Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-08

Chinchas, all waiting for cargo. lu the year
1883 il was estimated that there yet remained
on this northern island alone about 379e, 256
tons English OF guano. In the less frequen,ed
parts thousands Of sea birds still lay their eggs
in little caves excavated in the ancient deposits
and all the hillocks and inaccessible crags are
covered With their nesta
THE cESrER rsLANp
has always been worked almost exclusively by
the Chinese, ship loads OF them being imported
for that purpose. So badly treated we're they
by the Peruvian taskmasters, and so fearful
was the nature Of their work, tina. suicides were
common among them. Little Jumps OF am
sometimes the eggs of the birds are converted
into that substance
Az everybody knows, guano mixed with the
poorest soil will make plants grow and thrive,
and for that reason it is sought BY agricultur-
lists in all parts of the world The frst ship
ment OF the famous fertilizer was made from
this place in the year lS40 and consisted OF
only twenty barrels. This WAS taken to Liver
pool and tried on farm near that city with
such surprising results that large orders were
Immediately issued Tor more; and soon IT be-
came all the rage, as farmers both in Europe
and America learned how wonderfully it
would increase the producing power of their
fields. The Peruvians appointed agents for its
sale in London and New York, and as long as
the business was prosperous q good many men
IL
IT seems that the little birds OF the sea should
have been providing during a long series OF
centuries, IN these distant Islands Of the Pa
cifc, a vast deposit for the renovation of the
more populons parts of the globe,
IT EXISTS ONLY WHERE RAINS NEVER FALL
or course guano can exist in considerable
quantities only where rains never fall to dis
solve it. Tho rainless region of Peru, which
comprises tho desert strip between the Andes
IL.
sand miles long, includes many small islands
besides the Chinchas. which for ages have been
the homes of myriads of water fowl Every
passing vessel is surrounded by sea birds. soar
ing above the masts and screaming defiance to
invaders OF their resorts. That portion OF
country where rain seldom or never falls is
called Ell Despobado, the Uninhabited." be-
cause OF the extreme difficulty of existing there
The reason for the astonishing contrast between
the fertile regions of the Amazon, Oriuoco aud
La Plata rivers, on the eastern side OF the Andes,
and these ard deserts on the western coast ID
given as follows The tropical winds from the
south Atlantic are laden with moisture. Blow
ing from east to west with great regularity.
they sweep over the country drained by the
aforementioned rivers. falling in frequent
and copious rains. varying with the season OF
year, but always sufficient to keep the streams
well filled. The streams continue I'D to the
foot of the Andes and along their eastern slopes
the mountains condense the moisture from the
WARN winds. and up to the very crest of the
dividing ridge there is abundance of il. Blu.
by the time the winds have crossed that mighty
dividing wall all the water they carried has
been wrung out Of them, and there il no more
to give when they reach the Pacific slope.
MORE MOISTURE FALLS FURTHER SOUTH.
This condition of dryness does not exist 10
the end Of the continent Going southwark
more and more moisture is encountered until
| in southern Chilli and Patagonia there is alto.
gether too much of it. for the western slopes
OF the Andes are almost continually drenched
by heavy rains and their tops obscured b,
Clouds This condition is due to the trade.
winds, blowing landward from the south
Pacific. The Patagonian plains east of the
mountains are comparatively dry, swept by
cold breezes from the snowy SUBMITS.
On the western coast Of Peru, wherever
stream from the mountains brings down it
melted SHOWS an oasis il opened, which plant
ers here utilized from time immemorial Tn,
Incas themselves were no mean agriculturists
and wherever they touched the earth il pro
duced in profusion. Their empire extended
north and south 5000 miles, and east from tn,
Pacific about 400 miles, to the vast forests o.
the Amazon, which their simple tools were
unable to subdue As far back as the conques
| energetic Jesuits made vigorous war upon thes,
deserts and conquered them as easily as the,
had the Indians. Where irrigation is possibl,
the barren strip produces splendid crops o.
sugar, Gomez anu Otner tropical pr0ducts anC
| it is not impossible that industry and capita
may one day redeem the whole of il. Mr.. Cur
tiss says truly, If the money that has beer
wasted in Peruvian revolutions had been e1
| pended in the development Of their mines anc
| if the soldiers had dug irrigating bitches will
| as much ardor as they have fought each othe
there would be no richer country on the globe.
CURIOUS DEEP-sEA PHENOMENA.
| Nature does not assume forms more attract
i've or imposing in any other part Of the worl,
than here, where eternal summer smiles unde
eternal SHOWS, and deserts cherries as Sahar
| alternate with valleys luxuriant as those O
| Italy. The ocean, too, is full of curious anima
| life. Marine monsters unknown TO norther,
waters can be seen from the steamers deck
and at night their movements are shown by tn,
line of phosphorescent fire that follows thei
fins. Nowhere else is this deep-sea phenome
| non SO conspicuous. The southern Pacific is 81
strongly impregnated with phosphorus tina
every wave is tipped with silver, and ever,
darting fish leaves a trail like that of comet
The larger fishes, sharks, porpoises. &c, seen
| to find great sport running races with the shiI
ana small army of them may be seen ever
evening under the bowsprit, sailing along at al
even pace with the vessel hurrying to and FRI
before its bows. occasionally plunging over on
another in clumsy play, the outlines of thei
bodies as distinct as if drawn with pencil O
| fire. FANNIE b. WARD