CAUTIONS VIEW. 



247 



avoided ; it may be known at a glance, by the irregular hud- 

 dled look which it has. Off the south-east shores of the Falk- 

 lands there are several rocky shallows, on which the sea breaks 

 heavily during south-east gales, though not at other times : all 

 those shallows are marked by kelp, and in one place, thus 

 indicated, not more suspicious in appearance than others, a 

 rock was found, almost ' awash "* at low water. 



Many wrecks have occurred, even on the land-locked shores 

 of harbours themselves, and in 1833-4, some of their remains 

 served as a warning to strangers to moor their ships securely : 

 but with good ground tackle, properly disposed, and the usual 

 precautions, a vessel will lie in absolute safety, as the holding- 

 ground is excellent : indeed, in many places so tenacious, that 

 it is exceedingly difficult to weigh an anchor which has been 

 some time down. Particular directions for making the land, 

 approaching and entering harbours, and taking advantageous 

 berths, will be found in another place : generally speaking, 

 the local pilotage is very simple. 



The country is remarkably easy of access to persons on foot; 

 but half-concealed rivulets and numerous bogs, oblige a 

 mounted traveller to be very cautious. There are no trees any 

 where, but a small bush is plentiful in many vallies. Scarcely 

 any view can be more dismal than that from the heights : moor- 

 land and black bog extend as far as eye can discern, intersected 

 by innumerable streams, and pools of yellowish brown water. 

 But this appearance is deceptive ; much of what seems to be a 

 barren moor, is solid sandy clay soil, covered by a thin layer 

 of vegetable mould, on which grow shrubby bushes and a 

 coarse grass, affiarding ample nourishment to cattle ; besides 

 which, one does not see into many of the vallies where there 

 is good soil and pasture. Some tracts of land, especially those 

 at the south of East Falkland, differ in character, being low, 

 level, and abundantly productive of excellent herbage. 



Mr. Darwin's volume will doubtless afford information as to 

 the geological formation of the Eastern Falkland. He did not 

 visit the western island, but obtained many notices of it from 



