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

334 JIESIEU AND FALI.OS CHANNELS. Feb. 1830. ground, and abundance of wood and water. The two following- days, Mr, Kirke was away examining the coast ; the tliird we were confined by bad weather ; and, indeed, during our whole continuance at this place, we had very much rain. " We sailed early on the 12th from Island Harbour, and by night reached Waterfall Bay, an anchorage about fifteen miles to the southward : the wind all day was light, and the tide, the greater part of the time, against us ; so that, with every exertion, we scarcely gained anchoring ground before it was quite dark : the strength of the tide was upwards of a mile an hour, at neap-tides : the ebb and flood were of equal duration, the former running to the S. b. E., the latter N. b.W. Thirty miles within the Mesier Channel it is as wide as at the entrance, and for several miles to the southward appears clear: so that no one is liable thus far to mistake its course. " The land on the west side appears to be a number of large islands, with here and there wide passages leading to the S. W., rendering it probable that there are many (although not direct) communications between the Mesier and the Fallos Channels. Our anchorages were chiefly on the eastern shore, that the openings on that side might be more readily examined ; but all which appeared to run far inland were found to be merely narrow inlets, or sounds ending abruptly. On each side the land is hilly, but not high ; and this distinguishes the Mesier Channel from many others, whose shores for miles are formed by ranges of steep-sided mountains. Here, in many places, there is much low land, which is generally tliickly wooded, yet with no greater variety of trees than is to met with in the Strait of Magalhaeiis. The beech, birch, pine, or cypress, Winter's- bark, and a kind of red-wood, form the forests ; but none were observed that could be at all serviceable for the larger spars of a vessel. " (16th). Left Waterfall Bay, and with aN.W. breeze passed Middle Island, entered Lion Bay, and moored in White Kelp Cove. The coast survey was soon finished, but we were con- fined at our anchors here four days ; not by bad, but by ex- traordinarily fine weather. During such intervals, so very rare