The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-23


republic Of Ecuador and the
Isthmus OF Panama, lie the VOL
csnic group of islands known to geog-
raphers as the Galapagos, once a de-
tendency Of Spain, but after several
mutations OF ownership now conceded
10 belong to Ecuador. The Galapagos,
OF themselves. have no history. but
much Of the romance that attracts to
remote. mysterious and infrequented
regions. Tales of buried treasures con-
cesled by buccaneers and pirates of
early history mingle with tradition and
surmise until the authenticity of the
narrative is lost and the facts disap-
pear altogether.
The islands are beyond the common
avenues OF commerce and trade, and
are visited only by the curious or the
chance mariner who may sail out of his
way TO replenish water supplies or re-
place stores depleted by too prolonged
voyage. Uninteresting as the islands
may be from an economic standpoint, to
the scientist no groups in the world are
richer in all that interest the biolo-
gist, ornithologist, botanist or even
the paleontOlogist; for. in no similar
group is there to be found a fuller dis
play Of remarkable types and species.
either OF fora or fauna, than that
found in richest profusion in the Gala
pages.
The origin of the archipelago in
wolves no geological mystery Evidence
Of igneous formation is found on every
mountain peak and in each grain OF
sand When the world was young, VOL
canic action was upon the grandest
scale. Gigantic eruptions from the
oceans bed gradually emerged from the
sea and built UP vast bodies of rock,
which became permanent as islands,
forming groups like the archipelago of
Galapagos. mere mountains in fathom-
less depths, only the submits being
visible. The age which produced these
islands was one Of intense igneous ac-
ton on sea and land. Imagination can
depict a navigator rounding the south
ern extremity of the Western Henri
sphere and sailing to the extreme north
OF the Pacific Ocean. lighted every step
Of the way by the flames of active vol
canoes, now quiescent.
The Galapagos -onsist of twenty
Islands OF considerable size and as
many islets too diminutive for occupa-
tion except by innumerable nocks OF
sea birds Of new and rare types, de-
light to the ornithologist. Each island
IS cone with an extinct crater at the
os,1z avid Of
remaining is found in multitudes of
thermal springs gushing out at vsri-
Gus attitudes many at a boiling tenn
Dersture- Hundreds Of craters are TO
be found in the islands, all extinct.
The mainland is distant 500 miles,
but the fora and fauna Of the islands
and the neighborinR continent are al
most Identical The migration of spe-
cies can be accounted for by natural
lists and is easily explained. The evo-
luton Of plant life in every phase.
under different environments, may be
studied in the Galapagos to the best
advantage Darwin visited the islands
many years ago and declared his
theories needed no other confirmation
than was found in that distant group.
The Galapagos are as distinct in
their climatic peculiarities as in their
fauna. The equator bisects them and,
under ordinary conditions. the climate
insupportable; but the contrary is
true The temperature is remarkably
low for an equatorial latitude, for rea-
sons which. to the ignorant, are mys-
ferrous. but which may be easily eX-
planned. What is called the great
Peruvian current Of the South Pa
cific pOurs in vast volume from the
frozen Antarctic TO MI the chasm left
by the enormous evaporation at the
equator The navigator of those torrid
seas welcomes his entry into the cur
rent for the agreeable change of tenn
perature which the cooling atmosphere
affords. Right in the midst of the
channel Of the cool ocean current the
Galapagos are situated. The tempera-
ture is sensibly modified and. while
at sea level IL is hot at an elevation
OF 2e00 feet a delightful change is
manifested. Once arriving at this al
titude, a temperature no more ex-
trcme than that of the coast of South
crn California is experienced. The
change from the intense heat of the
tropics TO the moderation of temperate
climes is stimulating and delightful.
A Sanitarium for Panama
Rains in the islands at the sea level
are not even copious; but as the as
cent 10 higher attitudes is made pre-
cipitation increases until on arriving
al tue SuAithil o. the mountains RAIN
is almost perpetual from condensation
Of the clouds which always envelop
them. The temperate conditions pre-
va1llng have suggested a new and be-
nencent mission for the Galapagos 1t
is suggested that they be acquired as
sanitarium for the wornout and debil-
itated workers at Panama. The dis
tance is not great and the change from
the sickening environment of Panama
10 the cool, bracing atmosphere of the
islands. with their many healing
springs, would work a quick recovery
for the sick
IN various parts OF the earth. mostly
confined to islands of the tropics, is a
family of land tortoises widely dfstrib-
uted and chiefly remarkable for their
size Madagascar is noted for the mon
strous specimens to be found there, and
certain islands OF the West Indies are
norLlated hn theso .rreat ,.entiIoS