National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-08-16

shark of the family acan'hias was har
pooned by one of the officers from the
stern of the vessel and was disscctcd and
preserved The whole island seemed to
MS distinctly volcanic, the rocks consist
ing of basaltic green stone aud trap and
covered with n scoraceous lava, the de.
composition of winch los produced q
moderately fertile, but loo sc and crumb
ling soil. The botany was found to he
of great interest, and RI ,embled that OF
Chile much more than was thought
probable from the prevailing winds and
currents. We subsequently discovered,
on more carefully comparing specimens,
that is was only resemblance, and there
were very few cases OF identity of species.
The dark foliage of the myrtle predomi-
mates on the hillside, hut fig, peach.
cherry, apple and other fruit trees grow
in abundance, and palms flourish on the
submits, though they do not descend
into the valleys. Wild oats wild rad.
ishes, strawberry plants, mint, tree
ferns, llcLens, and moss were also seen
in great abundance, and parasitic veoeta-
tion seems to possess luxuriance almost
tropical. High up on one of the hills a
bronze plate was found fastened in the
rocky wall Of mountain path, and bear
ing the following inscription
In Memory of.
ALEXANDER SELKIRK
Mariner,
A native of Laego, in the county of
Fife, Scotland, who lived on this island in
complete solitude for -four years and
he IJa h.,
Clinque Ports, galley of ninety-six tons
and sixteen guns, in 1904, and was taken
off in Duke, privateer, in February.
1909. He died Lieutenant of II. NJ. s.
Weymouth. A. ID 1923, aged AZ years.
This tablet is erected near Selkirk's
lookout by Com. Powell aud the officers
of Fl. NJ. S. Topaz, A. ID. 1868.
The most interesting spot on the is
land was the cave where Selkirk lived
during his residence there-the Jerusa-
lem of all devout believers in "Robin-
SOP Crusoe," and the spot which. more
than any other, connects that wonderful
story with reality. 1t is situated near
the shore of bay about quarter of
mile to the West of the harbor, and we
were compelled to 60 to it by water
When we arrived there we found heavy
swell and surf beating on rocky beach. |
and our landing was effected with con
siderable difficulty.
A short walk brought us to the cave
which is in full sight from the shore. T
only field of wild oats intervening. It |
is, perhaps, fifteen or twenty feet high,
and as many deep. situated at the foot
of a precipitous hill side, and surrounded
by thin clunps of a species Of cane, 1t
was somewhat Of Il disappointment to
find that it did not correspond more
closely to Robinson's description of his
celebrated habitatiou, with its impreg-
nnble hedges, its second doorway of exit
its hooks for slowing his powder and
other valubles, and its numerous ingeni-
Gus contrIvances for the comfort and
safety of its distinguished occupant It's
however, agreed more nearly
with the fiction, and the plain-''not
lbove hundred yards broad and twice
IS long which lay like green before
he door of Crusoe's cave, sheltered !
rom the sun till toward its setting and
descending irreguarly every way. down
uto the low ground by the seaside"
night well have been that on which we
oOked. The place had been desecrated i.
" sacreligious relic hunters, who had |
arved their names over its walls and l
hipped away great pieces of its interior.
nd it was black with smoke from the q
Tres of three Chilean families. who had ;
ecently inhabited it. These circumstan- II
es, however, did not dampen our ardor
# lessen our enthusiasm, and with the a
Xception of one skeptical member of the o
arty, who, disappointed at not seeing $
lore evident traces of Robinson Crusoe.
efnsed to believe even in Alexander ?
ekirk, We all left, feeling that the day l,
al been one never tc be forgotten. u