May 1829. cocxkBUuRN AND BARBARA CHANNELS. 255 
iy 
but it was not found to be of consequence to a vessel in working 
through. The rise and fall is not more than six, or at most, 
eight feet, at spring-tides. 
“ May 22d. We quitted this anchorage; and having worked 
to the westward, through the Adelaide Passage, took up a berth 
in a small bay, two miles and a half to the northward, where 
we remained during the night, and next morning ; then, after 
examining the neighbouring coast sufficiently to carry on our 
triangulation, proceeded to an anchorage on the north side of 
Bynoe Island. From the summit of this place an extensive 
view was obtained of the islands in Melville Sound, as well as 
of the entrance to the Cockburn and Barbara Channels. Such 
a complicated mass of islands and rocks, I never before saw; to 
lay them all down correctly would occupy a long time. Suffi- 
cient, however, has been done to take the navigator through 
this labyrinth ; but I am well aware, that very much is still 
wanting to complete the survey. 
« Fury and North Harbours, of which the former became 
more particularly known to us from the Prince of Saxe Cobourg 
having been wrecked there in December 1826, were laid down 
from an eye-sketch only ; but the peaks of the island, and its 
extremes, were fixed by triangulation.* 
** Melville Sound is formed by the islands which separate 
the Cockburn from the Barbara Channels. Generally speaking, 
they, as well as the coasts in the immediate neighbourhood 
which are exposed to seaward, present a most barren and deso- 
late appearance. 
** Until the 26th of May, we were much occupied among 
the surrounding islands ; but time being short, we took advan- 
tage of a southerly wind to run up the Barbara Channel, and 
soon reached an anchorage in Hewett Bay. While securing the 
vessel, a canoe, containing only a man, woman, and child, and 
three dogs, was seen coming round the south point of the bay. 
As they seemed very unwilling to pay us a visit, remaining at a 
distance, and vociferating as usual, ‘ Ho-say,’ ‘ Ho-say!’ Mr. 
Bynoe and I communicated with them in the dinghy; but 
* Since surveyed by Capt. Fitz Roy in the Beagle, 1829-30, 
