Jan. 1830. GUAIANECO ISLANDS—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 19th,” 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 
singular 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 secure 
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 
Rundle’s Passage, which is the place so often mentioned in 
their account as the ¢ Lagoon.’ 
