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

APPENDIX. 233 black rock lying oiFit ; andN. 26° W., twcntjr-two miles distant, is Point Davis (the south-west point of Moreno peninsula), which slopes gradually from Mount Moreno, and has two nipples on its extreme. Mount Moreno, formerly called George Hill, is the most conspi- cuous object on this part of the coast ; its summit is 4,060 feet above the level of the sea, sloping gradually on the south side to Point Davis, where it terminates ; and on the north more abruptly towards the barren plain on which it stands. It is of a light brown colour, without the slightest sign of vegetation, and has a deep ravine on its western side. Immediately under Mount Moreno is Constitucion Harbour, a small but snug anchorage, formed by the main land on one side and Forsyth Island on the other. Here a vessel might careen and undergo repairs without being exposed to the heaAy rolling swell which sets into most of the ports on this coast ; and the landing is excellent the best anchorage is oif a sandy spit at the north-east end of the island, in six fathoms water, muddy bottom ; farther out the hold- ing ground is bad ; it would be advisable to moor ship securely, as the sea-breeze sometimes sets in strong. In running in, the island, or weather side, should not be hugged too close, as a number of sunken rocks lie oft" the low cliffy points — some only being buo)'ed by kelp. A mid-channel course would be the best, provided the wind allowed of reacliing the anchorage before-mentioned : neither wood nor water are to be found in this neighbourhood — therefore provi- sion must be made accordingly. N. 8° W., twelve miles from this harbour, is Moreno Head, a steep bluiF, the termination of a range of table land, which runs in a line from Mount Moreno ; on the northern side of this head is Herradura Cove, a narrow inlet, running in to the eastward, with- out affording any shelter. N. 4° W., nine miles from tliis head, lies Low Point, with some sunken rocks lying off it, and five miles farther on is Leading Bluff ; this is a very remarkable headland, and with the hill of Mexillones, which lies a few miles south of it, is an excellent guide for the port of Cobija ; it is about one thousand feet high, and facing the north is entirely covered wth guano, which gives it the appearance of a chalky cliff. There is an islet about half a mile to the north-west, attached to the main by a reef of y