Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-06
BAHAMA TREASURES.


'"'orestins Experiences ar n s.,.uus-
farty from Pennsylvania.
ihe nltie party Of biologi is sent ONT
W .he University Of Pennsylyani, IN
make Investigations and researcbos
nave returned with abundance Of gIorv
'na several boxes, tubs and tanks mi,
VI curious specimens. Tie prim.rv
purpose OF the jaunt was to give ths
purity an opportunity to determine mon
INC bahamas as the site of a biological
marine station that the university de-
'ires to establish and hopes to have in
existence within three wears. II aIra,dv
mas considerable fund for tha, burmese
The residence of the party d,,rjny
heir stay was at a comfortable boneo
'hree miles from Nassau, almost ON the
waters edge. They lived in comm.
n!ty' each member taking charge Of sbe
men IN turn. The cost was exira,nelv
modest The men went TO WORK a,
'nce' taking advantage of such assist.
lnce as the people roundabout couId
'nord. A young boatnan and diver
aamed Brown was found to be of grea,
use having already served three dis.
'inguished naturalists-Pr Gardner
who was sent out by the English CIV.
'rnment; Prof. Weldon, of Cambridoe
and Prot Brooks, of John Hopkins.
All the party were good swimmers
ana soon learned to do their own
living. Each provided himself with a
crowbar and water box. a small hox
with plate-glass bottom. The glass
quoting the ripples on the surface Of
the sea. enabled them to see far Down
INTO the depths, many times to the very
bottom. When any one saw a bit ct
rock-bearing coral, anemones. sponoes
or other objects that he wished to Sc.
cure ne tossed the glass aside, Owed
down, and pried the desired specimen
loose with the crowbar and carried i,
up under his arm. Practice en-.
abled them to stay a long time
under water. Mr.. Marshall freguentlv
remained two minutes submerged. DR.
Dolleys says that any man can re-
man under water considerable time
II ne will only simply make up his mind
to do so. There is an intense FEELING Of
oppression at first. but DIR. Dolley saws
that it is simply nervousness, and soon
passes away.
Several medicinal plants were secured
and experiments will be made as to
their therapeutic value. Among them
is curious bean that animals are very
fond of eating. Akyfirst the animals
grow fat and sleekX But in about two
weeks their tails and names drop off; in
another week their hoofs ana horns. If
they have horns, 60. Then they
grow weaker and weaker and finally
lie of fatty degeneration. But even
to the end they eat the beans with in
finite relish. There are other plants
in the collection that are used BY the
natives in the treatment of rheumatism
md dysentery with apparent success.
The doctors are 'bushmen." who have
learned the medicinal qualities of herb,
and roots and trees by tradition.
Governor Blake, for the party, sailed
to the island of Alaco one day and
settled the question as to whether
iamingos sit in or stand over their
nssts, question about which natural |
lists have been in dispute these many
Yeas. DR.. Dolley says Governor
Blake reported that famingos sit in
heir nests like other birds The party
went swimming at night in a wonder
full phosph crescent lake. At every |
stroke the swimmers created waves of |
fire, and when they climbed out upon
heir boat their bodies seemed covered |
with myriads of flaming sparks. The
sparks" of course, were myrads OF
copepods, the little glowing creatures
that give the appearance of fire to the
surface of the lake.
Some skulls of the Luycayans, thu
original inhabitants of the islands, who /
were exterminated within thirty years i
.fter their discovery by Columbus,
we're found in cave. Philadelphia
Times.