April 1829. lieut. skyring — adeLxVIde — view. SIT 



" 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 liad 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 the 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. 



