Smyrna times., 1935-02-07
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
REGION OF MYSTERY
For 400 Years Were Used
as Hideout by Pirates.

agos, focused worldwide attention
ON these lonely bits of land. which
lie about 600 miles west of Ecuador
in the Pacific.
The tragedy adds another kind
of mystery to a region noted for
many puzzling forms of plant and
animal life. A century ago Charles
Darwin. then youthful scientist,
pointed out that half the flowers
and half the birds of the islands are
to be found nowhere else in the
world Scores of scientists and ex-
plorers, among them DR.. William
Beebe, have since stumbled through
thorny underground, scaled lava
rocks, and found the Galapagos to
be an Incompatible natural history
museum.
More than 1000 volcanic cones
besprinkle the archipelago, and the
islands volcanic origin accounts for
the peculiar interest they hold for
science" says the National Geo
graphic society. Darwin deduced
that the group has never been near
er the mainland. nor have the II
principal islands been closer to-
gether, than they are today.
Chance to Study Evolution.
Hence, the many species of flow
ers and birds, and, in some cases,
sea life, that have drifted to the
islands have slowly developed along
lines very different from those in
their original homes. In few places
has nature provided such a splendid
chance to study the processes of
evolution.
1.-The Galapagos have also lured
treasure seekers and a few colo
nists from Ecuador. the country to
which they now belong. Tales Of
hidden treasure have come down
through the centuries. Pirates who
looted the rich ports and churches
of the west coast of South America
are supposed to have buried much
of their loot In these islands. These
stories seem to be borne out by the
unearthing of two caches Of silver
ingots and pieces of eight a number
of years ago.
"The Islands lie astrlde the Equa-
tor, but the cold Antarctic currents
which bathe the coast Of Peru,
strike seaward at Cape Blanco and
surge across the Galapagos group.
Strong gales temper the climate,
and often the air is quite chilly. Up
to 800 feet most of the islands are
barren, but above that level they
are usually swathed In clouds whose
moisture aids heavy growths of
tropical plants and trees. Although
they appear to be only a few dots
on map of the broad Pacific, the
islands have combined area equal
to that of Delaware. and the largest
island. Albemarle talso called Isa-
bella), Is about the size of Long
Island, New York.
Officially Known as "coIon."
Before the Panama canal was
dug the Galapagos were even more
remote from shipping lanes than
they are today. The islands we're
discovered, in fact. by a Spanish
bishop, whose ship was blown off
Its course from Panama to Peru.
For 400 years they served as a pi-
rate hideout, a post office" for
American whalers. and an Ecuado-
rian convict station. Most of the
1000 inhabitants Of the group today
are Spanish-speaking Ecuadorians
like those seen in any port in Ecua-
dor. Officially. the Islands are known
as the Territory of Colon, Of Ecua-
dor.
"The few villages consist of
thatched huts and small iron-roofed
buildings, clustered near small sug-
ar. coffee and tobacco plantations
In the areas not covered with lava
rock. Only two Of the islands are
Inhabited. Each island has at least
two names: one an official Spanish
name, and the other an English
name. The English names are gen.
orally used by explorers and scien-
lists describing the islands.
Galapagos wild life is tanner than
the dogs. cats, goats. pigs. donkeys,
and cattle which we're planted on
the islands by early explorers and
have increased In numbers until
they have become a nuisance to the
BY destroying eggs
and newly born tortoIses, reptiles,
and wild birds. these visitors
threaten with extinction many rare
forms Of life which scientists still
wish to study.
"A ride on giant tortoise's back
is as much a feature Of visit to
Galapagos as a sleigh ride down q
dry, cobblestone hill of F1unchal is
q feature Of visit to the Nadeiras.
The archipelago got Its name from
the giant tortoise; the Spanish
word for tortoise being 'galapago.'
Some Of these huge creatures are
estimated to be from 800 to 400
years old and are probably the
worlds oldest living animals"