May 18S9. cockburn and bahbara channels. 



255 



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 V Mr. 

 Bynoe and I communicated with them in the dinghy ; but 

 * Since surveyed by Capt. Fitz Roy in the Beagle, 1829-30. 



