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THE ISLANDS OF JUAN FERNANDEZ. 



These islands are about cue hundred and thirty leagues 

 distant from the coast of Chili. They are situated in about 

 32. 42. degrees of latitude, and 2.07. 32. of longitude. The 

 island of Fuera is about three miles in length ; the land is very 

 high, or rather a steep mountain, rising abruptly from the sea, 

 having no harbours, or station*, where ships may remain 

 secure, in consequence of the gKeat depth of \v;iter that sur- 

 rounds it. This island is full of beautiful trees and streams 

 of good water, according to the information of the fishermen, 

 who arc in the habit of landing there. The ii.;aud of Terra is 

 eleven or twelve miles long by three broad. The land is pria- 

 cipally niountainous, broken, and intersected by ravines, 

 caused by the frequent torrents and streams which descend 

 from the niou:itains. It abounds with excellent wood, among 

 which are the sandal, tlie yellow wood, and the chonla, a spe- 

 cies of t!ie palm, which produces a fruit that is far from un- 

 pleasant ; the wood of (he trunk, wliich is hoHow like a reed, 

 becoiiies of a beautiful black, and is nearly as iiard as iron. 

 Lord Anson represents this island as a terrestrial paradise, 

 but in rcvility its soil is infested with worms that destroy every 

 thing. Tlie coast abounds with lobsters, cod, and otiicr fish, 

 and uiih aquatic animals, in wiiich its tiade, v.hich is very 

 co!!si(k:ab!(", consists. This i^land v.as first discovered by 

 Ju;ui Feiiumdez, from whom it rcceivctl its name, and who 

 formed a settlement there, and lirouglit over iVom the conti- 

 nent some goafs that multiplied to an astonisliini: (iegree. After 

 Jiis deatli it was dserted, in which slate it continued for soiwc 

 lij)ie ; but the Spaniards perceiving of wirat importance to 

 t'leui the possession of these islands had become, in 17.)0 

 made a permanent establishment in that of Terra, and settled 

 the port called Juan Fernautiez, on tlie south-west coast. Tiie 

 presidjiitof Chili ajipoints its governor, who is usually one of 

 the conimanders upon the Araucaniau frontier. Besides the 



