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Ecuadorian independence ; and in the evening the peons were cnttin>r up " high 

 jinks," dancing in the "salon," and drinking native brandy. Tlie fonr of us slept 

 in one room, returning to the vessel about noon to-day. 



Beck, Drowue, and the mate came up to the ranche early with cameras, and 

 returned with us at noon. I contracted with C^obos for water, fruit, etc. Hojie to get 

 some shoes here, as we need them badly. The poj)uliitiou consists of Jliiiadorians, 

 Peruvians, Mexicans, Negroes, Crosses, and a German. 



ikt. IL'.— This morning Beck, Hull, iiud Drowne collected about forty birds. 

 Cobos and (Superintendent took dinner with us at l.:in, Hull and 1 returning to the 

 ranche with them. After we got up there Hull shot tive ducks, which we presented 

 to Cobos. I shot two swallows. They were flying about tiie sugar house. It is 

 undoubtedly the same bird that 1 saw at Barringtoii, and that Baiir saw at 

 Indefatigable. Stayed all night at Cobos' house. During the evening he entertained 

 ns with guitar and song. After coflee Hull and I collected about the building and 

 to the port. I shot two I'rogne modesta and three cuckoos, the first of the trij). 

 (ieospiza are not abundant on this part of the island. During the afternoon we put 

 up nearly sixty birds. Have seen several crickets. Am quite sure last evening that 

 I saw Strix fly by me ! 



Oct. 13. — This morning Hull and Beck collected about fifty birds. I was busy 

 about other things myself all day. This afternoon the cajitain and mate went up to 

 the farm, and will probably stay all night. Cobos sent down nails and box of lemons. 

 Oct. 15. — Yesterday morning all of us started at 6.50, and w.alked up to Cobos 

 Farm. Collected till noon, a Sefior Seri showing us about. Seri says that there 

 are humming-birds on the island, flying around the coff'ce trees (? !). In the afternoon 

 explored the top of the island on horseback. In the evening walked to the vessel. 

 A hard, long day's work in the tropics : 2U miles walk, 15 on horseback. Curlew 

 and turnstone were in the fields at the summit of the island. Ducks in a lagoon at 

 the top. Cobos has been sending down water, vegetables, etc., as ordered. 



Oct. 10. — This morning Hull, Beck and Drowne collected. Beck got a specimen 

 of our bobolink {DoUchonijx ori/zivorus). It was feeding witli a flock of Geospizd 

 on the beach near the storehouse. Cobos failed to send down the balance of water 

 to-day ; this will delay our getting away. We put up about sixty birds. I gave 

 Captain Barnhoff a package of letters to be posted in Guayaquil. He sails 

 to-morrow. 



Oct. 17. — This morning I walked up to the hacienda to try and hurry the water 

 down. Found it being loaded. Paid Cobos his bill and took breakfast with him. 

 Both schooners hoisted anchors together, and Barnhoft' beat us to north end of 

 island. We hojic to land on Chatham to-morrow. 



Oct. 18. — Last night we drifted away and got to leeward of north end, and are 

 spending all day in beating np. Such losses of time are very disgusting. 



Oct. 19.— This morning we were able to land on the north of Chatham Island 

 about 8 o'clock, and collected about To birds. The l'iji-oreph<ilu.'<, Jinteo and 

 Nesopelia were entirely absent from this part of the island. Started for Hood 

 at 4 p.m. 



Oct. 'M. — Have been trying all day to beat by N.E. end of island, and have 

 gained notliing. Put uj) our birds. One of the large tortoise died. None of the 

 boys have been feeling well to-day. 



Oct. 'l\. — Have been making fair headway towards Hood. 



Oct. 2'Z. — At 1 1 o'clock the vessel dropjjcd anchor in 7 fathoms at Gardner Bay 



