31^ HUAMBLIN MOUNTAIN VALLEXAR. DcC. 



These three outlying islands are thickly wooded, rather level, 

 compared with their neighbours, and not exceeding eight hun- 

 dred feet in heiglit. There are few, if any others, like them in 

 the Chonos Archipelago ; almost all the rest, however portions 

 of some may resemble them, being mountainous, and very like 

 those of Tierra del Fuego and the west coast of Patagonia, 

 beyond 47° south ; therefore I need only remark, that the 

 vegetation is more luxuriant ; that there is a slight difference in 

 it, consequent probably upon a milder climate; that some 

 productions, such as canes and potatoes, &c., are found there 

 which do not grow near the Strait of Magalhaens ; and that in 

 other respects, as to appearance, nature, and climate, the Chonos 

 Archipelago is like Tierra del Fuego in summer. 



We remained a few days in San Pedro harbour ; and on 

 the 9th Mr. Sulivan and his party joined us. Next day 

 Mr. Stokes and I endeavoured to get to the top of the moun- 

 tain named Huampelen, Huamblin, or San Pedro ; but after 

 climbing, creeping, struggling, and tumbling about, among 

 old decayed trees, strongly interwoven canes, steep, slippery 

 places, and treacherous bog, we failed, and gave up the attempt. 

 Mr. Darwin, Douglas, and others were with me, but we were 

 all foiled. 



11th. Having despatched Mr. Sulivan, with the same party 

 excepting Mr. Darwin, we got under weigh, and hastened 

 towards the middle of the Chonos group, in order to find a 

 port whence Mr. Stokes might set out to explore northwards, 

 while I should examine the southern half of the archipelago. 



13th. We succeeded in finding a sheltered, and apparently 

 safe anchorage in a road named by me Vallenar, because it 

 corresponded in situation to an island so called in an old chart, 

 said to be of the Chonos, but Avhich bore no resemblance what- 

 ever to them. However, being anxious to remove no " neigh- 

 bour's landmark," and retain original names, when they could 

 be ascertained, I kept them wherever I was able to do so. As 

 to the native names, those given by Indians, I had not the 

 means of finding them out, for no inhabitants were seen ; but, 

 so far as Moraleda had collected them from his Indian inter- 



