GENEROSITY OF MR. THAYER. 627 



" Half a dozen." 



" And what would be the expense of each 

 one ? " 



" I suppose about twenty-five hundred dol- 

 lars ; at least, that is what I have counted 

 upon for myself." 



After a moment's reflection he resumed : 



" If it suits you then, Agassiz, and inter- 

 feres in no way with the plans for your 

 health, choose your assistants among the em- 

 ployees of your Museum or elsewhere, and I 

 will be responsible for all the scientific ex- 

 penses of the expedition." . . . 



My preparations are made. I leave prob- 

 ably next week, from New York, with a staff 

 of assistants more numerous, and, I think, as 

 well chosen, as those of any previous under- 

 taking of the kind. 1 



. . . All those who know me seem to have 

 combined to heighten the attraction of the 

 journey, and facilitate it in every respect. 

 The Pacific Mail Steamship Company has in- 

 vited me to take passage with my whole party 

 on their fine steamer, the Colorado. They 

 will take us, free of all expense, as far as Rio 



1 Beside the six assistants provided for by Mr. Thayer, 

 there were a number of young volunteer aids who did excel- 

 lent work on the expedition. 



