JUAN FERNANDEZ, 
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fact that people can be found to isolate themselves in 
such out-of-the-way places as this. Doubtless, in the 
abstract, it is a fine thing to be monarch of all one 
surveys ; but those who have realised it are generally 
found to reverse their early aspirations, and own that 
solitude is not good for mankind. It was on this island 
that Alexander Selkirk was landed in 1704, from 
a ship he was serving in at the time as master ; 
and here he remained in solitude for more than 
four years. Eventually, on being rescued, and re- 
turning to England, he gave the narrative of his 
sojourn here to the great romancer of his day, Daniel 
Defoe, in order to prepare it for publication ; and it 
was from the ideas so furnished that the excellent 
and well-known story of Robinson Crusoe was 
formed. 
Anchoring in Cumberland Bay, in 40 fathoms, not 
far from the shore, we found it quite safe and 
pleasant. The bay has much the appearance of a 
huge crater of an old volcano, surrounded on all 
sides, except one (the entrance), with high precipi- 
tous cliffs, which are torn up into deep ravines and 
valleys. Here, at anchor, a couple of days were 
spent, and in the brief time permitted the most was 
made of it. All the places near at hand immortalised 
by Selkirk were visited— the 44 caves,” his 44 huts,” 
and 44 look-out” (a gap some 2000 feet above the 
level of the sea), where a glorious view, both north 
and south, was obtained. Here II.M.S. Topaze , in 
