April 1829. LiEuT. sKYRING—ADELAIDE—VIEW. 217 
“* April 16th. Lieutenant Skyring went on board the Ade- 
laide with Mr. Kirke, five seamen, and one of the Beagle’s 
whale-boats. Mr. Bynoe, the assistant-surgeon, also went as a 
volunteer. 
“ April 17th. The Adelaide sailed to survey the Magdalen 
and Barbara Channels; after which she was to rejoin the Beagle 
at Port Gallant. She soon got into a strong southerly wind, and 
could make no progress, as the current was against her; she 
therefore again stood into the bay, and anchored. 
“ A sharply cold night made us remember we were far south, 
although the weather by day had been mild. I have said 
little about this anchorage, as it has already been described. 
The appearance of the surrounding country is striking and 
picturesque. Mount Tarn, with its patches of snow, rising 
from thick woods, and the high snow-covered mountains in the 
distance, with dark blue sea at their base, are very remarkable 
objects. 
“© We sailed on the 19th with the Adelaide, which had been 
prevented from going sooner by strong and unfavourable winds: 
and about noon we parted from our consort, whose course was 
southerly, into the Magdalen Channel, while we went towards 
Lyell Sound. 
“‘ I cannot help here remarking, that the scenery this day 
appeared to me magnificent. Many ranges of mountains, besides 
Mount Sarmiento, were distinctly visible, and the continual 
change occurring in the views of the land, as clouds passed 
over the sun, with such a variety of tints of every colour, from 
that of the dazzling snow to the deep darkness of the still 
water, made me wish earnestly to be enabled to give an idea of 
it upon paper; but a necessary look-out for he vessel, not 
having a commissioned officer with me who had been in the 
Strait before, kept my attention too much occupied to allow 
me to make more than a few hasty outlines. Under the high 
land the Beagle had but little wind, and night closed upon us 
before we could gain an anchorage in Lyell Sound, so we shor- 
tened sail after dark, and kept near mid channel until the 
morning. 
