A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 



Fig. 96. A rodeo in Cumberland Bay. — Photo K. Backstrom 1917. 



The specimens were small, and so were the fruits, which we had no opportunity 

 to taste (fig. 93). This seems to be the only tropical tree thriving in this warm- 

 temperate climate. Several ornamental plants have become naturalized in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the village, e.g. Za}itedeschia aet/iiopica, Pelargonhmi spp., Tropaeolutn 

 tnajus, Maithiola incaiia and Locliuera rosea. 



Wheat-fields were few and small and harvesting methods quite primitive; 

 see figs. 94 and 95. Most of the flour was imported, and there was also a shortage 

 of potatoes. Unfortunately the number of animals had increased very much, much 

 more than would be deemed necessary, but milk-cows were few. Imported wine 

 was the daily beverage, here as in other parts of Chile. Herds of cattle roamed 

 through all the valleys from Pto Frances to Vaqueri'a on the north and from the 

 foot of Mt. Yunque to Puente on the south side of the island. I regret having 

 neglected to ask their number; every animal had its owner. Fig. 96 shows a 

 rodeo in Cumberland Bay. Only the herd in Vaqueri'a was left to run wild. Horses 

 were seen in some valleys, but I cannot remember having seen any sheep, and 

 we were never offered mutton. 



After 19 1 7 the population remained about the same for years, but in 1930 

 it had increased to 298, of which 155 were male, including the boys. Ten years 

 later it had grown to 434 (225). 



I shall leave Masatierra for the present and try to follow the fate of Masafuera. 



