Travels of a Naturalist, etc

Front matter

OF A NATURALIST. BY A. BOUCARD. London, 1894. BOURNEMOUTH I Partly & Son, 8, she Triangle. I f%f\ V EL Lu OF A NATURALIST. A Record of Adventures, Discoveries, History and Customs of Americans and Indians, Habits and Descriptions of Animals, chiefly made in North America, California, Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Chili, etc., During the last Forty-Two Years. BY A. BOUCARD naturalist, Officier d'Academie, Knight of the Royal Military Order of the Conception, Knight Officer of the Royal Order of Cambodia, Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Isabel, Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society of London, of the Geographical Society of Lisbon, op the Museum of Madrid, Member of many Scientific Societies, Etc, Etc. London, 1894. TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE I.-II.

Chapter I

Departure from Havre — Tempest in the Channel — Harbouring in Weymouth — Nearingthe Tropics — Dead Sea — Wonderful Sunsets — Baptism of the Line — Crossing the Equator — Flying Fishes — Dolphins — Shark and Pilot Fishes — Sucking Fishes — Fishing Petrels — Giant Albatross — Cape Horn- Whalebone Whales — Cachalot Whales — Tempest — Juan Fernandez Island. . 1-9

Chapter II

Arrival at Valparaiso — Excursions in the Suburbs — Humming Birds — Gold Mines of Quillatas — Conquest by the Spaniards — Dutch Expeditions in Chili — Description of Chili — Boundaries — Topography — Climate — Earthquakes — Volcanoes — Lakes and Rivers — Actual Population — Santiago — Valparaiso — Mercantile Marine — Railroads — Commerce — Principal Articles of Importation and Exportation — Remarkable Animals — Llama and Alpaca — Chinchilla — Mole-Armadillo — Condor — Chilian Humming Birds — Chilian Insects — Future of Chili 10-22

Chapter III

Departure from Valparaiso — Islands of San Felix and San Ambrose — Phaeton and Frigate Birds — Bonito Fish — Eclipse of the Moon — Dorado Fish — Passage of the Tropic — Tunny Fish — Floating Varec — In Sight of San Francisco — Heavy Fog — Pelicans, Porpoises, Sea Lions, or Seals — Bay of San Francisco — Guillemots — Arrival at San Francisco 23-32

Chapter IV

San Francisco in 185 1 — Population — Frequent Fires — Summary Justice — Abundance of Rats — Commerce — Desertion of Sailors — Gold Placers — Exorbitant Prices of Certain Commodities — Gambling Hells in San Francisco — Free Fights — Murder of Successful Miners — Expeditions of Marquis de Pindray and Count Raousset Boulbon in Sonora — Death of Marquis de Pindray — Capture of Hermosillo — Death of Gamier — Battle of Guaymas — Execution of Raousset Boulborn — Magnanimity of General Yanez 33-44 VI CONTENTS.

Chapter V

Principal Buildings of San Francisco—Iron House— Chinese Consulate— Immigration of Chinese — Derbec — Collecting Objects of Natural Histor) — Humming Birds— Remarkable Animals peculiar to California.— The Californian Vulture- Elks— Bears — Californian Salmon— Insects peculiar to California— Giant Trees— Climate— Aspects of the Country 45-54

Chapter VI

History of California — Its Discovery by the Europeans — Several Expeditions to California — Spanish Missions — Extraordinary Size of Plants — Pearls — Russian Colony — Captain Sutter — His Biography and his Extraordinary Adventures 55-6i

Chapter VII

Battles between Mexicans and North Americans — Declaration of Independence of California — Colonel Fremont — Annexation of California by United States — Discovery of Gold — Sacramento — Gold Diggings — Modes of Extraction of the Mineral ........... 62-69

Chapter VIII

Departure from San Francisco — At Sea — Arrival at Acapulco — Acapulco — Its Population — Department of Guerrero — Principal Rivers — Pearl Fisheries — Chilpancingo — Ruins of Xochicalco — Quetzalcoatl — Expeditions of Cortez — General Alvarez — Pintos — Mineral Wealth . . . . . 70-82

Chapter IX

Sailing from Acapulco — At Sea — Arrival at Nicaragua — San Juan del Sur — Its Climate — Population — Tropical Forests — Luxuriant Vegetation — Animal Life — Birds and Butterflies — Transformation of Species — la Virgen — Lake of Nicaragua — Mountains of Ometepeque and Madera . . . . 83-90

Chapter X

Granada — The French Consul, M. Rouhaud — Nicaragua in 1852-1853 — Intermittent Fevers — How to Cure Them — Natural History of Nicaragua — Remarkable Animals found in Nicaragua — Howling Monkey — Humming Birds — Manakins — Rare Insects peculiar to Nicaragua — Vegetable Kingdom — Cacao and Siphonia Trees — Commerce — Mines Climate — Volcanoes — Rivers — Lakes — Principal Towns — Population . . . . . . . . . . 91-112 CONTENTS. VII

Chapter XI

History of Nicaragua — Its Discovery by the Spaniards — Their Expeditions — Gonzalez de Avila — Hernandez de Contreras Wholesale Slaughter of the Natives — Oviedo — Pedro de Alvarado — History of the Independence of Central America — Morazan — Presidents of Nicaragua — Civil Wars — Expedition of Walker — Walker — His Fall and Execution in Honduras — The Mosquito Kingdom ....... 113-125

Chapter XII

Projects for Opening Interoceanic Canals by Nicaragua, Panama, Darien, and Tehuantepec — Manuel Alfonso de la Cerda — John Bailly — Pierre Rouhaud — Napoleon Garella — Napoleon Bonaparte — Vanderbilt Company — What the South American Republics ought to do — Felix Belly — The Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua — My opinion about the Cost of Opening a Canal — Certainty of the Opening of the Panama and Nicaragua Canals in the Future. 126-137

Chapter XIII

Departure from Granada — The Lake — River San Juan — San Juan del Norte — Sailing from San Juan del Norte — At Sea — Arrival in New York — New York in 1853-1854 — International Exhibition of New York — Adelina Patti — Natural History of New York — Humming Birds — The English Sparrow — Population — Climate — Industry — Commerce 138-161

Chapter XIV

Is America part of the Atlantis of the Ancients ? — The first European Discoverers of that Continent — Prophecy of Tasso of the Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus — European Expeditions in North America — Discovery ot Labrador by Sebastian Cabot — John Verrazani, the first Discoverer of North Carolina and the harbours of New York and Newport — Discovery of Virginia by Captain Philip Amidas and Arthur Barlow, acting for Sir Walter Raleigh— Colonization of North America by the English 162-168

Chapter XV

First Settlements in New York by the Dutch — Wars between the Dutch and the English — Old Description of New Netherland and New Amsterdam — Of the Country and its Natives — Inhabitants — Their Customs — Vegetable and Animal Life — Mineral Ore — Definitive Occupation of New Netherland and New Amsterdam by the English — War of Independence— Treaty of Peace signed by the English and the North Americans — Declaration of Independence of the United States — George Washington elected President of the United States 169-178 CONTENTS.

Chapter XVI

Presidents of the United States since the declaration of its Independence : — Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William HenryHarrison, John Tyler, James H. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland ...... 179-203 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST. A Record of Adventures, Discoveries, History, and Customs of Americans and Indians, Habits and Descriptions of Animals, Chiefly Made in North America, California, Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Chili, etc., etc., during the last Forty-two Years. By A. BOUCARD.

PREFACE.

ALTHOUGH forty-two years have elapsed since I sailed from Havre to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, as I have kept a diary of all my peregrinations, I think the best plan is to follow the same, and to relate successively all the wonderful adventures and discoveries as they were made during this long period of time, which embraces some of the most wonderful events of the nineteenth century, such as the discovery of gold in California, resulting in the opening of an Interoceanic route, via Nicaragua. Immense loss of property in San Francisco, the result of frequent conflagrations, which have only been equalled since, by the great fire of Chicago, Gambling hells of San Francisco. Expeditions of Marquis de Pingret and Count de Raousset, Boulbon in Mexico. Murders, frequently committed on returning successful miners from California.

History of California, Acapulco, and Nicaragua, International Exhibition of New York, 1854. Epidemics of yellow fever in New Orleans, Habana, and Vera Cruz. History of Mexico. Reigns of Santa Anna, Comonfort, Alvarez, Zuloaga, Miramon, and Juarez. Mexican revolutions between the liberal and clerical parties, Intervention of England, France, and Spain in the affairs of Mexico. Occupation of Mexico by the French troops. Return to Europe. Second voyage to

PREFACE.

. Mexico. Reign of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico. Evacuation of Mexico by the French troops. Battles between Maximilian, Miramon, and Mejia, against Juarez and Escobedo. Capitu lation and tragic deaths of Maximilian and his faithful generals. Second return to Europe. Stay in Europe, International Exhi bition of Paris, 1867. Third voyage to New York, International Exhibition of Philadelphia, 1876. Excursions to Boston, Cam bridge, Niagara, Baltimore, Washington, etc. Scientific expedition in the Republics of Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicar agua, and Guatemala. History of these countries. Second visit to California. Return to New York, via Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Chicago. Third return to Europe, International Exhibition of Paris, 1878. Excursions in Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Second stay in England, International Exhibition of Paris, 1889, etc., etc. A.B. TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST.

Chapter I. At Sea

Departure from Havre — Tempest in the Channel — Harbouring in Weymouth — Nearing the Tropics — Dead Sea — Wonderful Sunsets — Baptism of the Line — Crossing the Equator — Flying Fishes — Dolphins — Shark and Pilot Fishes — Sucking Fishes — Fishing Petrels — Giant Albatross — Cape Horn — Whalebone Whales — ■ Cachalot Wales — Tempest — Juan Fernandez Island. W$ EMBARKED at Havre, on the 19th of January, 1851, gSHf in the sailing ship, TUnion, commanded by Captain Morley. From the 19th to the 26th we had very stormy weather, the rudder was broken, several yards were carried away, and we were compelled to put into the port of Weymouth to repair damages. A sad beginning for a voyage from Havre to San Francisco, round Cape Horn. We stayed at Weymouth five days. This was my first landing in England, the hospitable country, which, afterwards, I selected as a residence for many years.

In reading my diary, after forty-two years, I am very much amused with the juvenile remarks which I made then on Weymouth. The first thing I mention is that Weymouth is a pretty town, with picturesque green walks, from which a fine sea view is enjoyed. We went to the market, which was kept then on Wednesdays and Saturdays. On Saturdays, ladies finely dressed, were seen marketing, and I did consider it a very pretty and agreeable sight for visitors. As I have never been again to Weymouth, I don't know if it is still so. In the market we bought some fine and good apples, eight for twopence, which I thought cheap. We had a glass of beer at the Crown Hotel, and I made the remark that the ale was sweet and nice, and the porter very bitter and strong. I also noticed that the saloon was a fine room, and well heated, that there were no balconies to the houses, and lastly, my attention was called to the coaches ; as of very good make and fine appearance, with accommodation for about fifteen people, the outside being reserved for gentlefolks.

AT SEA 2 Having completed our repairs, we left Weymouth on the ist of February, with fine weather and a good breeze, which lasted until the 14th, during which time we made 1350 miles, leaving Madeira far back. During those days we saw many birds, porpoises, fishes, heteropods (Nautilus), and seaweeds, with large quantities of shells attached to them. During the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, we had very foul weather, and ran great dangers, all the passengers being sea-sick all these days, but fortunately, on the 19th the wind abated. We were then close to the Canary Islands, which coasts we saw plainly during several hours. Birds and tor toises were plentiful. Up to the 2nd of March we had beautiful and warm weather. On the 3rd of March we saw, for the first time, the Southern Cross, an indication that we were nearing the Equator.

Up to the 9th, the wind left off entirely, and, during that time, we lost many miles, carried away back by adverse currents. Nothing is more tedious at sea than a complete calm ; although I must say that I enjoyed it very much, fishing every day, notwithstanding the heat. We hooked many fishes, among which was one shark, measuring thirteen feet in length. It was rather an exciting scene to hoist the monster on board. When young, the flesh is eat able but not succulent. The one we caught was cut to pieces, the dorsal fin, skin, and jaw cleaned, and sold to a passenger as curiosities. Sticks are made with the dorsal fin. The vitality of these fishes is wonderful. After being cut into many pieces, the inside emptied of its contents, the head cut off, this last part retained sufficent strength to close its jaws on some objects if put into its mouth.

It is also prudent not to approach its tail, with which it can give a blow, strong enough to break arms or legs of the careless looker-on. To avoid these dangers, the tail is securely fastened, and a stick of some sort is introduced between the jaws during the pro cess of cutting and skinning. The skin is very hard, and can be used for the manufacture of bags and such like. These fishes are usually caught with a large hook baited with salted pork. On the evening of the 9th of March we had the mag nificent spectacle of a tropical sunset, which lasted about half-an-hour. The sky was covered with black clouds, lined with fiery gold and silver, and surrounded with every variety of colour, blue, rose, pink, orange, and red. Every minute or so there was a change of scenery, now representing animals of gigantic sizes, changing as oaygkly 'nto castles, cathedrals, BAPTISM OF THE LINE. 3 towns, mountains with snowy peaks, lakes, and the like, as in a kaleidoscope.

It is so magnificent that it must be seen to be believed. Some travellers say that the sun-rises are still more wonderful to look at, but for myself I can hardly see any difference between the beauties of both. We were enthusi astically admiring the conclusion of this grand sight, when we were disagreeably surprised by receiving on our heads showers of water, poured over by some sailors concealed among the yards, on the top of the masts. There was a momentary panic among the passengers, but it was soon ex plained to us that these showers of water was poured over by the assistants of Neptune, King OF THE Sea, to greet us with the welcome knowledge that the next day we were ex pecting to pass the Line, the domain of his Majesty the King, who forbade travellers to pass that part of his realm without being first baptised.

I think that this ancient custom, so dear and producive to sailors, is dispensed with now. This baptism is administered only once ; so the old hands, who knew all about it, had taken care not to be on deck with the other passengers. On the ioth of March, between 10 and 5 p.m., the sailors do nearly as much as they like. Knowing what is coming on, the passengers dress as scantily as possible. At 10 o'clock sharp the fun began by throwing water, flour, rotten eggs, and other missiles on the passengers and officers, who, including the captain, take part in the fun. Then a carnavalesque procession, headed by Neptune, strident in hand, and followed by Lucifer, policemen, verger, assistant carrying a basin of water, Father and Mother Line and followers, all of them in more or less eccentric costumes, made its appearance on deck and took position.

A letter was then delivered to the captain by Neptune's secretary, with the injunction to read it to the passengers, which was forthwith done. In this letter King Neptune offers his felicitations to the captain for the safe arrival of the ship in this part of his domain, and requests him to deliver all the passengers and sailors who have not passed the Line before, reminding him that those who should try to pass without receiving the usual baptism would be condemned to be thrown overboard at once as food for the sharks. Of course, no one being willing to undergo that fate, all consented to be delivered into King Neptune's hands and receive the usual baptism. Then one by one was conducted to a mock chapel, erected on empty barrels, where those of wild tempers are rather badly treated, first by being shaved with a. AT SEA 4 gigantic wood razor, anointed with tar in guise of soap, after which ceremony, by cutting a rope maintaining your chair, standing over a barrel full of dirty water, you fall inside taking an involuntary dirty bath.

Then it is the turn of another, until all the passengers and sailors have undergone the same ceremonial. During all that time there is a con tinual throwing of buckets of water, flour, eggs, etc., on one another. At 5 o'clock it concludes, and all go to wash and dress for a gala dinner, with champagne and other delicacies, which is usually given on that day, which ends with a comedy of some sort, acted by sailors and amateurs willing to help. As a rule this day of carnival is rather enjoyed by all, as, by giving a piece of four shillings to Father Line, you can escape from the worst parts of the day's proceedings. For my part I must confess that I did enjoy it thoroughly, these showers of water being rather agreeable with the hot temperature as we had on that day. On our ship all went well, and even the ladies took an active part in the fun of the day ; but some times it happens that some of the passengers are not willing to part with their four shilling piece or oppose themselves to the baptism.

In that case they are generally overpowered by the sailors and come out the worse for it. On the 14th of March we felt the shock of a submarine earthquake. On the 15th, we crossed the Equator with a good breeze and splendid weather. Fish were plentiful, and many were harpooned. On the 21st we met the English ship Ellen, with whom we spoke. Flying fishes (Exocætus volitans) , were very abundant. It is one of the most extra ordinary sights of the tropical seas. The power of flight possessed by these fishes is not very great ; but they can fly to a distance of about one hundred yards, and frequently fly so high that they fall on the deck of ships. This happens often enough when persecuted by large fishes, such as dolphins, albicores, and others. We also saw many sharks (Galeocerdo arcticus) , some of a very large size.

They were usually surrounded by pilot fishes (Naucrates ductor). This last fish is about the size and shape of the mackerel, and is marked with dark blue transverse bands passing round the body. Its name of pilot fish is derived from the belief that sailors have, that it acts as a pilot, directing sharks were to obtain a good meal. Certain it is, that when sharks are about the ship, there the pilot fishes are also, swimming round about and underneath them with perfect impunity, a good under standing existing apparently between them. Another fish DOLPHINS. 5 which we have always found attached to sharks, is the sucking fish (Echeneis remora) . This genus of fish is distinguished from all the others by the top of its head being flattened, and occupied by a laminated disc, composed of numerous trans verse cartilaginous plates, the edges of which are spiny and ■directed obliquely backwards.

By means of this apparatus, these fishes are able to attach themselves to ships, large fishes, and the like. In some countries, the inhabitants make use of these fishes to capture turtles. A ring is fastened to the tail, and a rope being attached to it, the sucking fish is carried out by the fishermen in their boat in a vessel of water, and thrown into the sea, where turtles abound. In endeavouring to make its escape, the fish attaches itself to the nearest turtle, and both are handed in together. Another fish, which was very abundant, and often harpooned for the delicacy of its flesh, was the dolphin (Cory phaena hippurus) . It is a brilliant golden fish about four feet in length, and is so swift in its motions, that it darts through the water like a radiant meteor. We have often seen them swimming round our ship when at full speed.

Its dorsal fin is light blue, with golden reflections, the tail-fin and the body are green, and the belly is of a silvery lustre, separated from the back by a yellow lateral line. When swimming swiftly in the water there is an extraordinary display of colours upon it, and at night the effect is simply marvellous. After being caught, and shortly before dying, it presents a remarkable change of colour. The dolphins live chiefly upon the flving fishes. It is a grand sight to see, when a shoal of dolphins are in chase. On the 26th of March, by 30.20 of latitude, and 30.40 of longitude, we sighted Trinidad Island, and shortly after the rocks of Martin Vas. On the 1st of April we were near Rio Janeiro, the capital of Brazil. The heat was intense. Numerous gulls were hover ing round the ship. On the 10th we saw some white pigeons, and on the 15th some petrels for the first time.

During the night of the 1 6th we were overtaken by a tempest, which lasted twenty four hours. Two sails were carried away, and the great yard was broken. On the 1 8th we saw immense shoals of sardines, and a large quantity of Cape pigeons (Daption capensis) , feeding upon them. On that day we had a very particular enjoyment, AT SEA that of catching these birds with fishing lines ! They were very easily caught by baiting the hooks with salted pork. Scarcely had the line reached the water when many of these birds pounced on the baits, and one was caught, the hook penetrating in its upper mandible. Then it was an easy task to hoist it on board. We skinned several specimens. The Cape pigeon, or Daption capensis, is a bird belonging to the family of petrels, or Procellaridae. It is snow-white, beautifully spotted with brownish black.

Hence their vulgar name, draught, or damier in French. The flesh of these birds is oily, and has a bad taste, nevertheless the sailors eat it. On the 21st, we saw for the first time some albatrosses, or Cape sheep, as they are vulgarly called by sailors. We fished one of them, and made a fair skin of it. The albatrosses, the largest sea-birds known, belong also to the same family of Procellaridae. Many species are known; but the two usually metwith in the South Atlantic are the Diomedea culminata and the giant albatross, or Diomedea gigantea. They are especi ally characterized by their beak being as long as their head, formed of several pieces and sharply hooked at the tip, their nostrils tubular at the base or on the side of the bill, their hind toe elevated and consisting merely of a claw, and the tarsi being reticulated, and usually shorter than the middle toe.

They are oceanic birds, and generally found at sea at great distances. Their flight is rapid and powerful, and apparently they can keep it for days and nights together. When the sea is agitated, and the winds high, is when many are seen, seeking their food in the midst of the agitated waves. Sometimes they are seen resting on the waves, and it is with difficulty that they can take their flight again. They live chiefly on f shes, crustaceae, and carcases. They seldom seek the land, except at the breeding season, when they build their nests in the holes of rocks. The flesh is a very poor eating. From the bones of the wings, sailors make pipe stems. The palms of the feet are made into tobacco pouches, and very good pillows and quilts are made with the feathers. The heads are kept as curiosities.

The specimen we caught was about thirteen feet wide from the extremity of one wing to the other. On the 22nd, we sighted PATAGONIA, Cape Blanc, and Pingouin's Islands were distinctly visible. In the evening we passed the Gulf of St. George. We saw many birds, vulgarly catted fools (Sula bassana), and many stormy petrels (Procel laria pelasgica) , called satyrics by the sailors. This is the smallest known species of petrels. Seven species are known, WHALEBONE whale. 7 all of them very much alike, sooty black in colour, scarcely larger than a sparrow. They have the faculty of running lightly on the surface of the water, and with considerable rapidity. Hence the derivation of their name petrel, the navigators comparing them, on account of their habit of walking on the surface of the water, to St. Peter.

Peterrill being a diminutive of Peter. It is very amusing to watch them when doing that exercise. Alike the other petrels they are voracious, and are easily caught with hooks. We secured several specimens, which were made into skins. On the 26th of April, we sighted Tierra DEL FUEGO and the Bay of San Sebastian. The weather was getting cold, and winter dresses came handy. On the 29th, we sighted Bell's Mountain, which is 1,250 feet high, New Island, Cape of San Diego, and Cape of Good Success, all of them belonging to the Straits of Lemaire, bv which we wanted to cross to the Pacific Ocean, but, unfortunately, the bad weather that we experienced in these parts did not permit it. Up to the 4th of May we had very rough weather. On the 4th of May, which was a Sunday, we sighted at last the celebrated Cape Horn.

It is a rock of several hundred feet in circumference, and seeming to rise about 50 feet over the sea. It is usually covered with snow. On that day we saw our first whale. It was a grand sight for me. The species seen was a specimen of Balaena australis, or whalebone whale. This animal belongs to the class Mam malia ; order, Cetacea ; family, Balaenidae ; and genus, Balaena. They are marine, viviparous, suckle their young as other mammalia, respire by lungs, and have distinct separate blow-holes. They have warm blood, and have no teeth ; these are replaced by plates of baleen, the well-known article of commerce. This family contains the whales known by the name of whalebone whales, which are of immense size, reaching sometimes fifty feet in length. About twelve species are known. The name Balaena is derived from the Phœnician word Baalman, which means, but incorrectly, the King of Fishes.

It reigns over the in numerable tribes of marine animals. One of the peculiarities of the whales is the blowing of steam that they eject when in the act of breathing. This column of steam, which rises to a good height, has usually been erroneously taken for water. The head of this whale is of great size, being a third, and sometimes more, of the whole body, and the upper jaw is AT SEA furnished with plates of a horny structure, arranged trans versally in rows of a triangular shape, and having their edges armed with long thread-like processes which hang loose in the mouth. These plates are from eight to ten feet long, and number about 300 on each side. These are the baleens, a valuable article of commerce, which sells in Euro pean markets from £200 to £300 per ton. Another important article of commerce procured from these whales is the oil, of which many thousand tons are annually brought to Europe : but lately this trade has somewhat decreased, in consequence of the scarcity of these mammals, which is felt more and more every day.

Its food consists of small marine animals, crustaceae, molluscs, medusae, etc., the narrowness of its gullet preventing the passage of larger animals. With its bones harpoons and spears are made, and very good fishing lines with the threads of the whalebones. As a rule, it is a very quiet and tranquil animal, but when wounded, becomes quite furious, and very dangerous to approach. Its strength is prodigious, and occasionally, sailors, when fishing these animals, have been overturned, boat and all, and sometimes with loss of life. On the 7th May, we sighted the ISLAND OF DiEGO Ramirez. It was excessively cold. Both water and oil were frozen. On that same day we sighted HERMITE'S ISLAND, explored in 1624 by the Dutch Admiral l'Hermite. The pro longation of these Islands is what forms the land known now a-days on the maps, as Cape HORN.

It was discovered by M.M. William Corneliszon and Jacob Lemaire in 16 15. It is situated in 55.58.41 latitude, and 69.30.17 longitude west. We sighted also Ildefonsos and Boat's Islands, and we ran great dangers between these islands, which is a very dangerous passage for ships. We met an English sail going in the same direction as ours. On the 9th of May, we met large quantities of whales, Cachalots or sperm whales, and whalebone whales. There is a great difference between these two mammals, which belong to two distinct families. The cachalot (Physeter macro cephalus) is distinguished from the whalebone whale by not having baleens, or whale bones, which are replaced by numerous conical teeth, the upper portion of the skull is more or less symmetrical. The external respiratory organ is single, the two nostrils uniting before they reach the surface, and usually in the form of a transverse crescentic valvular aperture, situated over the top of the head.