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 lOth,"" Lieutenant Skyring writes, " with mode- 

 rate weather, and an easterly wind, we left the ChanneFs 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 

 Bundle's Passage, which is the place so often mentioned in 

 their account as the ' Lagoon.' 



