The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-08-28
Professor ASassiz.

Since the great humboldt, there has perhaps,
not appeared man in the field of Science who
could lay claim to more universal knowledge
I than Professor Agassiz. As he will probably
visit Honolulu some time during the next few
months, we would suggest, that if possible, be be
induced to deliver one of his scientific lectures
in which he may be induced to recount to
the highly appreciative audience he would
most certainly meet here, some of the
wonders of the land and sea which he has inves-
tigated during the voyage of scientific discovery
in which he is at present engaged. We publish
below his observations on the glacial discoveries
made by him in South America:
a very interesting letter of Professor Agassiz
to Professor Benjamin Pierce, Superintendent
Of the United States Coast Survey. gives 4
succinct account of his observations Of the geo.
logical phenomena of the southern portion of
the South American Continent. The chief of
the Hasser Expedition has turned his previous
experience in the Alps to good account. 1t
oould hardly be expected that in flying visit"
AgasSiz could have made measurements and de.
scended into the details of glacier motion and
magnitude as did Forbes and himself in their
studies Of the Alpine glaciers. But though Tie
Professor had not been able to make any OBJ
servations bearing upon the rate Of motion or
the size and extent of the South American gla-
ciers, he has succeeded in adding many new facts
to our previous knowledge.
Agassiz followed the coast line around from
Mouteyideo, on the Atlantic, to Glacier Bay, on
the Pacific coast. He has carefully examined
the ground previously gone over by Darwin and
other celebrated travellers. lie has found traces
everywheTe-in the cratic" pebbles and bould-
ers found on islands as well as the mainland, in
the r0sisS n0la0HnesS, in the polished hillsides
and the moraines as well as the glaciers even now
existing-that ice action has been a very proml-
nent factor in the moulding and fashioung of the
surface of this portion Of the world. Indeed, Pro
lessor Agassiz is prepared to 60 further. He
claims, that as FIRE and water are now universally
acknowledged as the great agents in the creation
OF the world as we know it, 50 at no distant
period will ice be added to the number. Very
much of the denudation usually attributed to me-
agents and to submarine iceberg-plan
ing. the Professor confidently claims for ice
spread over the surface Of the land. We are in !
cliued to accept this view. We think too much
has been said about Plu,onic and Neptuuian ac-
ton, and too little attention has been paid to the
other great agents which have aided them in
their task
Agassiz is well aware that this view will not
pass unchallenged, and he therefore proceeds to /
make it as secure as possible. He draws a dis .
tinctiOu between glaciers, however ancient aud .
however large, and coating of ice which be is .
positive covered the greater portion Of the earths
suriace-equatoria limits are not yet settled
during what is vaguely known as the glacial .
epoch" He rejects with some heat the view
held in many quarters that all the phenomena Of
the drift period, upon which the supporters ofthe
glacial period more especially rely. can be ex-
planned by supposed enlargement Of the ordi-
nary glaciers. Agassiz shows that while the
glaciers Of the South American continent, both
ancient aud modern, have acted and still act in
III directions the action Of ice in the glacial epoch
.rended from the south northward. This Is one
Of the most important discoveries made during
the expedition and in describing the obseryations
On which this inference rests the Professor cor
reefs some Of Darwin's statements, thought he
sulorizes that traveller as having been almost
alone ia carefully observing the phenomena.
The Professor calls the attention Of Professor
Pierce to the complete fuIfllment Of his prophecy
as to the finding Of drift aud adds his belief
that when the southern portion Of Africa and
Australia are examined, as clear indications OF an
extensive glacial period will be found there as
nave been formerly discovered IN Europe, aud
Ire now known to exist in South America as the
-eSult Of Acassiz's lab0rs. In this connection,
he says he fuds no reason to believe that Adhe-
mars notion on the complimentary character Of
glacial phenomeua-that Is, that while one henri
.phere was enjoying a temperate climate, the
,ther was buried under a thick mantle Of ice
las any foundation in fact. This ingenious mode
# connecting astronomical and geological pheno-
nena may be considered as a brilliant scientific
'agary.
There is one point on which Agassiz grows
loenent. He compares the Swiss glaciers with
hose Of South America in the neighborhood Of
he Straits Of Magellan, aud finds them and their
fleets very similar. The polished hills the
,ouo6sS ,uoutoaHsSs the moTsines, and the rest Of
he scenery forciby reminded him Of his native
ountry. The Professor does not give Us much
Information on his dredging operations, but be is
oustautly adding to his collections. BE made
discovery Of ia salt lake more than 100 feet
bove the level Of the ses.