FERNANDEZ, or JUAN FERNANDEZ, is the name of two islands in the Pacific Ocean, opposite to the western coast of South America, and about 32 leagues distant from each other. One of them, as lying farther off towards the west, is distinguished by the epithet De Afuera ; and the other, as being nearer the land, is called De Tierra. It is to the latter, that the name of Juan Fernandez properly ap plies, an appellation which it is supposed to have received from a Spaniard of that name, who resided upon it for some time, and afterwards removed to the continent. It is situated in 33° 40' S. Lat. and 79° W. Long. 110 leagues west from the coast of Chili ; and about 440 to the north of Cape Horn. It is of an irregular form, and is surround ed by a very steep shore, about five leagues in length from north-west to south-east, and only two in breadth. There are three harbours and bays in the island; but two of these, one on the west and another on the east side, are very much exposed, and have only about fourteen fathoms of water. The third, which is the largest, and is called Cum berland Bay, lies on the north-east coast; but the depth of the water, which is forty or fifty fathoms within half a ca ble's length of the shore, the badness of the ground, which is a tenacious mud, mixed with shells and gravel, and the want of protection from the north-east winds, render the anchorage extremely dangerous. The only security, though not always sufficient, is to sail up to the farthest part of the bay, and to moor with one anchor in the water, and another on the south-west shore. At a distance, the whole island appears like one entire rock, and is for the most part very high land. In the northern quarter, the moun tains are very lofty, steep, rugged, and almost inaccessi ble ; but it slopes away towards the south point, where a remarkable islet, or large detached rock, appears about half a mile from the main land. Upon approaching the coast, very deep and romantic vallies are perceived, inter secting the most mountainous districts, shaded with dif ferent kinds of trees, and covered with the richest verdure. The air is generally mild and serene. The heat of sum mer is moderate; the winter, which is never severe, lasts only during the months of June and July; and there is lit tle thunder or tempestuous weather at any season. Fresh water is not very abundant, but several streams fall from the higher grounds, the water of which is said to be re markably light, useful for creating an appetite, and among other medicinal qualities, very efficacious in removing in digestion. Copious dews at night, supply the want of rain, and preserve the trees and herbage in continual verdure. The land in the vallies, and on the acclivities of the lower hills, is a black fertile mould, capable by cultivation of producing grain and roots in abundance; hut, towards the south-west, where the country is low and flat, the soil is loose, dry, and stony. The vallies and northern sides of
the mountains are covered with trees; but the piercing violence of the south winds prevents their growth on the declivities in that direction. These trees are of various sorts, but chiefly aromatics, and many of them afford ex cellent timber. The myrtles are said to be the largest, and to be capable of yielding planks 40 feet in length. The pimento and the cabbage tree are found in some places, hut none of the American fruit trees, tvnich grow natural in the forests. Every part of the island is eyed with a sort of grass or straw, like the stalk of oats, which grows to the height of a man; and there is a great variety of es culent vegetables, especially antisco•butics, such as pur slane, water tresses, wild sorrel, turnips, and Swedish ra dishes.
The whole coasts of the island swarm with sea-wolves, or sea-lions, as the largest are sometimes called, on ac count of their having a mane on their necks. By the Spaniards they arc commonly named Lobos de .4cryte, or oil-wolves; because the vast quantity of fat ur blub ber of which their enormous body consists, makes them appear, when they move, like a skin full of oil. Vast shoals of fish also frequent the shores, particularly cod of a large size, very similar to that of Newfoundland; and the finest lobsters, often half a yard in length, may be taken in great abundance. The only quadrupeds found on the island are goats, the original breed of which had been set on shore by Juan Fernandez, and soon be came so numerous, as to furnish an excellent supply of provisions to the navigators of these seas. This and other advantages, which the island afforded for refitting, victual ling, wooding, and watering, rendered it the principal re sort of the Buccaneers, and other cruizers in those quar ters; and, in order to deprive them of the supplies which it afforded, the Spanish government sent a number of dogs, particularly grey hounds, for the purpose of exterminating . the goats. Great numbers still remain in the steep places of the mountains, where the clogs are unable to pursue them; but where they are equally inaccessible to the pi rates or the privateers. It has been observed of these dogs, that they never bark till they are brought together with others of their species ; when they begin to imitate them in a strange manner, as if learning a new acquire ment. No venomous creatures, or beasts of prey, or any other quadruped except these goats and dogs, have been observed on the island.