Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

486 CHATHAM ISLAND IGUANAS. Sept. who, with Mr. Mellersh, was to examine this island and the anchorages about it. Under the land we saw two whalers at anchor, which showed North American colours. The island is small — neither high nor low — rugged, covered with small sun- burnt brushwood, and bounded by a bold, rocky shore. Some small beaches of white sand are visible here and there. As soon as Mr. Chaffers had set out, the Beagle steered towards Chatham Island, with a moderate breeze, which allowed us to prepare the yawl for another party, imder Lieutenant Sulivan. At noon, Barrington Island was visible from the deck, and appeared to be distant about twenty miles ; when with Messrs. Stewart and Johnson, and ten chosen seamen in the yawl, Mr. Sulivan left us to examine the central islands of the archipelago. In continuing our course, we passed through several rip- plings, apparently caused by the meeting of streams of cur- rent which set along the shores of Chatham Island, from the east towards the west. If not so caused, they must be the effects of currents passing over very uneven ground, but we got no bottom, with fifty fathoms of line. When such appearances are created by shoals, it should be remembered that the shal- lowest place is generally under the smoothest part, close to the ripple. Favoured by smooth water and fine weather, we passed close to the low south-west extreme, and anchored directly that point was found to defend us from the swell. This part of the island is low, and very rugged. We landed upon black, dismal-looking heaps of broken lava, forming a shore fit for Pandemonium. Innumerable crabs and hideous iguanas started in every direction as we scrambled from rock to rock. Few animals are uglier than these iguanas ; they are lizard-shaped, about three feet in length ; of a dirty black colour ; with a great mouth, and a pouch hanging under it ; a kind of horny mane upon the neck and back ; and long claws and tail. These reptiles swim with ease and swiftness — but use their tails only at that time. At a few yards from the water we found vegetation abundant, though the only soil seen was a little loose dusty earth, scattered upon and between the