Vol. II, Pt. I] VAN DEMBURGH— GALAPAGOS TORTOISES 233 



tortoise, while Hull and myself carried the tents, etc.. all on a 

 pole. Arrived at the shore, after quite a short rest we started 

 up again to bring down some more tortoises. Beck and the 

 mate went up again after dinner, bringing down two more. 

 Meantime Hull and myself got the stuff packed up, the tor- 

 toises in the boat, and things arranged for leaving. We then 

 took the skiff, leaving the camp outfit ashore, as we were to 

 return on Monday. The schooner had left Conway Bay some 

 time before, and was quite close by the island ; and in a short 

 time we were all on board with our seven tortoises. 



"Sept. 20. — Went ashore quite early. We pitched tents and 

 went up to the first station; brought down two tortoises half 

 way, ate a little lunch we had taken up with us, and took a 

 short rest. We went up to the first station again and brought 

 the tortoises down to the shore. The mate cooked a good 

 supper of rice, coffee, meat (canned corned beef), and bread 

 and butter, canned fruit for dessert. We sat around the camp- 

 fire till 8 o'clock. The seals kept up a continual noise all night. 



"Sept. 21. — Had an early breakfast, and all went to the first 

 station. The mate and myself brought a tortoise down to the 

 camp (moved down to shore). While Hull and Beck brought 

 one half way and returned for another, mate and myself ate 

 lunch, then went to half-way station and brought another one 

 down to the shore. Meantime Beck and Hull got theirs down. 

 It was getting late in the afternoon, so we lay off for the 

 remainder of the day. 



"'Sept. 22. — Got up early. After breakfast we went up to 

 the half-way station and brought down two tortoises ; went up 

 again immediately and brought down two more. Had dinner 

 and took a rest. At about 3 p. m. we went up again and 

 brought down two more, which made the last of the twenty- 

 nine tortoises from Duncan Island. 



"Sept. 23. — Did not get up quite as early. After breakfast 

 I worked a little around the beach, turning over rocks for 

 marine animals; then secured several lizards. We got the 

 eleven tortoises down on the beach. We then put six into 

 the skiff, together with the outfit. Beck steering, the mate and 

 myself pulled to the vessel, which had come over from Conway 

 Bay. We got aboard all right, and shortly after the rest of 

 the tortoises and Hull were taken aboard. Then we headed off 



