The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-11


I'm 1900
From a Narrative of Voyages and Travels, by
| Captain Amasa Delano, published at Boston In
| lSi7, we make the following extract, which may
| be found on pages 524, 526, 526, SIT:
In Samuel Purchases Pilgrimage, published in
| 1912, two hundred and forty years ago, we read
| (p. 6l5) as follows:
=" Some birds there are, of rich oommoditie,
| onely by their dung. In some Hands belonging
to Peru the mountaines are all white, like snowe,
which is nothing but heapes Of dung OF certain
Sea fowie which frequent those places II riseth
many elles, yea many launces in height, and Is
| fetched thence in boates, to hearten the earth,
| which hereby is exceeding fertile"
| This extract does not necessarily refer to the
Lobos Afuera but 1t shows plainly enough that the
existence and value Of guano WIS known two hun
dred and forty more years ago, and that u was
even then used on the adjacent coasts for "hedrf-
esing'' the soil, or, in other words, as q manure,
| On the 9th Of March, 1906, we took our hnai
leave OF Lima land steered our course to the north
ward down the coast as far as the Lobos Islands.
| We saw no dangers. any thing worthy OF men.
| tionng during the passage. The southern Looos
Island, which ia called by the Spaniards Lobos de
Mer, (dog ofthe sea,) lies in latitude % So SOUTH
| longitude S0o 40 west, as taken from the Naoai
Gazetteer, and believe it correct; the latitude 10
! our own. 1t has good harbor on the northwest
side. II wishing to make this haIoor, Il cannot NOV
| be missed by keeping to the southwark OF the
island, and running to the westward round It's
south end, then hauling to the northward until the
bay opens, and beat into it and anchor in eighteen
1
for rock that lies in the norhery part Of the bay
| and has not more than eight feet of water on
it. ! have seen the sea break on this rock I,
which lies nearly between the two outer points OF
| the bay on working in, but nearest to the north
side; consider it very dangerous IL q ship should
happen to strike on it. This harbor ia very cafe
after being once in. II would be best to warp high
in fifteen fathoms This island is divided by the
inlet that forms the harb0r which the water goes
through. and think that it is deep enough for
ship to pass. but ia too narrow. ship should
keep of from the eastegy part OF the island as enc
passes for have seen break in several places in
that direction when blowing fresh. There is a
number of small islands and rocks lying in all di-
1 rections round the large island; but do not know
of any dangers that have not here mentioned,
except what show themselves. There is plenty OF
good fish round this island; there likewise eggs
and some seal on it, which is all it affords
The northern Lobos, or Lobos de Terre, (dog OF
the land) is in latitude g 80 SOUTH and longi ude
800 49, west from the Naunl Gazetteer, which think
to be right There are several kind OF bays round
this island that good to anchor in, but the bot
tom ia very foul. think q bay on the very north
ely part of the island is the best place to anchors it
il formed by considerable long Island to the west
of it, which very nearly connects itself with Lobot
de Terre. Its south end forms the south ano
west parts of the harbor, and 1T may always be
, known by large rock, or small island, lying Il
the northeast oft; and ia the north extremity o
the island. On wishing to anchor in this bay, tn
vessel must be worked we'll into the head Of it, anc
then care must be taken to find the clearest place
to moor the chip in. The bay il delightful, being
smooth water, and the beach level and pleasant
but the outer part of it s very foul ground in which
it must not be thought of letting an anchor go un
less it be to prevent ship from running shore
This island is much larger than the other Lobos
and more level, and has not 80 many rocks ant
islets lying round it, II affords seals, eggs, ant
fish, and all other advantages that the other isant
does. There two or three other anchorine
places that are tolerably SAFE One little furthe
to the southwest than the first place described
which is just to the westward OF the long narrow
island Its longest way is from north to south, and
as before stated, lies little to the westward o
where we lay. On the south side Of Lobos de Teri
il one or two little sand bays where vessels ma,
anchor. Il.
These islands lie about seven or eight league
3 from the main land of Peru, and always plain
. to be seen in clear weather. The native Indian
. go to these islands from the main to catch fish
They go over on what is called cattamaran
: which is formed by number of large logs lashet
, together; being OF light kind of wood, it swim
+ very buoyant. These logs are from twenty t
forty feet long, and from fifteen inches to two fee
diameter; and secured by small spars lashet
! across, which keeps them little distance apart
There is crib work raised in the middle, four fee
high to secure the masts, which are stepped in tn
: bottom logs There is also short bowsprit rigge'
out at one end anda large square-sail little mar
rowest at the head which ia set by means OF var
made fast to it, and the halyards attached to tn
= yard one-third of the distance from the end, tn
longest part of the yard above and abaft the mast
the foot Of the sail being wider than the head; on
corner or the tack oft Is hauled down to the end
the bowsprit, and the other ia hauled aft il
, the manner of ships main sheet. They are steere
! by means of large slabs that are put through be
tween the logs, that hold the water like lee boards
In this kind ofcrait they beat to wndward for man
= degrees up, sail down the coast, and stretch Of
Thisis the principal craft that the Indians have
: transport any thing by water with. They hav
. likewise skin which they fill with wind, on whic
d they sometimes go off TO catch fish. Two OF thes
Io1r, vnI Nv In hpvrv HAM tors Thar n m
4 placing small board across them, on which the
. paddle off mile or two, and catch fish quite com
tortably; these are always called bollsys, and tn
: large kind. made Of logs are sometimes called
Islands, at particular seasons, in great numbers
with their bollsys, fishing trip; stay one or tw
weeks, and always behave with the greatest propr
1 city and civiEty They we're very kind to me, an
I. would often bring vegetables from the main. The
were obliged to bring fresh water for their own use
g those islands do not afford any, or any kind
vegetable all their surface being sand, sun burne
rocks, and thousand of shp-loads of birds feccs
i There are here, as on many other islands, vas
!, numbers of different kinds Of oceanic birds, tn
e most of which are fit for other use but that
t eggs and manures There WINS one kind however
: that never saw before, which were an exceller
: bird We called them razor bills, as their bills re
, sembed that instrument more than any thing
/, could compare them with. The upper part of it we
e ches shorter, shaped likea two-edged sword, an
2 the two edges, when brought together, came ex
acty edge to edge; that any thing could be hel
e between them as we'll as with pair of shears. A
the upper part next the head, they shaped o
t to form mouth like other birds. The color Of th
n bird is black, and are sand bird. They Away
in focks, and are shy and not very plenty. The
r are as large as one OF our teal.
!, The land is moderately elevated, having lnrg
i plains of level white sand, on which the large
J. birds form rookeries, which to view with spy
1 glass at distance had pleasing appearance, an
Q gave rise to a comparison that was made use OF b
!, our people after, viz Bonaparte's and SuwaI
rows armies One kind of them are called Doc
bies, and always keep together in rookeries. The
Q have very white breast and neck, and also roun
Q the fore part of its head, running round by III
10 eyes The back part of it's head and back is bacl
9 which gives it military appearance at distance
. these we called Bonaparte's army. The otbt
10 kind were peiicans, extraordinarily large, whic
: keep likewise together in rookeries, although til
peicans in general lay their eggs in nests on tre
II and in bushes; these we called Suwarrow's arm,
9 They move about holding up their heads, maxim
y droll and majestic appearance, sometimes in pc
o feet order. The sight Of them very amusing
n and helped to beguile dull moment of anxio'
II thoughts
Q, PINE LuMBER.-A summary statement of lumb
:. surveyed at Bangor during the month Of Augu