The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20

those left by thir predecessor, but lacking their
grand regularity OF direction, the latter being
cal significance than ''Ossa like a warts So CON-
mon ID the mistake Of confusing these two that per-
naps the majority o. Living geologists have never
text books ignore them completely. Speaking, for
example, OF the "Glacler OF the Connecticut Valley"
where the marks along that valley show clearly
that the glacier which produced them took no note
of the hills which border 1t and did not even follow
In general direction. Our opportunities OF showing
these differences have been many and 1t ia to be
hoped win result, through Professor Agassiz IN
Indebtedness which surround the subject.
THE SCENERY NEAR sHOLL BAY.
AZ the weather was SO nne, and as the chief at
went out and pursued our course In the direction
of Sholl Bay. The scenery was, il possible, more
cliffs either side rose steep and rugged rOm the
waters edge, and were washed here and there by
dark foreground appeared forest-ciad hills. rreen
with the beech or the winters-bark; and still
further, now fading into the sky as . cloud swept
before the sun, now shining out with binding bril-
lancy rose mountain ranges, bearing snow fields
such as we had not yet looked upon-incredible In
their magnitude. As we steamed along on that
afternoon we were for hours abreast single, con-
tinuOus range or cOrdillera covered with one
broken sheet ofsnow and ice, whose commencement
we could not see, and whose termination we had
reached when we ran into ShOll Bay at twilight
A heavy fog had commenced to settle, Obscuring
the entrance to the Pacific through a short, wide
channel to the westward, and hiding some OF the
neighboring islands, but beyond 1t we could hear
the ocean, while above Ii Mount Burney reared his
vast truncated cone, capped with snow and ice;
lesser peaks faded away in the distance and por-
ton Of our Illuminated snow field gttered near the
horizon. The next day Professor Agassiz, President
Hin and others OF the scientific party went shore
Immediately after breakfast with q boats crew.
under charge OF one OF the officers. During their
absence renewed trials were made from the ship OF
the sounding and dredging apparatus, the deep sea
thermometers and MOrses bathOmeter-all OF which
were quite satisfactory.
FUEGIAN VISITORS
yna on hal uph md ito nho fonto
the plants OF the adjoining woods and the geology
of the region having been completed, pre-
party for a return to the ship, when
the unexpected arrival OF q boatful OF Fueglans
presented. new ~. subject for Investigation The
nine children, the latter ranging from sucking
babe to boy some twelve or fourteen years Of age,
who had the only pleasant or intelligent face
among them. The men left the boat and advanced
toward the fire, which was built on the beach.
Their intentions were so evidently pacific that no
thought of alarm presented itself to any one They
ate greeaily OF the remains Of the lunch and then
became camorous for tGoac and gatleta crackers
Their vocabulary of English and Spanish words was
limited to about a half dozen, Of which the above
were the most frequently recurring. They showed
peating both words and actions An invitation,
conveyed to them by signs, to go of to the vessel,
was promptly accepted, and they followed our boat
out there, hanging on to the side for long while
after we had got under way. The boat In which we
found them was evidently an English yawl or jolly
boat, and was probably stolen by them from some
incauti0us merchantmen. 1t was their only means
rapid passage from place to place, and their only
substitute for a home; it was their town house and
their cottage their hospital and their nursery, their
bedroom, dining room ana kitchen their family
carriage and their hearse. 1t contained, in addition
TO the savages three line dogs OF breed allied TO
the inastln.
A Low ORDEn on PEOPLE
The whole party, men, women and children, were
very dirty, only half CG.od in pieces Of seal skin
and TO some OF US were rather repulsve in appear
anrc. We could discover none Of the grace, dig
nifty or wisdom of the mythical Indian-the mobile
red man''-in their contracted 1Orehcads and
sensual features, their ridiculous figures wit
swollen bellies and their arms and legs, and their
almost idiotic excitement over the tobacco and
trinkets which we threw them. As we looked down
ut them standing on the seats or gunwale Of their
boat, grasping with one hand whatever projections
they could find on the side of the vessel and -four
ishing the other wildly in the air with bows, arrows
skins, fish, everything they possessed, and jabber-
ing in hideOus concert their demands for 'tabac"
ana .galleta, II seemed hard to believe that there
existed any line OF demarcation between them and
socalled lower animals, and, indeed, they would
have suffered by comparison with their sagacious
during the uprOar AT last, finding that our speed
was making their position dangerous and that
they abandoned their hold on the vessel and were
soon left In the distance
About dusk we reached on anchorage at Otter
Island, not far from the foot of Mount Burney
The inaccuracies OF the published outlines of this
mountain and its snow fields were SO plainly visible
that an attempt was made to photograph IL, though
the sun was already on the horizon and the vessel
was swinging from the wind. We were, as antici-
pated, unsuccessful In producing picture, but our
result was sufficient to show the important point
that the snow line does not descend to within many
hundreds of feet of the level assigned to it, while
vegetation rises much higher 49,, ~ ~
SHOOTING STEAMER DUCK,
On March %, starting early IN the morning, we
proceeded On our way, with clear skies and fair
wea.aer taking leave OF Mount Burney, the Cor
dillera Of Sacramento, and other prominent points
in the landscape which had been In sight for several
lever of the engine snapped, owing to bad
flaw in the casting. 1t was thought safe,
we started again, and reached Mayne harbor late in
the afternoon. The following day was stormy, and
we rode at anchor while the accident which had oc-
the officers shot a steamer duck, the first we had
obtained. They are gigantic birds, weighing from
fifteen to twenty-five pounds, and measuring be-
tween three and four feet from the extremity OF the
bill to that Of the tail. Their wings short and
small, and, not having sufficient power to raise the
body, are used as paddles with seml-r0tary mo-
ton, which has given them their name. They pro-
pei themselves through the water In this manner
with astonishing swftness, certainly ten or twelve
miles an hour, possibly more, and on this account
were called "race-hors ducks by Captain Cook
and Others OF the old navigators who nourished be-
fore the advent Of steamboats,. They are said to
constitute striking link between the genera anas
and 0ptenOdytes"
On March 30 We started in the morning. intend
ing to reach Tom Bay, but were delayed by fog
about noon. We remained there the rest of the
day, occupied as usual. The next morning the
clustering and overcast. We now began to notice
comparative scarcity OF snow-capped mountains,
| the most prominent one which we passed being
valuable landmark called "Curious Peak" from it's
singular shape. Late in the afternoon heavy fog
descended over the channel, hiding completely al
landmarks, and rendering navigation difficult and
dangerous. One bay was entered, but found to
afford no anchorage, and at last, darkness having
overtaken US, one OF the officers went ashore on
small island and kept fire blazing all night, while
the vessel stood OF and on in the stream. At
early daylight the position was recognized and
we we're found to be of Topaz Island, In Trinidad
Channel, and Immediately started on one course,
anchoring early In the afternoon In Eden harbor,
charming little spot. The hillsides were watered
BY brooks and cascades and the place had an air OF
walls and barren cliffs of some of our latter pas
sages The following day we ran through fog and
rain up to quiet little anchorage, Conner Cove.
CAPTURING A BIG BIRD.
An amusing incident occurred that afternoon
after dinner. While some Of us were practising
with carbnes from the deck a large bird petrol like
in appearance, was seen swimming at little dis
lance from the ship. Several shots were fred at
him without any effect, until suddenly he turned
and, to our immense astonshment, sailed directly
towards the vessel, as II either challenging his
m do hair hanf IN rot ItnfiO nj