walking along shore is impossible, and it is scarcely practicable to enter the country, the land being so thickly wooded, from the summits of the hills down to the water-side. No soil is to be discovered ; the shrubs, and even the trees, which are of large growth, rise out of moss, or decomposed vegetable substances. The climate is very wet ; none but amphibious animals were seen, among which hair-seals were numerous. There were very few birds, excepting turkey buzzards ; and not a trace of human beings ; indeed, I do not believe Indians ever go there (y) they rarely leave thedirect channels; as a proof fi/J For evidence that Indians have been thereabouts, see BjTon's account of the cave entered by the surgeon of the Wager. I believe that curious place was either in, or close to. Port Otway. — R. F.