A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OK THE )UAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 



137 



Fig. 52. South coast of Masatierra from Cerro Negro to beyond Corrales de Molina. After a 



water-colour sketch by the author. 



de cordones en los cuales sobresalen varias cimas. Desde ellas nacen, en distintas 

 direcciones, quebradas en que corren cristalinas vertientes." The buttress project- 

 ing S is prolonged to a ridge ending in a low cone, Co Negro, 190 m high (one 

 reading only; I.e. PI. 92: 1). 



From El Yniiqne to El Verdugo the main ridge of the island presents the 

 picture of a sky-high rock wall (figs. 2, ii, 52). E of Mt Yunque several nearly 

 vertical, trough-shaped gorges have been dug out, each with a cascade and a 

 patch of forest and known as Corrales de Molina (corral = enclosure; probably 

 named for Padre IGNACIO MOLINA, an Italian-Chilean naturalist of the i8th 

 century and author of a Compendio in which 3 plant species from Masatierra 

 were mentioned). Goat-hunters cross the ridge here and descend into the gullies, 

 which have been described with much detail by Weber who went there several 

 times. Fig. 52 shows that it is no easy going. Hence follows a naked vertical 

 wall, exposing the regularly stratified lava (fig. 52, right). Along the shore Playa 

 Larga extends, marked "Low beach" on the English chart, presumably a low- 

 abrasion ledge. The country farther E is a succession of cliff walls and gorges; 

 see figs. 2 and ii. The sinister name £"/ F<?rrt'/^,^c (executioner, hangman, fig. ii) 

 reminds of the dangers on this coast, where no light warns the sailor. 



9 ""537351 The Nat. Hist, of Juan Fernandez and Easter Is!. Vol. I. 



