102 To the River Plate and Back 



we stood at the rail, looking down at the crowd, who 

 were waving handkerchiefs and calling out words of 

 welcome to the incoming passengers. I expected no one 

 to meet me. One of my fellow-passengers, accompanied 

 by his wife, was going to La Plata to assist in installing 

 some of the astronomical equipment of the National 

 Observatory, which has recently been placed under the 

 charge of Dr. W. J. Hussey, the celebrated astronomer, 

 whose achievements at the University of Michigan have 

 given him international reputation. They told me that 

 they had been informed by telegram that Dr. Hussey 

 would be at the dock to greet them. They presently 

 recognized him in the crowd ; and I had the honor of an 

 introduction at long range. The Professor informed 

 me that a deputation of gentlemen from the National 

 Museum at La Plata were on hand to welcome me. He 

 quickly found them, and introductions, also at long 

 range, took place, with waving of handkerchiefs and 

 lifting of hats in salutation. The leader of the party 

 was Dr. Santiago Roth, whose work is well known to all 

 students of South American geography and geology. 

 He was accompanied by Dr. F. Herrero-Ducloux, the 

 brother of the Assistant Director of the Museum, Dr. 

 Ernesto Herrero-Ducloux, who was prevented by illness 

 from appearing, by Senor Miguel Fernandez, and Senor 

 Debenedetti of the Museum. After all it appeared that 

 I was not to find myself a stranger in a strange land. 



At last the word was given, and we descended the 

 gangplank. My newly made friends greeted me with 

 the cordial warmth which characterizes the hospitable 

 people of southern lands. Our baggage was found and 

 a polite officer of the customs quickly :< chalked' 1 the 

 pieces. We were hurried to a couple of waiting auto- 

 mobiles and whirled through the streets to the station 



