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

Jan. 1830. guaianeco islaxds — mesier channel. 331 what it has been proved to be ; but as Lieutenant Skyring thought that a change in the name would not answer any good purpose, he very properly left it unaltered. The day after Mr. Kirke returned, very bad weather set in, and detained the Adelaide nine days, during which nothing could be done, out of the vessel. " January lOth," Lieutenant Skyring writes, " with mode- rate weather, and an easterly wind, we left the Channel's Mouth, and, standing for the Guaianeco Islands, passed those of Ayau- tau (between which and the mainland are several rocky reefs, though the passage seems to be sufficiently clear for any vessel) and skirting Tarn Bay, we distinguished the Mesier Channel, and could see many leagues down it. The entrance of the Mesier Channel is very remarkable, from having two high and singvdar peaks on the islands at its mouth : the northernmost very much resembling (although higher than) Nelson's monu- ment, near the Strait ; and the other, more to the southward, and much higher, resembling a church with a cupola, instead of a spire. Both are easily made out from the westward, at a distance of twenty or thirty miles. " We reached the Guaianeco Islands in the afternoon. The two largest are divided by a narrow passage, on the west side of which we anchored, in ten fathoms, in a spacious and secm-e haven, which proved to be Speedwell Bay of Bulkeley and Cummings ; the boats were employed next day, and, while the examination of the coast was pursued, I sought to ascertain the exact spot of the wreck of the Wager, but never could discover it : not a fragment of that ill-fated vessel was seen in any of our excursions. A few pieces of the boat lost by the Beagle last year were picked up ; but nothing more that could tend to denote the misfortunes which have occurred near these islands. " From the description of the Wager's wreck, in Bulkeley and Cummings, there seems to be little doubt of the place being at the N.W. end of the eastern Guaianeco Island, near my Bundle's Passage, which is the place so often mentioned in their account as the ' Lagoon.'