anuel Carroza by name, besides resembling the ark,
wore a polished brass knocker on its only door, which was painted
green. In front of this gorgeous entrance was a flag-mast all ataunto,
and near it a smart whale-boat painted red and blue, the delight of
the king's old age.

I of course made a pilgrimage to the old lookout place at the top of
the mountain, where Selkirk spent many days peering into the distance
for the ship which came at last. From a tablet fixed into the face of
the rock I copied these words, inscribed in Arabic capitals:

/*[4]
IN MEMORY
OF
ALEXANDER SELKIRK,
MARINER,
*/

/#
A native of Largo, in the county of Fife, Scotland, who lived on
this island in complete solitude for four years and four months. He
was landed from the <i>Cinque Ports</i> galley, 96 tons, 18 guns, A. D.
1704, and was taken off in the <i>Duke</i>, privateer, 12th February,
1709. He died Lieutenant of H. M. S. <i>Weymouth</i>, A. D. 1723,[A]
aged 47. This tablet is erected near Selkirk's lookout, by
Commodore Powell and the officers of H. M. S. <i>Topaze</i>, A. D. 1868.
#/

[A] Mr. J. Cuthbert Hadden, in the "Century Magazine" for July, 1899,
shows that the tablet is in error as to Selkirk's death. It should be
1721

The cave in which Selkirk dwelt while on the island is at the head of
the bay now called Robinson Crusoe Bay. It is around a bold headland
west of the present anchorage and landing. Ships have anchored there,
but it affords a very indifferent berth. Both of these anchorages are
exposed to north winds, which, however, do not reach home with much
violence. The holding-ground being good in the first-named bay to the
eastward, the anchorage there may be considered safe, although the
undertow at times makes it wild riding.

I visited Robinson Crusoe Bay in a boat, and with some difficulty
landed through the surf near the cave, which I entered. I found it dry
and inhabitable. It is located in a beautiful nook sheltered by high
mountains from all the severe storms that sweep over the island, which
are not many; for it lies near the limits of the trade-wind regions,
being in latitude 35 1/2 degrees. The island is about fourteen miles
in length, east and west, and eight miles in width; its height is over
three thousand feet. Its distance from Chile, to which country it
belongs, is about three hundred and forty miles.

Juan Fernandez was once a co