Feb. 1830. fishery — defence — produce. 



303 



walls, which served to divide their enclosures, still remain. 

 From Walter*'s account of Anson^s voyage, and the view given 

 with it of the commodore's tent, there is no difficulty in deter- 

 mining this valley to be the spot on which his encampment was 

 placed. 



The island is now (1830) occupied, or rather rented from 

 the governor of Chile for a term of years, by Don Joachim 

 Larrain. The establishment consists of a superintendent (mayor- 

 domo), there called, ' the governor and forty persons, who 

 are employed in the seal and cod fishery, and in drying fish 

 for the Chilian market. Their dwellings are erected on the flat 

 land, at the north side of the bay, where the soil is richer than 

 in other parts ; and where it is more sheltered from the squalls, 

 which, during strong southerly gales, rush down the valley of 

 the Yungue, the situation of the former establishment, with 

 great violence. 



The remains of a fort, called San J uan Baptiste, are yet in 

 a tolerable state ; and from an inscription on the wall, it appears 

 to have been repaired, or completed, in the year 1809. It is 

 situated on a rising ground, about one hundred and thirty 

 feet above the sea, at the S.W. part of the bay, and over- 

 looks the village ; there are now no guns mounted, but, with a 

 few, it might be made very effective in a short time; and, from 

 its situation, would command the bay. 



In the middle of the beach are some ruins of a four-gun 

 battery, and there are also traces of a fort at the N.W. end of 

 the bay. 



At present, except wild-goats, wild peaches, figs, abundance 

 of fish, and excellent fresh water, no refreshments can be pro- 

 cured. An establishment of forty persons, with very little to 

 do, might naturally be expected to cultivate the land, raise 

 vegetables and fruit, and rear poultry and pigs, to supply the 

 vessels, which frequently touch here for wood and water ; but 

 it is not the character of the Chileno to take any trouble, unless 

 obliged, although his own comfort and advantage may be 

 materially concerned. 



The mayor-domo, however, told me that their attempts to 



