$10 Mr Scolder's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 



19th December. — This morning we left Juan Fernandez, 

 and directed our course to the Gallapagos. The island of Juan 

 Fernandez, for beauty of scenery and richness of verdure, ex- 

 exceeds any place we visited during our voyage. Independent 

 of its natural beauty, the deserted houses and ruined gardens 

 give variety to the landscape, and add an interest to the sce- 

 nery which the unsettled desert cannot possess. Previous to 

 going on board the ship, our countryman, whose exhausted 

 wardrobe we had in some degree replenished, gave us the ac- 

 ceptable present of a goat which he had feeding near the 

 house, and would gladly have added more to our fresh stock, 

 had it been in his power. 



7th January. — Our passage to the Gallapagos was the most 

 pleasant part of our voyage. We enjoyed the serene weather 

 and cloudless sky of the tropical regions. During this wea- 

 ther the Noddy {Sterna stolida) for the first time alighted on 

 our vessel, a bird which we only saw in the tropical climates. 

 This bird is remarkable for the stupidity with which it al- 

 lows itself to be taken ; it would perch on the rigging, and, 

 regardless of our presence, quietly allow itself to be laid hold of. 

 9th. — We saw Chatham Island, one of the Gallapagos. 

 The appearance of this island at a distance indicates but little 

 fertility. The land consisted of low conical hills rising gra- 

 dually from the ocean, and bounded by a flat sandy beach, 

 against which the sea beat with some violence. On the hills 

 many dark patches of land appeared entirely deprived of ve- 

 getable covering. 



10th. — To-day the boat was sent to land on James's island, 

 to ascertain what was to be found in the way of fresh provi- 

 sions. The land is in some places very abundant in trees and 

 shrubs, while other situations presented a bare and exposed 

 surface, consisting of masses of lava. Such at least was the 

 appearance from the ship. In the afternoon the boat return- 

 ed, bringing two very large turtles (T. viridis,) Iguanas, and 

 plenty of fish. Those who had been in the boat assured us 

 that the shore abounded in turtles, and that tortoises were to be 

 got in the woods. They had not however seen any fresh water. 

 11th.— Next day we went ashore in the long-boat, and 

 found considerable difficulty in landing, on account of the 



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