INTRICACY OF THE CHANNELS. 231 



broad strait which is known as the Gulf of Trinidad. 

 Now that this has been well surveyed, it offers an 

 opportunity for steamers bound southward that have 

 missed the entrance to the Gulf of Penas to enter 

 from the Pacific, and take the course to the Straits 

 of Magellan through the southern channels. 



We had now accomplished the first stage in the 

 voyage through the Channels. Many local names 

 have been given to the various passages open to 

 navigation on this singular coast ; but, speaking" 

 broadly, the northern portion, between Wellington 

 Island and the mainland, is called Messier's Channel ; 

 the middle part, including a number of distinct 

 openings between various islands, is known as the 

 Sarmiento Channel ; and the southern division, be- 

 tween Queen Adelaide Island and the continent, is 

 Smyth's Channel. Facing the Pacific to the south of 

 Wellington Island are three of large size — Prince 

 Henry Island, Madre de Dios, and Hanover Island, 

 besides countless islets which beset the straits that 

 divide these from each other ; and the course followed 

 by the steamers lies between the outer islands and 

 another large one (Chatham Island) which here rose 

 between us and the mainland. 



In the afternoon the north wind freshened ; as a 

 result, the weather became very thick, and rain set in, 

 which lasted throughout the night. Our intended 

 quarters were in a cove called Tom Bay ; but our 

 cautious captain, with a due dislike to " dirty weather," 

 resolved to halt in a sheltered spot a few miles farther 

 north, known as Henderson's Inlet. Both these places 

 afford excellent shelter, but the bottom is rocky, 



