deg. 40'S. [long. 77 deg. 30'
W.] one hundred marine leagues or five degrees of longitude from
the continent of Chili. It is said to have received its name from a
Spaniard who formerly procured a grant of it, and resided there for
some time with the view of forming a settlement, but abandoned it
afterwards.[1] On approaching its northern side from the east, it
appears a large congeries of lofty peaked mountains, the shore in
most places being composed of high precipitous rocks, presenting three
several bays, East bay, Cumberland bay, and West bay, the second only
being of any extent, and is by far the best, in which we moored. The
island itself is of an irregular triangular figure; one side of which,
facing the N.E. contains these three bays. Its greatest extent is
between four and five leagues, and its greatest breadth something
less than two. The only safe anchorage is on the N.E. side, where, as
already mentioned, are the three bays; the middlemost of which, named
Cumberland bay, is the widest and deepest, and in all respects by much
the best; for the other two, named East and West bays, are scarcely
more than good landing places, where boats may conveniently put casks
on shore for water. Cumberland bay is well secured to the southward,
and is only exposed from the N. by W. to the E. by S. and as the
northerly winds seldom blow in that climate, and never with any
violence, the danger from that quarter is not worth attending to. This
last-mentioned bay is by far the most commodious road in the island,
and it is advisable for all ships to anchor on its western side,
within little more than two cables length of the beach, where they may
ride in forty fathoms, and be sheltered, in a great measure, from a
large heavy sea which comes rolling in, whenever the wind blows from
eastern or western quarters. It is expedient, however, to _cackle_ or
arm the cables with an iron chain, or with good rounding, for five or
six fathoms from the anchor, to secure them from being rubbed by the
foulness of the ground.[2]

[Footnote 1: In the original, the description given of this island
refers to large engraved views, which could not be inserted in our
octavo form, so as to be of the smallest utility.--E.]

[Footnote 2: Cumberland bay is called _La Baya_ by the Spaniards, who
seem now to have established a fort here. East bay is by them called
_Puerta de Juan Fernandez_. There is yet a fourth bay, or small
indentation of the coast, wi