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

256 APPENDIX. runs down the side of the clifF into the sea. Landing is tolerably good : rafting seems to be the best method of watering. In coming from seaward, the best distinguishing marks for this place, are the Beagle Mountains, three in number, in the near range, each of which has two separate peaks on it ; these lie directly over the bay, and on closing the land, the rornid hiU on Sali- nas Point and the Island of San Martin to the northward, wUl be seen ; about midway between them is the Bay of Huacho, under a light brown cliiF, the top of which is covered with brushwood : to the southward the coast is a dark, rocky cMfF. N. 29° W., three miles and two-thirds from Huacho, are the Head and Bat of Carquin, scarcely as large as Huacho, and apparently shoal and useless to shipping ; off the Head, which is a steep cliff, with a sharp-topped hiU on it, are some rocks above water, and an islet about three-quarters of a mile distant. N. 31° W. three miles from this islet is the island of San Martin, and round to the northward of the point abreast of it, is the Bay of Bequeta. This is no place for a vessel, being full of rocks and breakers, and having nothing to induce one to go there. From this bay the coast is moderately high, with sandy outline, until you reach Point Atahuan- qui. This is a steep point, with two mounds on it, and is partly white on its south side : there is a small bay on its north side, fit only for boats. Between this point and the south part of Point Thomas the coast forms a sandy bay, low and shrubby ; with the town of Supe about a mile from the sea. Point Thomas is similar in appearance to Atahuanqui, without the white on the south side. To the northward of this Point is a snug little bay, capable of containing four or five saU; it is called the Bay of Supe, and is the port of that place and Barranca. There is a fishing village at the south part of it, which is used by the inhabitants of Barranca during the bathing- season. Hitherto it had been a forbidden port by the government : in consequence of which it is little known, and has had few opportunities of exchanging its produce for the goods of other countries. When we were there, little information could be gained as to the size of the neighbouring towns, and number of inhabitants they contain ; but from their appear- ance we thought they might be of considerable extent. These places produce chiefly sugar and com, cargoes of which are taken in the various little vessels that trade along the coast. Refreshments may