C. SKOTTSP.KRG 



J 



Fig. 97. View from the south slope of Casas valley, Masafuera, showing the headquarters of the 

 first convict settlement. — Photo K. Backstrom Feb. 1917. 



The first house was built in 1867 (Weber). Goat-hunters or fishermen used to visit 

 the island. In 1908 we found some people staying there, but there was no perma- 

 nent settlement. The next year saw a radical change. The full history is told by 

 Guzman pp. 87 — loi. A short summary is given here. Guzman begins with the 

 following words: "Tal vez la descripcion de la flora natural de la isla de Mas Afuera 

 que hiciera el sabio sueco Skottsberg, hizo creer a un Ministro de Justicia del 

 Presidente Pedro Montt, que dicha isla era el sitio ideal para la fundacion de un 

 presidio agricola." Certainly Guzman is joking, the more so as I tried on my 

 return to start a campaign in favour of preserving the native flora and fauna 

 — not the goats however! — and never said a word about Masafuera as a suitable 

 place for agricultural or any kind of commercial experiments. Two months later 

 a decree was signed, transforming the island into a settlement of criminals, and 

 in April 1909 "Carcel Pedro Montt" received its first inmates and soon after a second 

 lot, together 170. For the State it was no cheap affair to erect substantial headquar- 

 ters at the entrance to Casas valley, to build a jetty in the turbulent water of the so- 

 called landing-place and a schooner to serve the colony, but the parents of the 

 scheme were optimistic and thought that once in operation, the establishment 

 would soon become self-sup[)orting, a miracle to be performed by cutting trees 

 and cultivating the soil. Goats were plentiful and easy to get hold of, at least to 

 begin with. "Tal era la conviccion que tenian los creadores del presidio en la fe- 

 racidad de la estcril Mas Afuera, que al alcalde se le designo con el singular titulo 



