A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS I 27 



we meet the conspicuous dolerite bed mentioned above (p. 97 and fig. 5). A pas- 

 sage across the steep rocky and scrub-covered ridge leads us down into the 

 Juanango valley. 



The spectacular escarpment between Vaqueria and Pta Negros was described 

 and illustrated above (p. 99 and fig. 8). Near the entrance to Vaqueria is a low rock 

 and a little farther west, o^ Pta Norte, another called Morro del Viudo (Widower's 

 rock). These rocks rest on a submarine abrasion terrace, clearly distinguishable at 

 low tide. The coast wall projects west in a long, narrow and curved spur, not unlike 

 a saw-blade, Pta de los Negros, and SE of this lies Morro Juanango (fig. 40). 



Bahia del Juanango is a wide bight, protected against winds from N and E, 

 but otherwise open. Seen from some distance out to sea it looks forbidding, and 

 the name "Desolation Bay" seems well chosen, but on a closer view two green 

 quebradas come in sight. Villa Alemana (Germantown), accessible with difficulty, 

 and Q. Juanango. 



Q. del Juanafigo. The beach in the little cove is of the same kind as in 

 Vaqueria, a low escarpment and large, angular stone-blocks, but with a suitable 

 wind landing is easy. My diary calls these blocks "conglomerate", without much 

 doubt identical with the agglomerate found in Vaqueria. The valley is full of weeds 

 near the sea, but as it isn't grazed native grasses are abundant farther in. At about 

 200 m above the sea are the first forest patches, and a little higher up, at the small 

 waterfall, is good forest. The threshold is, I suppose, formed by the same dolerite 

 bed as in Vaqueria, but I did not bring any specimens. 



From Juanango to Bahia del Padre the coast escarpment trends SW in wide, 

 slightly concave curves to Pta Letnos and Pta Tunquillar and thence to Pta 

 Meredaxia, the east head of B. del Padre. Figs. 41 and 42 make further descrip- 

 tions superfluous. Two conspicuous mountains tower high above the coast-line, 

 Chumacera and Tres Puntas, overlooking both sides of the island; the latter with its 

 three peaks ought to be a fitting goal for expert climbers (fig. 43). On the slope 

 of Chumacera are found the most westerly forest patches on Masatierra; from here 

 the country is treeless. 



Bahia del Padre (Parson's Bay) got its name from the configuration of the 

 rock W of the entrance. The old Spanish name B. Herradura (Horseshoe B.) is still 

 used by some authors. The diameter is about 250 m. It is a convenient harbour 

 for small boats, but the entrance, guarded by rocks, is narrow (fig. 44). Landing 

 on the beach of sand and shingles (Skottsb. 3 PI. 102: i) is comfortable with a 

 moderate swell, but may be difficult. The cove is a natural amphitheatre, but we 

 do not find very much of the "risuenas representantes del mundp vegetal" praised 

 by Guzman (p. 24), except a patch of salt-meadow [Salicornia) along the beach, 

 because the flora is poor and mainly consists of weeds, among which the gilly- 

 flowers are conspicuous. Nowhere is the climate drier. El Puente was described and 

 illustrated above (p. loi, fig. 10); the flat, sandy surface is seen on figs, 45 and 46, 

 the former showing the wind-polished tufT beds. 



Looking at the maps and photographs one is struck by the peculiar appearance 

 of B. Padre. It is evident that it is no valley, no result of erosion. Branchi wrote 

 (p. 168): "Un crater muy pronunciado puede suponerse en la Bahia del Padre", and 



