Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-26
THE GUANo 1sLANDs

Capt. Congdon, of the barque Harriet Thornton
recently from the Chincha Islands, communicates 7
/ the Providence journal q very readable account Q
the Islands the shipping that frequent them, tn
mode of; loading the vessels, and the kind OF lf
1 there, from which we make the following extract
/ Vessels allIoad at the Ice side of the island A
this time the guano has been removed from the edg
of the Island in places say one thousand feet. Kal
are laid and used to bring it to the edge OF the
rocks and dump it into large bins or shutes made
long poles interviewer with ropes and chains to sup
port Them wide at the upper ends and narrow at the
lower. These hold from one hundred to five hundred
/ TONS At the lower end gates or scuttles, an0
from these gates canvass bags of about two feel
in diameter leading to the ships and boats below
The ships are hauled close to the rocks and moored
off and on The hose are led at into the hatch
the gates above hoisted and you can imagine the
force with which it down through this hose OF
one hundred feet A thousand ton ship can be load
ed in forty-cight hours. Smaller bins arc used by
the boats, which all prefer, have much less
dust A ship under the spout or hose is completely
enveloped in a cloud of dust making it almost I'M
possible to exist on board. The guano is trimmed
away in the hold by natives with oakum tied over
their mouths and noses and wells over their eyes
this lets in the air and excludes the dust They can
only stay below from twenty to thirty minutes They
are in gangs of eight ten and relieve each other as
above. Every part of the vessel is penetrated with
this dust. 1t will go wherever smoke will. L can
compare it to nothing but so much dry ashes The
guano abounds in hartshorn and is said to be very
healthy and BENEFICIAL in some complaints
The vessels are all of one color from truck to wa
ter Not spear of grass, rush reed is to be seen
anywhere; no vegetable matter OF any kind on the
islands, Where the guanois now removed is per-
pendicular bank of about one hundred feet. In 1T
are found dead birds, even on their nests with
eggs under them. have seen several of them per-
feet in shape, still pure guano Most of them crum-
bic to the dust when exposed to the air. Layers OF
reeds and twigs to be found through the guano,
said to be brought there from the main land by the
birds for their nests. AS walk over the islands
we find holes innumerable These are the habita-
tons of the birds. With daylight they go seward
for food and return with darkness to spend the night
on the islands, They are of various kinds, pccans,
penguin, many of the duck species, &c. Seals and
sea-ons are seen in thousands sporting among the
rocks and ships, and baskng in the sun. Methinks
hear you say what place for cunning, and you
will no doubt be surprised when tell you have
not discharged my gun since sailed from New York.
The laws here are very rigid, not gun or pistol is
allowed to be fired on around the islands or on
board ship. penalty is exacted for every bird
killed; this has caused much trouble here. Still
parties go shore nights and rob the holes of their
inmates, generally two birds, something like our
mackerel gulls. They are said to eat very well, but
rather tishy. We find eggs at times in abundance,
yet these we are not allowed to touch.
The laws are strictly enforced not the seals
or sea-lions we allowed to shoot, but am hard
tempted at times. l sometimes my harpoon as
they swim around the ship, but when fast it is inn
possible to hold on, as lookouts stationed all a
round, and scarcely day passes without trouble in
certain number of lay days-about ten days for ev
cry one hundred tons. Most of US have to lay here
our days out. At daylight dozens of boats be
seen around the spouts waiting for loads. Daily
counts arc kept of each ships days and turns, so
many loads per day allowed them-say first
week two loads per day. second week three loads per
day, third week four loads per day. We are all sup
piled with boats. They hold from ten to twelve tons,
and generally ships long boats, sold to Peruvians
when they leave for home Laborers cannot now be
hired here at any price; we can only work our own
men.
One would imagine that it would be impossible to
exist in the clouds of dust. The all of one
color-you cannot tell white from black one
when at work in it. 1t is fun for sailors As
general thing never set of men more inter
ested for their employers than they in loading
Dur boats. They lay in it. roll and wrestle and at
times completely buried in it. These shutters
that lead into the vessels hold dangerous Cases
nave occurred where men have slipped in at the
mouth of the hose the guano went in or down,
and never again, or dead if found at all. At
lines, when there is much surf on | have seen the
nose out of the hatch and the guano go thirty
eet from the side of the vessel the bgness of the
nose. We supplied twice week, Wednesday |
md Saturday, from Pisco city, with fresh meat, veg
stables and fruits, by boatmcn who make quite
business of it. Fresh beef eight and half cents |
per pound fowls ten dollars per dozen, turkeys twen-
y-four dollars per dozen, pigs weighing twenty !
pounds three dollars, sheep four dollars each. Veg
,tables high, enough for weeks consumption
or of fifteen, say two dollars Every thing !
n the way of provision is high"