272 SPOETING ADVENTURES 



sum have been shipped to San Francisco; and 

 about 100 miles to the northward of this, near 

 the Californian shore, is the small island of 

 Rossa, where an enterprising Englishman has 

 established himself. This individual is export- 

 ing in large quantities a substance called 

 " Phosphate of Ammonia," but which is by 

 some considered to be another name for guano ; 

 he claims that the article is a mineral, and has 

 " denounced " the island as a mine which he has 

 discovered. 



The mining laws of Mexico provide that any 

 one who discovers a mine shall have the exclusive 

 right to it, upon payment to the Government of 

 a few trifling fees, and a small sum to the 

 nearest judge, for giving judicial possession. 



In about the same latitude, but nearer the 

 coast of Sonora, is another island, named San 

 Georges, on which a large quantity of the same 

 substance has been discovered. There are 

 also other islands in the Gulf, known to possess 

 guano in considerable quantities, but which 

 have not as yet been disturbed ; on the largest 



