334 



MESIEII AND FALLOS CHANNELS. Feb. 1830. 



ground, and abundance of wood and water. The two following 

 days, Mr. Kirke was away examining the coast ; the third we 

 were confined by bad weather ; and, indeed, during our whole 

 continuance at this place, we had very much rain. 



" We sailed early on the 12th from Island Harbour, and 

 by night reached Waterfall Bay, an anchorage about fifteen 

 miles to the southward : the wind all day was light, and the 

 tide, the greater part of the time, against us ; so that, with 

 every exertion, we scarcely gained anchoring ground before it 

 was quite dark : the strength of the tide was upwards of a mile 

 an hour^ at neap-tides: the ebb and flood were of equal duration, 

 the former running to the S. b. E., the latter N. b.W. Thirty 

 miles within the Mesier Channel it is as wide as at the entrance, 

 and for several miles to the southward appears clear : so that 

 no one is liable thus far to mistake its course. 



" The land on the west side appears to be a number of large 

 islands, with here and there wide passages leading to the S. W., 

 rendering it probable that there are many (although not direct) 

 communications between the Mesier and the Fallos Channels. 

 Our anchorages were chiefly on the eastern shore, that the 

 openings on that side might be more readily examined ; but all 

 which appeared to run far inland were found to be merely 

 narrow inlets, or sounds ending abruptly. On each side the 

 land is hilly, but not high ; and this distinguishes the Mesier 

 Channel from many others, whose shores for miles are formed 

 by ranges of steep-sided mountains. Here, in many places, 

 there is much low land, which is generally thickly wooded, yet 

 with no greater variety of trees than is to met with in the Strait 

 of Magalhaeiis. The beech, birch, pine, or cypress, Winter's- 

 bark, and a kind of red-wood, form the forests ; but none 

 were observed that could be at all serviceable for the larger 

 spars of a vessel. 



" (16th). Left Waterfall Bay, and with a N. W. breeze passed 

 Middle Island, entered Lion Bay, and moored in White Kelp 

 Cove. The coast survey was soon finished, but we were con- 

 fined at our anchors here four days ; not by bad, but by ex- 

 traordinarily fine weather. During such intervals, so very rare 



