750 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



Stopping at Lota for coal, but not long 

 enough for any scientific work, the Hassler 

 entered Concepcion Bay on the 15th April, 

 and anchored near Talcahuana, where she was 

 to remain some three weeks for the repair 

 of her engine. This quaint, primitive little 

 town is built upon one of the finest harbors 

 on the Pacific coast. Agassiz was fortunate 

 in finding, through the kindness of Captain 

 Johnson, a partially furnished house, where 

 several large vacant rooms, opening on the 

 " patio," served admirably as scientific labo- 

 ratories. Here, then, he established himself 

 with his assistants. It was soon understood 

 that every living thing would find a market 

 with him, and all the idle urchins about the 

 town flocked to the house with specimens. 

 An unceasing traffic of birds, shells, fish, etc., 

 went on there from morning to night, and to 

 the various vendors were added groups of In- 

 dians coming to have their photographs taken. 

 There were charming excursions and walks in 

 the neighborhood, and the geology of the re- 

 gion was so interesting that it determined 

 Agassiz to go by land from Talcahuana to 

 Valparaiso, on a search after any glacial tracks 

 that might be found in the vaUey lying be- 

 tween the Cordillera of the Andes and the 



