266 WALKEll BAY MOLYNEUX SOUND. Aug. 18^9. 



kept a boat a-head the whole day. She anchored in a small 

 bight, formed by Chance Islands, about seven miles from Guard 

 «ay. 



The 27th was rainy j but the boats went to different points, 

 and angles were takdn before the schooner weighed and worked 

 northward. At noon she ctoe to an anchor in a small bay, 

 northward of the Hocico de Caiman. Constant rain during 

 the remainder of the day. 



On the 28th it rained too incessantly the whole morning, to 

 allow the party to work, even iii boats; and the day was passed 

 in laying down former observations. 



29th. After angles had been taken near the anchorage, the 

 schooner was moved, and worked along the coast. A strong wind 

 from the N.W., with a heavy sea, brought the vessel under 

 close-reefed sails, and obliged her to anchor in W alker Bay. 



On the 30th, the Adelaide anchored in Molyneux Sound. 

 To give a clearer idea of the delays experienced in making 

 progress to the northward through these intricate channels, I 

 shall now extl'act part of Lieutenant Skyring'*s Journal, in his 

 own words : 



"31st. Wind N.N.W. with a heavy swell in the Strait; the 

 boats at daylight went north and south of the anchorage, and 

 angles were obtained. At nine, ready for starting ; but the 

 weather was too unfavourable, and continued so until the 4th 

 of September, when, at seven o'clock in the morning, we 

 weighed. At nine, squally — obliged to double-reef ; but the 

 tide serving, we gained a few miles to windward, and at one, 

 P.M., stood among a mass of islands on the west side, and 

 moored in Tom's Bay, steadying the vessel with the stream 

 anchor. In the afternoon the survey was continued^ and from 

 the heights a view was obtained of the Gulf of Trinidad, and 

 of several points observed last year. Another detention of two 

 days, owing to bad weather. 



" 7th. Cloudy ; weighed at dayhght, and stood for the 

 narrows. At eight, squally, with thick snowy weather ; but, 

 being once under weigh, we refrained from returning, until 

 compelled. It certainly was not a favourable day for working 



