Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-01-05
III miscellaneous.
H GUANO ISLES.

th cir outward appearance, lying under the cloud
lees and searching rays Of ths sun; and never since
the days Of the flood have their submits been
moistencd ly a drop OF rain, are to-day the mines
Of the once famous land Of gold. These locks are
called lie Chinca Islands. ~ fleet Of vessels CON
stahtly surround these isles like vu!tures around a
carcass to lear away their choicest portions, namely,
the Guano which aiouuds on them, and which are
TO restore tho broad acres Of foreign lands to their
prist ne fertility. Tho amount on the two Lobos-
which, 10y the way, were figured on maps and
charts MS early as the sixteenth century is com-
paratively uuimpoltant. The most valuable guam o
il obtained from the Chine s. Those who So /
from Callao tgr the Chincts pass n large island, Shit.
Called, whose Gu I'll is P.sco. fam Va for its whis'
key which is we'll known Throughout the whole
south sea. A few nautical miles farther on, and
every ore who is I blessed with nm o~lfnctory nerve
becomes inv0luntariiy aware of lhe fact tn at he
is in the vicinity Of a large deposit of guanO.-
Every length that the vessel plOughs through
the waves the odur becomes more and more pier
cling.
These three rocks lie almost in a direct line
north and s1utb, are respectively one and two
nautical miles apart. The guano on the Southern
one has nos been disturbed. whilst the Northern
one has been almost entirely stripped, and ships
nre now receiving their ca rgpcs from the middle
one. The sides OF these islands are very steep,
mud arc somewhat conical IN shape. All the cleits
and valleys of these isles are comparatively cover
cd with guano, so that they present the appear
Rnce of abrupt or truucated cones. The thickness
Of the guHnu is therefore various; in some places
not over s to 10 inches. in others, it attainsa thick
ness Of more than 100 feet Although each of
these rocks are about two miles in circumference
yet the stock OF Cunno is almost Incredible
Estimates. Of :cursc, arc, in THEN very nature, un-
reliable, but Notwithstanding they are the nearest
approximations to the truth without actual meas
urement tAat can lie obtained, and in accordance
with the usual method If making such estimates,
the guano on the threo isles has been estimated at
cC0,JCO,(C0 tons. To remove it all Mt The same
rate that ii is removed Mt present would re-
require a period of 100 years, and at the present
rates these islands arc worth millions Of money.
We know that even under tbs lncas the Pc
ruvians had 4 knowledge Of its ferlilizing proper
ties, and applied it for that purpose and that
the Spaniards obtained this knowledge from
them, but were to inIOleat to apply it in practical
life.
The word guano is undoubtedly Of Indian orr.
gin, huaaa, meaning animal manure; it was cor
rupted by the Spaniards in huaRo, and by the
English accent of the strongly as7irated h into
gUdHO. Guam is found along the entire South
American coast even to Cane Horn, but that of the
Chincas is the most desirable because it lies in the
ralniess district.
Landing at the Chincas, We approach them by
n narrow strip of sandy beach much to the discon-
future Of the inhabitants, namely the Peicans AND
Flamingos.
Over head we observe n Perfect cloud of Peli-
cans, s~waying hither and thither, suddenly some
one Of the lock drops down perpeDdicularly as
though n bullet had passed through its head,
down, down 1t drops into the water then Suddenly
it scars upward again bearing a struggling fish
in its enormous bill. Farther from the shore we
find innumerahle Sea Gulls, Toucaus, together with
an endless variety of the ieathered tribe. Upon
an isolated rock we find the Penguin; the Pastor,
rs the sailor have dubbed him, because he wears a
black coat and white cravat, and on account of his
rcvcrenlial demeauor. His short chubby feet
placed so low down the body certainly, do not be-
speak mirth and activity, therefore he sits for many
hours at a time upon u solitary rock, apparently
wrapped in deep meditation, and inactive that one
is led tn believe that he would readily suffer him
self to be taken. But 20 sooner does the boat
strike the shore, than he gives us ocular demon
station OF his powers Of flight, dives in the ocean.
and rises ut several hundred yards distance. AZ
ter stumbling over the skeletons of several sea lions
We reech the guano. and in a few moments more
we aIcia.9 j Up % the knees. You observe it lies
in regular strata like rock-tho lower beng more
compact than Ike upper ones in consequence Of the
pressure. ynG have Il more dark red color than the
uppcr ones.
Ca lie surface Of it is Of a brownish color and
has l bard crust, baked 10y Tie burning rays of
the sun. This crust is filled with nests, e~gGshells,
ribs, and other animal remains, so that it much re-
soHhies 4 largo honey comb. After Il difficult as
CEN over u very uriuviting Path, We reach the
capiia al 81 The i>lnUd, which consists Of 20 or 30
miserable tents, constructed Of four poles aud some
grass lts, The household furniture consists OF
sayara! roughly made benches and dirty pots.
The beds are made OF grass mats. Very little at
tenjIon j. paid 90 the wardrobe. An old pdRchO
and a pair Of torn calico truwscrs are worn iy the
elite, while the mass OF he residents are absolutely
naked. \ someHhHt more comfortable hut is oc-
cupied hy two English sailors. The commandant,
an elderly scut,efhcn or decided military appear
gnce spurts a cabin window in his hut. Similar
residences arc found scattered over the islands.
The a-g re. ATE Of llGorcrs is from two to three
lund.el: rriucipaiiY Indians, who appear to DC
well satisfied with tleiv lot, from the fact that they
receive very hi-h wages although everything
around them their food not cXceptcd-is highly
impreana,ed with c,auo. In lie day they may
be found s!ecyiag in their tents, or ~loungiug about
smoking and at ui1htthoy perform their labor
:iis is done on account Of excessive heat. When
these lljurs find thcm.elycs in possession of a sur
plus amount Of money they take n trip to Pisco,
and there coHduct themselves much in the same
styls That tls DO when thew make mort from a