284 ADV ^NTUROUS FISHKRS. [chap. xiu. 



water attracts the fish, and these bring many terns, gulls, 

 and two kinds of cormorant. We saw also a pair of the 

 beautiful black-necked swans, and several small sea-otters, 

 the fur of which is held in such high estimation. In 

 returning, we were again amused by the impetuous manner 

 in which the heap of seals, old and young, tumbled into the 

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

 water, but rising, followed us with outstretched necks, 

 expressing great wonder and curiosity. 



January yth. — 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 consequence 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, including 

 ** 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 abun- 

 dance, 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 resembled 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 



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

 hibers, which, being well manured, even the first season produced numerous 



