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

496 IGUANAS TAGUS COVE RIPPLES. Oct. is a dirty orange red, inclining to reddish brown above and yellow beneath. These reptiles burrow in the earth like rab- bits, and are not bad eating. Of the black kind a vast num- ber run about the rocks near the sea, living either upon fish or sea-weed. As we went afterwards in a boat along the ragged irre- gular shore, we saw numbers of turtle. There are small sandy beaches here and there, to which these animals approach in the evenings : when, as it gets dark, they land and usually lie on the beach during the night, even if it is not the season in which they seek a place for their eggs. From a height near Tagus Cove dismal indeed was the view, yet deeply interesting. To see such an extent of country over- whelmed by lava, to think of the possible effects of the seven dormant volcanoes then in sight, and to reflect that at some one period all was activity and dreadful com])ustion where we then witnessed only silent desolation, was very impressive. 2d October. We passed this day and the following night in Banks Bay. On the 3d, Mr. Mellersh returned, having exa- mined Elizabeth Bay and the western shore of Narborough Island. We then went round the north-west end of Albemarle Island, and passed the night under sail off the north ex- treme. At daybreak, on the 4th, we made all sail towards Abingdon Island, which is small, rather high, and tolerably covered with stunted wood ; we did not maintain a posi- tion even near where I wished to pass the night, but were car- ried about forty miles away, dead to leeward, during only a few hours of light wind. The cun-ent hereabouts runs between one and four knots an hour to the north-westward, yet the depth of the water is unfathomable by ordinary means excepting for which it is like a vast river in the sea. 5th. While working to windward, endeavouring to regain our lost ground, we saw Bindloes Island : and passed through many ripplings, some of them dangerous for a boat ; these were northward, and rather eastward of Abingdon. During the 6th, other indications of a strong current were noticed, besides rip- plings such as these, which, in very deep water, and in the open sea, are difficult to explain : sometimes at night, while all