contracted the climate fever at the Isle of France and 

 died from its effects, March 31st, 1787, two months after 

 his return. 



Other vessels soon followed in the track of the "Light 

 Horse." From the original papers in the hands of INIr. 

 Tucker, it is found that no less than eight vessels from 

 Salem, had doubled the Cape of Good Hope, between 

 Jan. 1787 and 1789, and were the van of the squadrons 

 which have followed since to the remotest East. 



In these days of large ships it may seem that these 

 vessels were of very moderate tonnage. They ranged 

 only from 140 to 300 tons burthen. A second "Grand 

 Turk," built by Mr. Derby a few years later, called the 

 Great 8hi/p, did not exceed 500 tons burthen. Thus 

 regarded, these adventures seem small. On the other 

 hand, if we estimate these early voyages by the faith, 

 ability and energy required, at that time, for their pro- 

 jection and successful execution, they must rank with the 

 most notable enterprises of the present day. 



NICARAGUA. 



Nicaragua, although offering a rich field to naturalists, 

 long remained comparatively unexplored. 



This work is now being prosecuted very faithfully and 

 successfully by Mr. J. A. McNiel, under the auspices of 

 the Peabody Academy of Science. He is an indefatiga- 

 ble collector of objects of Natural History and Archaeo- 

 logy, and a close observer of the habits and customs of the 

 people. 



Leaving Salem in May, 1868, he spent several months 

 among the Nicaraguans, and returned in the following 

 November, bringing back an extensive collection. 



