The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22
AGlSSIZ'S EXPEDITION.
The Professors Survey of the Coast and
SOundingS of the Deep.
THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN.
Our Ancestors, The Marine Animals-Theif
MetamOrpboses, Affinities and ChrOnOIog.
ical Succession in Geological Times.
A JOURNEY THROUGH BRAZIL.

A JOURNEY THROUGH BRAZIL.
UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY STEAMER HAssLER,
RIO JANEIRO. Feb. IA, 1872. I
On the evening OF January 10 we left the harb0r
OF PernamDuco, having LAIN there for twenty.four
hours IN a voluntary quarantine on account OF the
prevalence Of yellow fever in the town. The
authorizes did not seem to That there was
any special necessity for precaution one individual
remarkng that there had Deen only sixty fatal
cases. thus far, that month. 10 our minds the fact
oil mortality. from one disease alone, of thirty
deaths week. IN population OF not more than
120Oo brought the conviction rhat 1t desirable
10 have the least possible communication between
the shtp aud the shore This was strengthened by
the knowledge, derived IRON another source, that
the disease was rapidly spreading, and was making
frtshtful havoc among the shipping lying IN the
harbor.
On this account we saw no more Of Pernambuco
than could be observed from the deck OF the Hass-
ler and remained there no longer than was neces.
sary for taking In moderate supply OF coal.
The harbor there Is formed by wonderful reef
from two 10 five rods broad, and extending for five
miles IN direct line. At high tide 1t Is almost
tirely concealed by the surf which dashes over IT,
but at low water IL is left dry exposing surface so
straight and even that 1t could easily be mistaken
Tor work OF art and forming natural promenade
rising out OF the sea- 1t Is composed OF yellow
sandstone, obscurely stratl1ed. and covered with
calcareous organic deposit which probably serves
70 protect It from the action OF the waves. There
u q break In 1t opposite the northern end OF the
city, through which most vessels can safely enter,
Dut the close proximity oil the breakers either
side makes 1t an apparently dangerous passage.
On the end OF the reef are fort and lighthouse,
Quilt by the Dutch some two hundred years ago, In
most durable manner. The foundations were
formed by blocks OF stone imported from Europe
and fastened to the reef with iron bands. Pernam-
buco was formerly called Cldade da Recire-the
City OF the Reef-and that name Is still occasionally
employed. About two miles to the northward the
old city or Ollnda formerly the capital Of the pro-
vince Is situated, on the extremity of a semi.cir.
Cular range OF hills, which surrounds the low,
swampy ground occupied by the present capital.
uhere Is tradition that Its name derived from
the words Of an old voyageur-Quarte Coeho-who
arrived on tile coast In 1850. and wno struck by the
beauty OF this em1Dence, exclaimed 80 linda situa-
Gao para Sc funda una piiifd g'-.O beautiful
site on which to found city !" The accuracy OF
this narrative Is not incontestably proved but the
city Of the present day certainly looks mucn more
inviting and much less Ike "Dutch oven for cook.
Ing fever In" than did Its successor In provincial
hOnors.
ONE FEATURE OF THE HARBOR
which attracted attention was the large numDer
OF little trading smacks, barquezas which passed
US continually, laden down to the water's edge,
carrying In proportion to their great spread
OF canvas and navigated by one or two semi-nude
negroes lolling In the stern sleeping congestlvely
on the cargo. We went outside the reef
under the charge OF pilot, who then left u.s. AT
eleven p. NJ. the light on the reef was about four
teen miles distant bearing north, and we took our
departure from 1t, standing on from the shore on a
south BY west course. On the next day lew sound
Ings were taken, and on the following daG dredging
was commenced and continued at intervals for
twentyfOur hours in sight OF the coast OF Bi ALL and
In LATITUDE about twelve degrees south. Many valua
bic specimens were secured out one especially was
OF particular interest.
Before started Professor Agasslz wrote let
ter TO Professor Benjamin PIERCE Superintendent OF
the United States Coast survey. which was after.
wards published, and in which he ventured TO lore
tell the general character OF many animals that he
said, We would probably ind at different depths.
He based this prediction upon the following line OF
argument-Ii there IS plan, according to when
the aflintlies among animals and their chronological
succession were predetermined and their mode or
growth and geographical distribution arranged, 1t
becomes possible TO use the knowledge we possess
OF well known forms under familiar conditions, In
predicting what new forms should exls, under GER
tain other conditions. Moreover, there being "a
correlation between the graduation OF ANIMALS the
complication OF their structure, their order OF sue
cession In geological times, their mode of develop
ment from the egg and their geographical distrbu-
ton upon the surface OF the globe,' 1t Is also
possible that. as these conditions approach more
or less nearly those supposed to have prevailed
during certain geological epochs the animals sub
ject TO them should resemble more less closely
those which existed during those epochs. In other
there n has 9TH
the ages and TO which all animal life conforms and
has conformed, the Professor asserted that our
knowledge OF that law Is at present sufficient
BILE science to anticipate the discovery Of facts"
He said that dredged ~ different depths we
would find the physical conditions approximating
those OF geographical times the greater depths
semblng the earlier periods and that, consequently,
we might expect to nnd animals having more re-
sembance 10 extinct types than to those now ex-
listing. lie gave many examples, embracing all the
classes OF ANIMALS which can live at great depths,
but one OF these viii be sufficient to illustrate the
subject.
The class of crustaceans, including the crabs,
shrmps and Holsters OF the present day. was repre-.
sented IN geological time more prominently by ami.
mails called triloDtes than by any Others They
were divided, as their name implies, into three
loDes-a central larger one and two external ones,
equal 10 each 0tner. They constituted what mas
been called by Professor Agassn a synthetic tyne
or one embracing along Win the characteristics or
the group 10 which II belongs others OF another
Independent group.
We have now family serolls-belonging TO the
order OF isopods, or those having the appendages
20 the various segments OF the boay equal alike.
This family and one other the Stimulus belonging
TO the en0mosfraca, the lowest division OF crus-
taceans, approach more nearly TO the tnlobtes Than
any other living species. Professor Agassiz ex.
pected, and put on record his expectation that we
would ind something Intermediate between
THE LIVING AND FOSSIL FAMILIES,
but partaking more Of the trilobitc peculiariiies
than OF those OF the exIstlng animals. This ex-
was OBTAINED In one OF our haus. several other
acquisitions have been made, confirming the Pro-
lessons assertions and justitying the belief that
large majority OF them Will nave been found correct
before the conclusion VI the voyage.
On saturday the Goth, numerous haus were
no Iarn q 10 Luz ron