The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
Interesting Letter From a South Car.
Gilman who is now Oh the Pacihc Q

CALLAo. Peru, June 25, 1856.

oCSThs
CALLAo, Peru, June 25, 1886.
M Dear F,fend-T suppose sou will be quite
surprised to get a letter from your humble
servant: but think that can't pass pass away way an !
heard from you. think 1t was in Portland,
/ have been on the South American coast
day of July. 1854. and have not, touched
"Uncle Sans" soil since. have been em-
ploycd by the government TO make views OF
prominent landmarks and promontories on
the coast, and also to make views OF some Is
Well I'll try to giveyou little idea of some
ing Frisco the first port sailed: in was
Achipulcho, Mexico. Saw nothing OF interest
there. Called next at Matzillan whereI made
eTs r some fb ha pge5i Mace Was destroyed bY
an earthquake. Happily not many lives were
lost, but the houses were completely domol7
lef orSiS & ItPpPIsa
uuc. The latter place Is noted for being, the
hot est place under the heaven. I thought
would melt; however; survived survived; IL i was ssin III
tho United States marines were sent there!
l saw the city OF Colon destroyed by. fire and
some of the rebels hung; among, them was
Preston. (but suppose you. read all about
| that, so will not trouble you by an account
of it) The next place had occasion to visit
was Guayaquil in ECUADOR II lies sixty
|
of the most beautiful Of rivers tthe GuayaquiL
River.) On each bank were banana and CO
Goa trees. and monkeys were jabberlng at ms
as if they thought we were intrudlng upon
their soil. We anchored in GuayaQuil at
about five o'clock, p. NJ, when, after dark /
looked leeward and beheld the most heautiI
full sight, burning Volcano throwing its lavs
| that it was the burning volcano Chimborazo,
the second highest in existence. / shall new
CT forget with what rapture looked upon IT
pf,t1 tta rlrc
| God. If there is anything that makes one
think there is God, 1t is nature could
not get any nearer 10 the mountains, so
port was Payla, Peru. I think 1t is the most
abomnable place ever created. No regela-
ton at all There is premium upon any
teas and sand. The place Is also we'll stocked
with doss-about two to every inhabilant.
The houses are two-story and built Of mud.
| The natives are very lazy. = 80.
From there we sailed direct to the Sandwich
! Islands. 1t took forty-three days TO reach
Honolula, the main city. was pleased with
were cannibals. o;day they will put to
shame our own proud America. Whiskey is
twenty-five cents n drink and any one found
selling 1t on Sundays is severely punished.
erything denotes they are Christians. $50
much for missionarirs) went to Fugee Is
lands-can't say much In their praise-then!
way we were caught in severe storm and
once we thought The ship was doomed, but af-'
ter being tossed at the mercy, OF the waves.
for sixiy-one days, we anchored safely In the.
beautiful harbor OF Thiti. This city is under
the control Of the French. All kinds Of trop-
ical fruits grow in abundance. The naiiVes'
Wear no extra clothing-only cloth around
days, had good time, took some fine pic
lures and fell desperately, in love with q
pretty French girl l have had the pleasure
OF corresponding with her since that time.
BY the way her father Is an official, 80 | was
in luck (wish me good luck). think / wilE
see her again, although she Is thousands OF
! miles away. -
Next went to the Juan Fernandes Island,
about two hundred miles off the coast OF Chill
IL. l suppose you know that Is the Island or
Robinson Crusoe fame. Every boy has read
the story OF Robinson Crusoe, so was glad to-
| have the chance OF seeing II. 1t Is only thin
y inhabited as it is not Of fertile soil, and not
very large. but the cave is still there, a mon
ument to the memory Of Crusoe. Il forget
right nnme, but you know he was o lieuten-r
ant in the Royal Navy.l went TO Valpara-.
so, the largest city on the coast aud stopped ut
ali the seaport towns on the way up to Caliaor
/ 1 have only given you poor synopsis. but
If you could cOndescend to write to- me,
promise that can give you some good yari.s'
about places have visited. l have kepta OIL
! acy, and when return TO Grcenville l c:n
surprise You. You can't imagine what pleas
urc I have had in this trip, and l have not
been doing the work for nothing, but nave
made it pay financially. I hope you wilE
ents 1t thrills ones very soulsto hear from
home. 1t even makes me feel good to see y
ship flying the flag OF 'my own native land'
One can't appreciate his own country until he
is away from IT, and don't think there is any
; that does not love his own country, especial
! ly if IL Is "Ihe land of the brave and the
home of the free" 1 have met several Of my
counlrymcn since l have been away. One
from the old Palmetto State. You bet We
gave three cheers for old South Carolina. In
/ my next letter will describe things more mi.
nut"ly. This l know Is poorly concluded
! letter, hut can plead as an excuse that l AM
expecting TO go ashore to n party and expect
! TO meet some pretty Peruvian damseis; BY
| the way have learned to talk Spanish as
! that Is the only language they speak on tho.
coast. 1 will go 10 Panama very soon. l
don't know wher will get to South Caroli-
IA, hut some time this year. Mother Is very
! anxious for me 10 20 home and there is notll-'
ing to compare with home and mother.
must bid you adicu. -
! Direct 10 GEO. Y. HANCHER.
U. S. S. Iroqu0is,
! Care U. S. Consul, Panama, q. 5. c..