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

235i APPENDIX. spit, with several hummocks on it, and surrounded by rocks and breakers to the distance of a quarter of a mile. N. 21° W., nine miles and a quarter, is Point Rincon, having a large white rock oiF it; between these two points, in the latitude of 25.02 S., lies the village of Paposo, the most northern village on the coast of ChUe. This is a miserable place, containing about 200 inhabitants, under an Alcalde ; the huts are scattered, and difficult to distinguish, from their being the same colour as the hills at the back of them. Ves- sels touch here occasionally for dried fish and copper ore : the former plentiful but the latter scarce. The mines he in a S.E. direc- tion, seven or eight leagues distant : but are very httle worked. Wood and water may be obtained on reasonable terms; the water is brought from wells two miles off, and is difficult to embark. Vessels bound for this place should run in on a parallel of 25.05., and when at the distance of two or three leagues, the white islet off Point Rincon will appear, and shortly after the low white head of Paposo. The course should be immediately shaped for the latter ; for with that head hearings. S.E. , distant half a mile, is the anchorage, in from fourteen to twenty fathoms, sand and broken shells. Should the weather be clear (which is seldom the case), a rornid hiU, higher than the surrounding ones, and immediately over the village, is also a good guide. North twenty-three degrees west from Point Grande, at the dis- tance of twenty-three miles, is Point Plata, similar in every respect to Point Grande, terminating in a low spit, off which he several small rocks, forming a bay on the northern side, with from seventeen to seven fathoms water ; rocky, uneven ground. From this point to Point Jara, which hes north ten degrees west, fifty-two miles, the coast runs in nearly a direct line, a steep, rocky shore, surmounted with hills, from 2,000 to 2,500 feet high, and without any visible shelter, even for a boat. Point Jara is a steep, rocky point, with a rounded summit, and has on its northern side a snug cove for small craft; it is visited occasionally by sealing vessels, who leave their boats to seal in the vicinity. Water is left with them ; and for fuel they use the kelp, which grows in great quantity, as neither of these necessaries of life are to be had within twentj'-five leagues on either side ofthem. Nearly four miles due north from this point is the south point of the large bay of Moreno, or Playa brava, high and rocky, with a