36 Cruise of the ''Alerts 



its foundation the population consisted mainly of convicts, under- 

 going penal servitude, who were kept in control by a small 

 garrison ; but since the mutiny of November 1877, the importation 

 of convicts has ceased, and as a consequence labour has become 

 scarce. At the time of our visit there were 1,100 inhabitants, 

 including the garrison, which now consists of 120 men, rank 

 and file, all of whom are armed with the Winchester repeating 

 rifle. 



The country possesses at least two great sources of mineral 

 wealth, viz., gold and coal. When the coal mines were first 

 established, sanguine ideas were entertained of their success- 

 ful working. But commercial difficulties arose. The company 

 who were working the mines became involved in a lawsuit, 

 which, whatever may have been the rights of the case, has at 

 all events put a stop to mining operations ; and at the time 

 of our visit the railway leading to the mine seemed to be going 

 to decay ; and the rolling stock, in a disjointed state, scattered 

 about the wharf and line, testified to the stagnant condition of 

 affairs. 



I was here fortunate in finding a friend in the Government 

 (Chilian) surgeon of the settlement — Dr. Fenton — with whose 

 assistance and guidance I made some pleasant trips into the 

 country adjoining Sandy Point. On our first day there he 

 kindly provided horses, and took me for a ride into the forest, 

 to the end of the settlement. There I saw for the first time 

 the evergreen and deciduous beeches, the winter's bark as well 

 as the berberry, diddle-dee, and other plants, of which we saw a 

 great deal subsequently, during our Patagonian surveys. As we 

 crossed a flat dreary plain which lay between the margin of 

 the forest and the sea coast, we encountered a great number 

 of very bold hawks, which alighted on the big thistles near 

 our bridle path, and coolly stared at us as we went by. We 

 also saw flocks of Bandurria, a species of black and white ibis, 

 which is common in these parts, but being sought after by the 



