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

Dec. 1829. xavier island — jesuit sound. 329 up it during the next two days. At two miles above the junc- tion, the tide ceased to be felt; and a rapid current met them, which increased in strength until they were unable to stem it and as they were prevented from tracking the boats, by trees growing on the banks, they could ascend no farther. This place was not more than eleven miles from the sea although, from the tortuous course of the stream, they had gone double that distance, and were about two miles from the foot of a mountain, whence the river descends. The mountain was very high, and the vallies, or ravines, were filled with glaciers. From Byron's description, it seems probable that Lieutenant Skyring was near the carrying place ; but as further delay could answer no good end, he very prudently returned, looking carefully about, as he proceeded, for some signs of a landing- place, but without success. He re-crossed the bar, reached the Adelaide without accident, and the next day went on in her to Xavier Island. On the way they passed Dead-tree Island ; where, observing seal on the rocks, a boat was sent ashore, and her crew succeeded in killing a few sea-elephants, twenty feet long. Favoured with fine weather, they were enabled to land on the north side of Xavier Island, to improve the former survey and in the evening anchored in Xavier Bav, where they remained four days ; during which, Jesuit Sound was explored, and found to terminate in two narrow inlets. Being a leewardly opening, it is unfit for any vessel to enter. The name Jesuit Sound, and those of the two inlets at the bottom, Benito and Julian, are memorials of the missionaries, who, in the expedition of 1778, entered and explored it.* (Agiieros, p. 232.) The Adelaide anchored the next night in Ygnacio Bay, at the south end of Xavier Island, which Lieutenant Skyring • Mr. Kirke, who examined them, says, " There are two openings opposite Xavier Island, on the main land : the northernmost runs through liigh land, and is terminated by a low sandy beach, with a river in the middle, running from a large glacier ; the southern inlet is ended by high mountainous land."