26 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS : NARRATIVE. 



Friars, rise several hundred feet above the surrounding plain and are but 

 examples of others that occur in considerable abundance throughout the 

 Patagonian plains. 



We arrived at Gallegos, the seat of government of the Territory of 

 Santa Gruz, at about ten o'clock on the morning of April 30, just two 

 months after leaving New York. This port is situated on the south side 

 of the Gallegos River and about seven miles from its mouth. We had 

 come in with a rising tide and anchored just in front of the small village, 

 which at that time consisted of not more than twenty-five houses, for the 

 most part small and miserably built of wood and galvanized iron, care- 

 lessly thrown together. After we had anchored, I was utterly amazed to 

 see with what rapidity the incoming tide rushed by the sides of the vessel. 

 The current was like that of a mill race, with a velocity of from six to 

 seven miles per hour. 



The morning had been cloudy, and a fine mist of sleet and rain had 

 set in, driven by a stiff southwesterly breeze, which intensified the already 

 disagreeable nature of the weather. Shortly after coming to anchor, a 

 boat was lowered and manned, and Captain Calderon, an Italian marquis 

 who had been a passenger from Buenos Aires, Mr. Peterson and myself 

 went on shore and proceeded at once to the government building to pay 

 our respects to the governor, General Edelmiro Mayer, by whom we were 

 very cordially received, after being formally introduced by Gaptain Gal- 

 deron. Upon presenting to the General our credentials and the various 

 personal letters of introduction with which we were supplied, we were 

 invited to be the guests of himself and staff during such time as we 

 should necessarily be delayed in getting together the horses and other 

 equipment for our work. We were only too glad to accept this invitation, 

 since there was not a comfortable hotel or lodging house in the place. 



