Sept.] LOBOS AFUERO AND LOBOS DE TERRA. 119 



minds, and plunged them into a state of hopelessness, bordering on 

 despair. Their food now consisted of raw fish, and the flesh of seals 

 and birds dried in the sun, not having the means of making a fire to 

 cook it. Three months had now passed away, and nothing had oc- 

 curred to revive their dying hopes. In a few weeks more their suffer- 

 ings would probably have terminated in a lingering death. 



But where was the inhuman wretch who had abandoned them to 

 this dreadful fate ? I was afterward informed that he proceeded from 

 this island to Callao, in Peru, where he plunged into a course of dissi- 

 pation and excesses which effectually drove every thought of business 

 or humanity from his mind ; until he at length awoke from the bewil- 

 dering dream, a ruined and degraded man. 



It is hardly necessary to state that these Unfortunate men were re- 

 ceived on board the Wasp, and treated as duty and humanity dictated, 

 for which their gratitude was unbounded. Some of them returned with 

 me to the United States ; the others being left, at their own request, 

 in different ports on the coast of Chili. The names of the five were, 

 William Golden, or Golding, Joseph Alexander, Peleg Wilber, John 

 Stewart, and Hugh Hill. 



August 2§th. — On Thursday, at 7, P. M., after hoisting up the boats, 

 and securing them in the cranes, we filled away, and steered for the 

 weather (or southern) Lobos, with a light breeze from the south-south- 

 east, and fair weather. The next day, at 10, A. M., being in lat. 

 25 c 2' S., long. 79° 41' W., we found the variation per azimuth 9° 52' 

 easterly. We continued standing to the north, with alternate light winds 

 and calms, for more than ten days, without meeting any occurrence 

 worth recording. 



September 9tk. — We arrived at Lobos Afuero, or outer Lobos, on 

 Tuesday, and at 1, P. M., we anchored in six fathoms of water, sandy 

 bottom, in a fine harbour, on the north-west side of the island ; and at 

 2, P. M., sent the boats on shore in search of seals, which returned at 

 7, P. M., with only twenty-eight fur-skins, being all that could be pro- 

 cured here at this time. 



This island is in lat. 6° 59' S., long. 80° 42' W. The harbour is 

 tine and commodious, in which fifty ships might lie in safety all the 

 year round. Those who wish to anchor here should pass to the south 

 of the island, then haul round the west end towards the north until 

 the bay opens, when they may beat up the harbour in safety, by keep- 

 ing a look-out for a single rock in the north part of the bay, nearly 

 midway between its two outer points, but rather inclining to the 

 north point. This rock may be timely discovered from the mast-head, 

 though it is covered seven feet deep at low water. Ships should not 

 approach the eastern part of this island nearer than a mile, there being 

 several sunken rocks in that direction. Fish may be caught here in 

 abundance, and eggs are plenty in the proper season. The island is 

 moderately elevated, may be seen six or seven leagues in clear weather, 

 and has a rugged appearance, without vegetation or fresh water, except 

 during the rainy season. 



September IQth. — We next visited the inner or northern island, 

 called Lobos de Terra, where we anchored on Wednesday, at 7, A. M., 



