1835.1 WILD POTATO. 2«5 



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

 rising, followed us with outstretched necks, expressing great 

 wonder and curiosity. 



1th. — Having run up the coast, we anchored near the northern 

 end of tlie 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 w ere 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, which, being well manured, even the first season produced numerous 

 potatoes and an abundance of leaves. See Humboldt's interesting discussion 

 on this plant, wliich it appears was unknown in INIexico, — in Polit. Essay oa 

 New Spain, book iv. chap. ix. 



