May 1830. fossils — Adelaide arrives — ^sail. 321 



large orthoceratite : * the other was a Venus. From Rocky 

 Point we descried a strange sail, which, by her movements, we 

 thought must be the Beagle : I returned, therefore, and sent 

 Lieutenant Mitchell out to her. She arrived in the evening, but 

 proved to be a ship belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, 

 called the Dryad, bound to the Columbia River, and last from 

 the Falkland Islands. She came to wait for Mr. Low, of the 

 Adeona, who had promised to pilot her through the Magdalen 

 Channel. The Adeona arrived on the 3d of May ; and the 

 following day, to our great joy, the Adelaide hove in sight : 

 and being becalmed, was towed to an anchorage. 



The result of her cruise proved to be very interesting, 

 although no communication had been discovered between the 

 ' Ancon sin Salida,'' and the Skyring Water. The only loss they 

 had sustained was, however, a severe one; Mr. Alexander Millar 

 having died of inflammation in the bowels. The death of this 

 promising young man threw a damp over the happiness we felt 

 at meeting again, after having so nearly completed this long 

 and tedious voyage. 



We had, for some days, been getting ready for sea, and now 

 hastened to complete our preparations. The Dryad, after re- 

 ceiving some assistance from us, sailed in company with the 

 Adeona, and passed out to the Pacific, by going through the 

 Magdalen Channel. The day afterwards we took our final de- 

 parture — crossed the shoal that extends off Magdalena Island, 

 in five fathoms, sailed on rapidly, and passed Gregory Bay 

 at noon. Seeing us approach, a large party of Patagonians, at 

 least a hundred in number, assembled at the usual place of 

 communication ; but as both wind and tide were in our favour, 

 and we could derive no novel information from them, we con- 

 tinued on our course. The Indians were probably much morti- 

 fied and disappointed ; but all on board were delighted by 

 avoiding the anticipated delay. We showed our colours to them, 

 but I dare say our friend, Maria, was not very well pleased 

 with my want of courtesy, in passing by so old an acquaintance 



* They are deposited in the Museum of the Geological Society. 

 VOL. I. Y 



