206 Mr Scouler's Voyage to tJte Pacific Ocean. 



Having satisfied our curiosity respecting the shore, we pro- 

 ceeded up the valley, in expectation of finding more plants. 

 Here we found a little stream of excellent water, which was 

 first detected by its rippling, as its surface was entirely con- 

 cealed from our notice by the immense quantities of mint 

 (Mentha piperita) and balm {Melissa officinalis) which grow 

 on its margins. In the afternoon we returned to the ship, well 

 satisfied with our excursion ; but the boat's crew had procured 

 very little water, as the stream lost itself in the sand about a 

 mile and a half from the beach. 



]7th. — This morning we landed in Cumberland Bay, which 

 we found far better than the place we had visited yesterday, 

 for procuring water and vegetables. On approaching the land- 

 ing-place, we were surprised by the appearance of smoke aris- 

 ing among the trees, and by seeing goats feeding near the 

 shore. When we got ashore, we were much pleased by find- 

 ing- an Englishman, who welcomed us to the island, and offer- 

 ed us all the assistance in his power. He told us, that, when 

 ourboat firstmadeits appearance, he was afraid we had belonged 

 to some Spanish privateers, and had concealed himself in the 

 woods, as his little establishment had been formerly destroyed 

 by these unwelcome visitors. Our new friend's name was Wil- 

 liam Clark ; he had sailed from Liverpool several years ago, 

 and visited most places in the South Pacific. At present 

 he belongs to a party of English and Chilians, employed in 

 killing the goats and bullocks, which are plentiful here, and in 

 remitting their flesh and skins to different parts of the Chilian 

 coast. The rest of the party had gone to the other side of the 

 island, and would not return for a week. We were highly de- 

 lighted with the beautiful situation where they had fixed then- 

 abode. A fine stream of water ran into the bay, a few yards 

 from the landing-place, and the house was situated amidst a 

 shrubbery of Fuschia, mixed with peach and apple-trees. The 

 sea abounded in fishes, and the fruits of Europe grew in the 

 greatest profusion. In the vicinity of Cumberland Bay we saw 

 the following foreign vegetables, chiefly European : oats, pears, 

 apples, strawberries, peaches, vines, rue, mint, balm, radish, 

 Indian cress, and figs. 



Our guide had very little European furniture in his house, 



