, 1875-01-17

forth at different parts Of Che deck. The dlss,
cipline and arrangement of the men we're good,
and their promptness in action showed that they
t would be ready for any emergency.
On the evening Of the 1fth We encountered .
vsry heavy fog. which continued TILL about 8 a.
n: the following morning.
The wind though had been favorable most Of
the time. and our run this day was got miles,
| which was very good, considering the disabled
] state OF our screw.
We were now passing the mouth OF
| THE R1TER La PLATA,
which Ii l60 miles in width, and where 1t il usu-
ally Ve!y rough. Hare there aEo heavy gales
blow Is altnoat inevitable. On the 18th, = strong
wind continued directly On our bow and the vessel
pitched and rolled; but the next day found us In
latitude 81 g., and completely past the La Plata,
considering ourselves very Fortunate at sscap-
ing without storm.
We now enjoyed very pleasant weather,
the temperature Of the atmosphere being ST deg.
| whlfe that OF the water was 81 deg.
| All OF Mother Oarey's chickens had deserted
/ III; but their plaza was supplied BY large
| 8EA aU1Ls AND oAuSErs,
| which followed in the wake Of our vessal, sud
| Afforded amusement for the passengers With
| their guns. Also, several piughius hnd msda
! their appearance, which, as ron know. are kind
legs situated TAR back % tho body, with which
| they swim and dive raoidlV.
On the 18th we fell in With : large flock OF
! porpoises. which followed the vessel for long
Distance skipping 1nerriiy bstore the bon.
The following day va pasasd the mouth Of the
River Negro. and then began tho coast OF Pats-
gonia-
This Was most delightful day. and, instead
OF having any disag1eeable or cold weather, the
thermometer now ranged from 6t to 6l deg.
During the day. n quantity OF empty boxes
were seen floating BY the vessel, msrSsd De-
yoe's Oil, and various conjectures we're made cs
to their import.
The sunkot this evening vas one of tho most
being long, glowing streak extending along the
horizon, and almost meeting in the east, while
tue clouds we're unique in focm.
After this, tho temperature became cooler, IN
til We reached the Straits but the weather WAS
clear and favorable ali tho way, except on the
morning Of tho 2ltl, when
4 HEAVY GALE
arose from the southwest, and continued until
noon. The wind then veered round to our atar-
board quarter. and our sails were again stEetcAcd
This dag it Was cool enough 20 appreciate
fire, and the steam-pipes in the cabin and social
hall wore used for the azss time.
The naxt morning. Nov. 20, the water present
ed ratler singular appearance, halng Of a
g1eeuish-bFoTn color, With stteaks ct peculiar
muddy shade, which seemed to be Indications Of
shallow water. Sounllngs were then taken, aud
it wss found we were in 81 fathomz Of Wator.
However, our course was afterwards changed,
aud re bore eouth-southeast till. late in tbs
evening" re uera again bearing southwest. We
now, for the first time, saw one or two
ALnAIRoSsEs,
about which had heard so much, and which
we're afterwards to be our companions sailing in
tho Pacific. They are considered the lar5es. Of
the aea~birds, and seem to fy without any
exertion. Their color ID principally white, iutar
mixed with gray; aud, With their long beaks and
inteligentlookins heads, they form worthy COM
panions on long voyage: Soma OF them are OF
an immense aixe, measuring upwards OF Is fsat
&c :o*a the wings, from tip to tip. We caught
ANAL one by means of hook and bait, which
measured Z feet. His feathers we're Of the finest
si.k-lke texture.
SEVERAL CAPE PIGEONS
wars also caught. They are odd-1ooking birds,
little larger than the common pigeon, aud of
mott!ed black-and~white color- They had been
our constant attendants for some tl1ns, and had
come to us IN q very high latitude, namely: be-
fore We reached the La Plat. River, whl&he1 they
had probably been blown by . storm.
Our passage through the Straits Is worthy OF \
separate letter, SO will leavs you fur sne praa-
eat, and bid you farewell at our departure IRON
the Atlantic,
not having been abba to mail yoa letter
from the Straits, have sent it together With
this. condensed into QUE.
PANAMA. Dec. 28.-We
ARRIVED AT PArAhA
On tho 21st OF December, all nafe and aound,
On our arrival here, there was some talk Of
transferring all the passengers to the Constitu-
tion, which lea7es for San Francisco tonight, as
it might be 3 long time before the Pekins reach
cd San francisco, as some accident might befall
her On the road, in her disabled con-
d1tion. At first the passengers did not
like the idea OF being shifted. However, nothing
compulsory was done. and it wa. left entirely to
their own choice. Six OF our msmoera had d g
cidod to leave ua It Panama, md return to Nov ,
York direct from Aspin vali and, OF the reet who
continue to San Francisco, the result has heon
that all, with the exception OF three gentlemen
and myself have gone o7er to thu Constitution,
and leave here at 1880 thia evening. I feel tha.
I should prefer to remain with this vessel,
afsag having coma around With her, aud think
size will bo perfectly safe, having every conf
deace in her officers.
TIE TOXIC
arrived ut Aspinwau yesterday. Dec. s9, bring
ing sixty -six through passepgosa. and nina pas
sepgerb to 70 through the Straits. Yhose ut our
number who leave for New York arc Mrs. PIatt,
Mira Greeley (rbo IL ilD and her brother, Mrs.
Wells also, Measrs. Lawson, Mann, and Ssr-:
gent. These letters will 60 at the same time, on
the Henry Chauncey. It is expected we w1l be-
from twelve to fftosn days reaching San Fran
oisoo. J. R. K. ::
"BuT FOR A LITTLE, WArT.' :