The Red Cloud chief., 1888-12-21

cnAThAM ISLES klsso.
- r..,a, ve..i e ~ ssa.sAs - -
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Proe Lee. Of Bowdoia College,. who
accompanied the Alhatross expedition
~ naturalist. has returned East The
bprofessor left the ship II San Francisco
| He d engaged II Washington in A.
ranging the specimens collected ON ths
voyage for exhibition in the National
Museum. The professor thus describes
some Of the experiences Of the Alba
tross party in the South Pacific:
IN 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 I'M
der the equator" II 10 walled in With
high volcanic rocks. and very difficult
Of access. Years ago the Ecuador Gov
eminent planted . convict colony ou
one OF the islands. but the convic:s 70
| vOlted. killed the Governor. and mado
their escape on a schooner. For = long
time afterwards the islands were unin-
habited. and all OF them ar- 50 to-day
except Chatham. where We landed. h.
hind the walls OF rock We found n fertile
country in a high state OF cultivation.
About one hundred and hfiy per-
sons make their home there and arc
governed by a shrewd and progressive
man Of the Spanish race. named CoboA
He makes no claim 10 sovereignty. but
his control seems rs absolute AS that %
the Gar. His subjects are %conviets
from Ecuador. Years ago. IL appears.
he was engaged in gathering orchilla.
q kind OF moss which ID valuable for
the manufacture % dyes. lie 60; rich
at this business. but lost his fortune
through som. transaction with the Gov.
eminent Of Ecuador. Possibly is!n,
this as An argument. h. asAcd for
and was granted this island Of Chatham.
the condition being tina; he should re-
ceive and care for the convicts sen
thither from the mainland. This was
perhaps ten or twelve years ago.
The colony has now u little world
Of its own. cut OF from civilization
by hundreds of miles Of ocean. Only
now and then. al long intervals. has
any vessel landed there. except tho
schooners owned by Governor Cobos.
and the inhabitants have. therefore. no
means Of escape. These people do not
share their rulers prOgre.sivcness.
They are an odd and rather unpre-
possessing lot. Most Of them are nv
tives OF Ecuador. and some probably
half Indian. The Governor told me hs
had one full-blOoded British subject.
and asked il we would like tn SEQ him.
He gratifed u curiosity with .
glimpse Of the blacklist negro yer
saw. The fellow spoke English. and
insisted that he was an Engli-hnxn;
but when l asked him where he vas
born, he answered. AT st. Helena
The Governor is the only person on
the island who knows any thing of tho
world. He has travelled somewhat.
can speak English after n fashion. and
cOntrives To keep up within about six
months OF the times. In conversation
he showed "a pretty clear knowledge az
affairs in Europe and America. Ho
was especially interested in politics of
the Old World. and seemed to UNDER
stand the relations Of the great powers.
the conditions which might bring about
a war. and the result 70 be expected
IL one came. Although n monarch in all
essential respects. this man acknowl.
edges his dependence upon the Govern
ment OF Ecuador: but he rules his sub
jects as ne pleases. and perhaps some-
what tyrannically. for there are con-
s~piracies constantly on foot against his
life. and hc has 10 maintain n miniature
standing army. The currency OF tho
island is made Of sheet lead. with tho
value. the name OF the Governor. and
the name of the island stamped on each
coin.
Seven prisoners Of State were In
durance while we were On the island.
under charge OF having plotted to take
the Governors life during n recent
festival. and TO set up new govern
ment. What punishment they we're To
receive was not very definitely settled
but Cobos intima;ed that he should ban
ish them To one Of the other and desert
islands ut n distance. where they
would he furnished with u little food
for temporary use and a few tools aud
left to shift for themselves.
THE land in Chatham IL under cul-
tivatiOn. Sugar-canc 10 raised. and
rum made Of IL. Fruits. hides mats.
orchilla. and other products are shipped
In considerable quantities 10 Guayaquil.
Another curious experience Of ours
Was when We visited Charles Island.
The island VA we'll stocked with pigs.
cattle. donkeys and horses. but We vero
informed that no human being lived
there. Imagine our establishment
therefore. when. on proceeding inland.
We suddenly came upon q man With .
pig on his back. Both parties. indeed.
were st~artled-the man a. well - our.
selves. Neither had expected 70 meet
the other. This CrusOe vas nearly
naked: his beard and hair had grown
u great length. and his eye had . 70
rocious CLEAN in IT,
At first he appeared afraid OF uA but
Afterwards we got him 70 talk. And dis
covn-oA that h.. INA nno NJ an oY0sSdi.