Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24
The Potentate of .tbe Galapagos.

Prof. Lee of 9owdoin college thus de-
scribes the Galapagos island and the cur
ious people of the principal island. He
was member of the Albatross party in
recent scientific expedition to the South
Pacific. On the largest of the GaIapa-
goa island they found curious colony.
''The island is between 600 and 700
miles from the mainland of Ecuador"
said Prof Lee, "slmost under the equa
tor. 1t is walled in with high volcanic
rocks, and very difficult of access. Years
ago the Ecuador government planted
convict colony on one of the islands, but
the convicts revolted, killed the governor,
and made their escape on schooner.
For long time afterward the island was
uninhabiteo, and all of them are SO today
except Chatham, where we landed. Be-
hind the walls of rock we found fertile
country in a high etate of cultivation.
"About $50 persons make their home
there and are governed by a shrewd and
progressive man of the Spanish race,
named Cobos. He makes no claim to
sovereignty, but his control seems as
that of the czar. His subjects are con-
victs from Ecuador. Years ago, it ap-
pears, he was engaged in gathering Or
chilla, 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
eminent of Ecuador. Possibly using
that as an argument, he asked for and was
granted this island of Chatham, the con-
dition being that he should receive and
care for the convicts sent thither from
the mainland. This was perhaps 10 or
II 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 YES
sci landed there, except the schooners
owned by Gov. CobOs, and the iuhabit
ants have, therefore, no means of escape.
Those people do not share their rulers
progressiVeness. They are an odd and
rather an unprepossessing lot. Most of
them are natives 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
glimpse of the blacklist negro | ever saw.
The fellow spoke English, and insisted
that he was an Englishman; but when
asked him where he was born, he answer
ed at st. Helena
"The governor is the only person on
the island who knows anything of the
world. He has travelled somewhat, can
speak English after fashion, and CON
trives to keep up within about Six months
Of the time. In conversation he shows a
pretty clear knowledge of affairs in
Europe and America. He was especially
interested in the politics of the old world,
and seemed to understand the relations
of the great powers, the conditions which
might bring about war, and the result to
be expected if one came. Although q
monarch in all essential res pects, this
man acknowledges his dependency upon
the government of Ecuador; but he rules
his subjects as he p.eases, and perhaps
somewhat tyraDnically, for there are con-
p1racies constantly on foot against his
life, and he has to maintain miniature
standing army. The currency of the
island is made OF sheet lead, with the
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 recent festi-
val, and to set up new government.
What punishment they were to receive
was not very definitely settled, but
Cobos intimated that he would Danish
them to one or the other desert
islands at a distance, where they would
be furnished with little food and few
tools and left to shift for themselves.
"The land IN Chatham is under cuiti-
vation. Sugar cane is raised, and rum
is made of it. Fruits, hides, mats and
other products are shipped.