54 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



riding at anchor in the bay. But our astonishment was still more increased 

 when, on the eve of landing, a person sprang from the thicket behind, 

 saluted us in English and directed our boat to a sheltered creek, carried us 

 to a convenient place to water, and for wild fruits to the neglected gardens 

 of the Spanish settlements. This person's name was William Clark, 

 native of Whitechapel, London, an English sailor who had been five 

 years on the coast of Chile and had been some months on this island 

 with five Spaniards, procuring seals, goats, skins, and making junk 

 from the wild cattle. He commanded the little bark (25 tons burden). 

 His intelligence was considerably beyond his sphere, his mode of life 

 altogether worthy of being recorded. The others I did not see, for 

 they were on the opposite side of the island procuring furs ; while 

 Mr. Clark's province was to look to his vessel, which he appeared quite 

 equal to, and seemed to be happy though far from being comfortable. 



No pen can correctly depict the rural enchanting appearance of this 

 island and the numerous rills descending through the valleys shaded 

 by rich luxuriant verdure terminating in the dark recesses of rocky dells, 

 while the feathery fronds of Lomaria, Asfidium, and Polypodium — several 

 species of which are new and truly princely — form a denseness to the 

 forests. On the hills were several species of Escallonia, Berberis, Lobelia, 

 Hordeum, and AvetM. During my short stay I secured seventy distinct 

 and exceedingly interesting plants for my herbarium. 



The birds were few as to new species, and not beautiful. I killed 

 one of Strix and several of a dark species of Columba, which were 

 exceedingly abundant. 



In this bay, about 200 yards from the tide mark, is seen, overgrown 

 by nettles, thistles, and a curious shrubby Campanula, a circular oven 

 built of London fire-brick, about 7 feet diameter, marked on the top 1741. 

 This oven did not appear to have been recently used, as this species of 

 bird had converted it into a cote, out of which I took some eggs, but no 

 young. This oven probably was built by Anson. Twenty-six pieces of 

 cannon lay on the beach, and the ruin of an old church is to be seen. 

 Over the' door is the following : ' La casa de Dios puerta del cielo y so 

 colocoesta a 24 Septiembre 1811 'i (The house of God consecrated 

 24 September 1811). In the old gardens we found some pears, apples, 

 prunes, and figs. There were also some vines, but these were not ripe ; 

 also one kind of strawberry. 



I sowed a quantity of garden seeds here and at Cruz Bay. The doctor 



and myself made some little additions to our new friend's stock of clothing, 



for which he was thankful. He presented us with a goat, which we 



took on board alive. We left Clark standing on a large stone on the 



beach wishing well to the ship, but scarcely had we reached her when 



a strong easterly wind compelled us to stand out to sea, and then we were 



obliged to leave this island and poor Clark. Our course was then directed 



towards the Galapagos Islands, which we pleasantly gained on the 



Sunday, January 9th, 1825. 



1 We cannot vouch for the correctness of the Spanish, but it is given exactly as it 

 is written in the MS. — Ed. 



