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. 245 larity of the cliffs by which it is bounded, has the appearance of a work of art. W. 6° N., at the distance of six leagues, is the valley of Camana ; the coast between is nearly straight, \^^th alternate sandy beach and low broken cliff, the termination of the barren hills immediately above. Camana is from two to three miles broad, near the sea ; and apparently well cultivated : the village is situated about a mile from the sea ; but is scarcely perceptible, being small, and surrounded by thick brushwood. On approaching from the eastward, a remarkable cliff, resembling a fort, will be seen near the sea ; this is an excellent guide till the vaUey becomes open. There is anchorage in ten or twelve fathoms, muddy bottom, due south about a mile ; but landing would be dan- gerous. W. 18° N., twenty-three miles, is the the valley of OcoSa, the next remarkable place ; it is smaller and less conspicuous than the former ; but similar in other respects. An islet lies at its southern extreme, and several rocks near the extreme of the chff, on its eastern side. W. 11° N., fourteen miles, is a projecting bluff point called Pesca- dores, it has a cove on itsea^t side surrounded by islets ; and off the point, at the distance of three quarters of a mile in a southerly direc- tion, lies a rock barely covered: to the westward of the point is a bay but no anchorage ; the coast then runs in nearly a direct line until you reach Point Atico, a rugged point, with a number of irregular broken hillocks on it, barely connected vrith the coast by a sandy isthmus. At a distance it appears like an island, the isthmus not being visible far off: there is tolerable anchorage in nineteen or twenty fathoms on its west side, and excellent landing in a snug cove at the inner extreme of the point. By keeping a cable's length off shore, no danger need be feared in running into this roadstead. The valley of the same name Ues a league and a half to the eastward^ where are about thirty houses, scattered among the trees, that grow to the height of some twenty feet. From this point the coast conti- nues its westerly direction (low and broken cUff, with hills imme- diately above) until you reach Point Capa, where a bay commences that runs as far as Point Chala ; in it there are several coves, but none that could be serviceable to shipping. Point Chala bears from Point Atico W. 20° N. and distant sixteen