1835.] WILD POTATO. 285 



as the boat passed. They did not remain long under water, but 

 rising-, followed us with outstretched necks, expressing great 

 wonder and curiosity. 



lili. — Having run up the coast, we anchored near the northern 

 end of the Chonos Archipelago, in Low's Harbour, where we 

 remained a week. The islands were here, as in Chiloe, composed 

 of a stratified, soft, littoral deposit ; and the vegetation in conse- 

 quence was beautifully luxuriant. The woods came down to 

 the sea-beach, just in the manner of an evergreen shrubbery 

 over a gravel walk. We also enjoyed from the anchorage a 

 splendid view of four great snowy cones of the Cordillera, in- 

 cluding " el famoso Corcovado :" the range itself had in this 

 latitude so little height, that few parts of it appeared above 

 the tops of the neighbouring islets. We found here a party 

 of five men from Caylen, " el fin del Cristiandad," who had 

 most adventurously crossed in their miserable boat-canoe, for 

 the purpose of fishing, the open space of sea which separates 

 Chonos from Chiloe. These islands will, in all probability, in 

 a short time become peopled like those adjoining the coast of 

 Chiloe. 



The wild potato grows on these islands in great abundance, 

 on the sandy, shelly soil near the sea-beach. The tallest plant 

 was four feet in height. The tubers were generally small, but I. 

 found one, of an oval shape, two inches in diameter : they re- 

 sembled in every respect, and had the same smell as English 

 potatoes ; but when boiled they shrunk much, and were watery 

 and insipid, without any bitter taste. They are undoubtedly 

 here indigenous : they grow as far south, according to Mr. Low, 

 as lat. 50", and are called Aquinas by the wild Indians of that part : 

 the Chilotan Indians have a different name for them. Professor 

 Henslow, who has examined the dried specimens which I brought 

 home, says that they are the same with those described by Mr. 

 Sabine* from Valparaiso, but that they form a variety which by 

 some botanists has been considered as specifically distinct. It is 

 remarkable that the same plant should be found on the sterile 



* Horticultural Transact., vol. v. p. 249. Mr. Caldcleugh sent home two 

 tubers, -nhich, being well manure-d, even the first season produced numerous 

 potatoes and an abundance of leaves. See Humholdts interesting discussion 

 on this plant, which it appears was unknown in Mexico, — in Polit. Essay on 

 New Spain, book iv. chap. ix. 



