42 DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 



compiled by his secretary, Eev. Kichard Walter: "LordAnson's Voyage around the World, 1*740 

 to 1744, compiled by R. Walter: London, 1748. " The squadron had long been expected on the 

 coast ; and the Ulloas, then engaged with the French academicians, La Condamine, Bougue<r, 

 and Godin, in measuring an arc of a meridian across the equator, were recalled by the Viceroy 

 of Peru for the purpose of placing the coast in a state of defence. This completed, as far as prac- 

 ticable, they were placed in command of two fine frigates, with orders to search for the English 

 navigator, something of whose disasters had reached the vice-regal court at Lima. When they 

 reached Juan Fernandez, however, Anson had departed, and they soon returned to Callao and 

 their scientific labors, in their account of which, this cruise to the island forms an interesting 

 episode. Shortly afterwards, the island was garrisoned by the Spanish government, and a fort 

 erected for the protection of the harbor ; but the fort was destroyed by an earthquake the year 

 following, (1T51,) when the sea rose to a great height, overwhelmed nearly all the dwellings 

 which had been erected, and drowned a large number of the colonists. Though the fort was 

 soon and more securely rebuilt, the settlement was abandoned after a few years, and no farther 

 attempt was made to people the island until 1819, when the Chile government made it a place 

 of exile for state prisoners. Four years later its only inhabitants were three or four herdsmen; 

 and although a large number of prisoners, together with a governor and guards, have since 

 been sent to it, a mutiny among the latter left the governor without a charge, and the great 

 earthquake of 1835 so destroyed the buildings that government has never attempted their resto- 

 ration. At this last shock, the island was so violently shaken that the trees beat against each 

 other, and a volcano burst through the sea about a mile distant from the land, where the 

 ocean was more than 300 feet deep, from which water and smoke were thrown up during the 

 greater part of the day. Great waves swept the shores of the island ; and after the sea had 

 retired, old anchors and other evidences of ships that had visited the bay, were laid bare several 

 times. A particular description of the phenomena may be found in SutclifiVs "Account of 

 the Earthquake that occ-iired on the Island of Juan Fernandez and Talcahuano, 1835: 8vo., 

 London, 1839." SutclifTe was then governor of the island. 



Under the auspices of a Chilean company, another effort has been made to render the island 

 useful. In 1851 this company rented it from government for a specific term of years, with the 

 intention of cultivating vegetables and fruits for the northern mining districts ; and to carry 

 out their plan, they held out inducements to emigrants and afforded them facilities for agricul- 

 ture. For the latter, its agreeable temperature and abundant rains eminently fit it during 

 the season when vegetation on the neighboring continent would perish but for artificial irriga- 

 tion and fertile soil. Though there are probably not more than 100 acres of level land, its 

 valleys abound in streams and are exceedingly productive apples, peaches, figs, grapes, quinces, 

 cherries, and strawberries, together with all the varieties of vegetables, being well flavored and 

 attaining large sizes. Among the most interesting and valuable indigenous plants, none of 

 which have yet been found on the continent, are Azara fernandesiana, Berberis corymbosa, 

 Colletia spartioides, two varieties of Eugenia, seven varieties of Rea, Zanthaxilon mayen, and 

 a Santalum, which last, according to the account of Capt. King, R. N., is a true Pterocarpus, 

 No mention is made of the last, however, in the Botany of Chile by M. Claude Gay. In addition 

 to the wild goats and dogs, already mentioned, there are also horses and asses, birds of several 

 varieties in the forests, and almost incredible numbers of fish and lobsters, of excellent quality, 

 in the sea surrounding it. Quite a large quantity of dried codfish is annually taken to the 

 Valparaiso market. In short, for vessels requiring only refreshments prior to or after the long 

 voyage round Cape Horn, and a moderately smooth harbor in which to refit, there is no place 

 in their track offering so many facilities as this Eden oi the east Pacific. 



Santa Clara or Goat island lies a mile to the southward of the west extremity of Juan Fer- 

 nandez. It is a mile and three quarters long, one mile broad, and is in undisturbed possession 

 of goats and birds. 



Mas-a-fuera (the most distant or outermost) is about ninety-two miles to the westward of 



