265 



like those in all the othev islands, are built of wood. The inliabi* 

 tants, who are not numerous, usually Uve upon their own possessions. 

 Besides the parish church and the college, formerly belonging to the^ 

 Jesuits, there is a convent of Franciscans^, and another of Mer- 

 cedarii, in which two or three monks reside. The port of Chacao 

 lies nearly in the middle of the northern coast of the same island, 

 upon the principal channel, which runs between that shore and the 

 continent, in 42 degrees of latitude, and 307. 27. of longitude. This 

 port has good anchorage, and is well defended from th-s winds, bnt 

 th\î entrance is very difficult, owing in some measure to the currents 

 and eddies that prevail in the channel, but principally to a rock 

 that rises in the narrowest part of it, and is not visible except at 

 ebb. The whole commerce of the Archipelago is carried on from 

 this port, in four or five ships that come here annually from Peru, 

 or from the ports on the continent of Chili. This traffic is entirely 

 conducted by bartering the productions of the country for those 

 articles that are brought, money being very scarce in these islands. 

 Upon the arrival of the ships, the Cabildo, or magistrate of Castro, 

 has the privilege of sending two deputies, to tax the goods brought 

 in them, and make an estimate of their prices, which is to regulate 

 the sale. This trade, by the royal grant, is not subjected to the 

 duties that are paid in the other ports. 



16th. THE ISLANDS OF JUAN FERNANDEZ. 



THESE islands are about one hundred and thirty leagues dis« 

 tant from the coast of Chili. They are situated in about 32, 42. de- 

 grees of latitude, and 297. 32, of longitude. The island of Fuera 

 is about three miles in length ; the land is very high, or rather a steep 

 mountain, rising abruptly^ from the sea, having no harbours, or 

 stations, where ships may remain secure, in consequence of the 

 great depth of water that surrounds it. This island is full of beauti-- 

 ful trees and streams of good water, according to the informa- 

 tion of the fishermen, who are in the habit of landing there. The 

 island of Terra is eleven or twelve miles long by three broad. The 

 land is principally mountainous, broken, and intersected by ra- 

 vines, caused by the frequent torrents, and streams which descend 

 from the mountains. It abounds with excellent wood, among 

 which are the sandal, the yellow wood and the chonta, a species 

 of the palm, which produces a fiuit that is far from unpleasant ; 

 the wood of the trunk, which is hollow like a reed, becomes of a 

 beautiful black, and is nearly as hard as iron. Lord Anson repre- 

 sents this island as a terrestrial paradise, hut in reality its soil h 



Vol. L N n 



