486 CHATHAM ISLAND IGUANAS. Sept. 



who, with Mr. Mellersh, was to examine this island and the 

 anchorages about it. Under the land we saw two whalers at 

 anchor, which showed North American colours. The island is 

 small — neither high nor low — rugged, covered with small sun- 

 burnt brushwood, and bounded by a bold, rocky shore. Some 

 small beaches of white sand are visible here and there. 



As soon as Mr. Chaffers had set out, the Beagle steered 

 towards Chatham Island, with a moderate breeze, which allowed 

 us to prepare the yawl for another party, imder Lieutenant 

 Sulivan. At noon, Barrington Island was visible from the deck, 

 and appeared to be distant about twenty miles ; when with 

 Messrs. Stewart and Johnson, and ten chosen seamen in the 

 yawl, Mr. Sulivan left us to examine the central islands of the 

 archipelago. 



In continuing our course, we passed through several rip- 

 plings, apparently caused by the meeting of streams of cur- 

 rent which set along the shores of Chatham Island, from the 

 east towards the west. If not so caused, they must be the effects 

 of currents passing over very uneven ground, but we got no 

 bottom, with fifty fathoms of line. When such appearances 

 are created by shoals, it should be remembered that the shal- 

 lowest place is generally under the smoothest part, close to 

 the ripple. Favoured by smooth water and fine weather, we 

 passed close to the low south-west extreme, and anchored 

 directly that point was found to defend us from the swell. 



This part of the island is low, and very rugged. We landed 

 upon black, dismal-looking heaps of broken lava, forming a 

 shore fit for Pandemonium. Innumerable crabs and hideous 

 iguanas started in every direction as we scrambled from rock 

 to rock. Few animals are uglier than these iguanas ; they are 

 lizard-shaped, about three feet in length ; of a dirty black 

 colour ; with a great mouth, and a pouch hanging under it ; a 

 kind of horny mane upon the neck and back ; and long claws 

 and tail. These reptiles swim with ease and swiftness — but 

 use their tails only at that time. At a few yards from the 

 water we found vegetation abundant, though the only soil seen 

 was a little loose dusty earth, scattered upon and between the 



