54 THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. [1822. 



most easterly point of them, called Cape St. Philip's, is in long. 57° 32'. 

 The whole group lies easterly from the Straits of Magellan, at the 

 distance of about three hundred and thirty miles, consisting of two 

 large islands of very irregular shape, and more than seventy leagues in 

 circumference, with a number of small ones scattered around them. 



These two large islands are separated by a channel called Falkland 

 Sound, running between them in a south-west and north-easterly direc- 

 tion, about twelve leagues in length, and from one to three in breadth. 

 This channel or sound has many little islands in it, on its south-east 

 side, and several others near the' opposite shore. Of the two prin- 

 cipal islands, or maloons, the most western (or rather north-western) 

 is called the English Maloon, and comprises many excellent ports on 

 every side of it ; particularly one, on the north-west, called Port Eg- 

 mont, where the English established a colony in 1764, which they 

 abandoned in 1774. This harbour is well sheltered by several small 

 islands which lie in front of it. 



The other large island on the south-eastern side of Falkland Sound 

 is called the Spanish Maloon, or Soledad, or the Eastern Falkland. 

 It is twenty-four leagues in length from N.N.E. to S.S.W., but quite 

 narrow in several places, one of which is reduced to an isthmus. On 

 the north-east side of the Spanish Maloon is Berkley Sound, or the 

 Puerto de la Soledad of the Spaniards, where M. Bougainville estab- 

 lished his French settlement in 1764, which was afterward ceded to 

 the Spaniards. It is also called Port Louis Bay. This harbour is 

 six miles wide at its entrance, and extends in to the westward about 

 four and a half leagues. Some rocky flats lie off the bay, but they 

 are not dangerous. When advanced half-way within the sound, you 

 will perceive some small islands, called Sea-lion's Islands, which you 

 may pass on either side without danger or difficulty, keeping two 

 cables' length from the shore. From the mouth of the bay to the 

 anchorage, the depth of water lessens gradually from forty to four 

 fathoms ; here you may choose your own anchorage, only keep clear 

 of the kelp or rock-weed. 



To the eastward and southward of Soledad are many dangers. 

 Vessels, therefore, that are passing along this coast should always 

 give the island a good berth in the night ; but in daylight they may 

 follow the course of the shore by keeping just outside the kelp, which 

 will serve them instead of a branch pilot, as there are no hidden dan- 

 gers among these islands where there is no kelp to be seen. There 

 is an island lying off to the south, about seven leagues from Soledad, 

 called Beauchesne Island, in lat. 52° 42' S., long. 58° 44' 15" W. 

 This island is barren, and has deep water all around it. On its shores 

 are found fur-seal, and many kinds of oceanic birds in the moulting 

 season. It was so named by Mons. Beauchesne Gouin, a French navi- 

 gator, in 1699. 



To the north-west of the Falkland Islands are several small islands 

 called the Jasons, which are frequently the first land made in eoming 

 from the northward. There are many passages between them, but so 

 lined with rocks and dangers as to be unsafe for strangers. The 

 north-west Jason is in lat. 51° S., long. 61° 35' W. 



