The Republican., 1888-12-22
CHATHAM ISLES KING.
Odd People Found on the Islands of tn
South Pacific Ocean.


as naturalist, has returned East The
professor left the ship at San Francisco.
He is engaged at Washington in ar
ranging the specimens collected on the
voyage for exhibition in the National
Museum. The professor thus describes
some of the experiences of the Alba
tross party in the South Pacific:
, On the largest OF the Galapagos
, Islands they found curious colony.
, The island is between six and seven
!, hundred miles from the mainland of
, Ecuador" =" said Prof. Lee, ''almost un-
. der the equator" 1t is walled in with
; high volcanic rocks, and very difficult
of access. Years ago the Ecuador Gov
: ernment planted a convict colony on
. one of the islands, but the convicts re-
J volted. killed the Governor, and made
: their escape on a schooner For long
, time afterwards the islands were unin-
habitcd, and all of them are so to-day
. except Chatham, where we landed. Be
r hind the walls Of rock we found fertile
I country in high state of cultivation.
"About one hundred and fifty per-
: sons make their home there aud are
! governed by shrewd and progressive
man OF the Spanish race, named Cobos.
!, .He makes no claim to sovereignty, but
his control seems as absolute as that OF
the Gar. His subjects are convict3
from Ecuador. Years ago, it appears,
he was engaged in gathering orchilla,
q kind Of moss which is valuable for
the manufacture of dyes. He got rich
at this business, but lost his fortune
through some transaction with the Gov
e!nment of Ecuador. Possibly using
this as an argument, he asked for
and was granted this island of Chatham,
the condition being that he should re-
ceive and care for the conyicts sent
thither from the mainland. This was
perhaps ten or twelve years ago.
THE colony has now little world
of its own, cut off from civilization
by hundreds Of miles OF ocean. Only
now and then, at long intervals, has
any vessel landed there, except the
schooners owned by Governor CObos,
and the inhabitants have, therefore, no
means of escape. These people do not
J share their rulers progre6siveness.
They are an odd and rather unpre-
possessing lot. Most Of them are ma
, tives OF Ecuador, and some probably
half Indian. The Governor told me he
had one full-blooded British subject,
and asked if we would like to see him.
He gratifed our curiosity with q
glimpse of the blacklist negro l ever
saw. The fellow spoke English, and
, insisted that he was an Englishman;
, but when l asked him where he was
born, he answered. AT St. Helena
The Governor is the only person on
the island who knows any thing of the
world. He has Travelled somewhat,
can speak English after fashion, and
contrives to keep up within about six
months OF the times. In conversation
! he showed pretty clear knowledge of
'eH..i,.a in E.,ro+-e and America. He
was especially interested in politics of
: the Old World, and seemed to under
stand the relations of the great powers,
: theconditions which might bring about
) war, and the result to be expected
3 if one came. Although a monarch in all
3 essential respects, this man acllnowl-
! edges his dependence upon the Govern
t ment of Ecuador; but he rules his SUBJ
: jects as he pleases, and perhaps some
, what tyrannically, for there are con-
g spiracies constantly on foot against his
= life, and he has to maintain miniature
l standing army. The currency of tho
: island is made Of sheet lead. with the
t value, the name Of the Governor, and
/ the name OF the island stamped on each
= coin.
: Seven prisoners OF State were in
t durance while we were on the island,
. under charge of having plotted to take
= the Governors life during recent
} festival, and to set up a new govern
, ment. What punishment they were to
: receive was not very definitely settled
. but Cob0s intimatei that ne should ban
> ish them TO one OF the other and desert
' islands at a distance, whero they
l would be furnished with little food
iOi CNII pSi tVl y uoJ cAINI a 10" bOOAS anu
left to shift for themselves.
l ''The land in Chatham is under cul-
tivation. Sugar-cane is raised, and
t rum made of it. Fruits, hides mats.
orchilla, and other products are shipped
in considerable quantities to Guayaluil.
Another curious experience of ours
} was when we visited Charles Island.
| The island was well stocked with pigs,
cattle, donkeys and horses, but we wero
informed that no human being lived
-,--here. Imagine our astouishment
t therefore, when, on proceeding inland,
\ we suddenly came upon u man with a
, pig on his back! Both parties, indeed,
: were startled the man 4s well as our
selves. Neither had expected to meet
I the other. This Crusoe was nearly
, naked; his beard and hair had grown
, toa great length, and his eye had "a fe-
n rocious CLEAN in it.
+ At first he appeared afraid of us, but
afterwards we got him to talk, and dis
, covered that he was one of an expedi-
, ton which came from Chatham island