The sun., 1896-02-29
PRINCETON IN PATAGONIA.
MtCH HOPED FOR FROM THIS
SOUTH iMERICAN EXPLORATION.
Plenty tn DO There that Darwin Lert yn.
done ENtnnt AS Wen nv Extinct Fauna
to Rr Collected mud Ilnascd and

Plenty to DO There that Darwin Left IN.
done Extant n- Wen ns Extinct Fauna
TO Hr Collected mud tInascd and
the Native Folklore TO Bo Collected.
Prof. j. II. Hatcher OF Princeton College and
Mr. .. \. Peterson, for q long time collector
in the employ of the American Museum OF
Natural History OF this city. will sail for Pata.
Eonta in the steamship Calico from New York
to-day. 1t is their Intention to spend at least Q
year exploring the deserts of that country for
tho purpose of making collection OF such oh.
jects of scientific interest as the region Affords
Not since the days OF Darwin and tho Beagle
has any competent scientific man gone to Pata.
gona on such mission, although, as THE SUH
has told. not unimportant discoveries have
since that day been made by quasi scientific
men who have nuttered about the most fro
quentcd ports. The American party will nos
alone collect bones of tho prehistoric ami
mails who lived In Patagonia when the
country had torrid instead OF q perpetual
late-in- the-fall climate. These will, of course
receive full attention. and Princeton will DO on.
richcd. for instance. by no end Of skeletons OF
birds that had teeth and no feathers worth
mention; of armadillos that weighed as much a.
oxen; OF saltwater serpents that had legs, por.
haps, and other things that are now described
In books on geology and some things hitherto
unknown. But in addition to that the present
lad chance merely to glance at 1t from q
ships cutter that failed to reach the head of the
santa Cruz River. The fora will not DO omitted.
And what is Of still greater human interest the
1ehueiche Indians. whom Darwin did not study.
VIII Tor the first time be considered by sympa-
thetic. unprecedented. well-trained observers.
Nocabularics OF their language will be com.
piled and record will be made of all their
legends and myths-products of the brains of
r.,1, H.,
though this mighty tribe has been almost ami.
hatcd and the remnant greatly debased, a.
IhE Sun has told within the past year or so,
enough will be found OF the old stock to give the
investigator material for an chronological ro.
port OF unsurpassed interest.
), oi coursn the geological formation itself will
perhaps something will be learned Of the origin
Oh tnHt curious layer OF black, gold bearing
nm snmI tn. the sea beach placers from
into TERRA del Fuego. for that matter. In short
no no more interesting voyage of discovery. from 8
sci"ntiiir point nf view. has ever been planned 10
y" mteI states than this that has been un.
drrtakcn for princeton College.
In addition to his commission an inveBtt.
gator ior the college. Prof. Hatcher has been
appointed special agent and collector by tho
l3ure"n of Ethnology ut Washington, As far AZ
nome Tor the smithsonian. aud in addition as
will be mnde for the benefit OF the bureau.
The hrst stop will be made at Buenos Ayres,
where the Patagonia collections in the National
Museum tnt La Plata will be inspected, and the
private collections Of couple of Italian scien-
| tlhc men as well. From there the party will
very likely go to PuntR Arenas, in the Straits OF
| Magellan. and there fit out for their life in the
| wilds The spanish American Governments
| are always friendly to scientific explorers. bui
coming. as these two men do under the dItto
ity OF an cducationa! Institution like Princeton
! and under that of tho United States Govern
| ment. and, what is just Eow not unimportant
| consideration. coming as American c1tizens.
thy ar. nrS of of cordial rseepion and Of
Governments that control the region.