THE OCEAN VOYAGE 119 



Since we are at anchor in this harbor, already three 

 vessels with state-prisoners have left for the Strait of 

 Magellan, where Chile possesses a colony for criminals, 

 called "Fort Famine," and the rumor has gained cre- 

 dence, that the insurgent-prisoners, who arc mostly sen- 

 tenced to five or ten years of deportation, have simply 

 been shot as soon as the vessel reached high seas. Neither 

 do I consider this charge unreasonable, as I have been 

 an involuntary witness of a transport of eight corpses, 

 which fishermen found last Monday (day before yester- 

 day) in the Bay not far from shore, all with stones, at- 

 tached to the neck by ropes. These were recognized as 

 members of the band of insurgents who had evidently 

 been drowned to make short process with the prisoners. 



Such deeds are enough to arouse the cooler blooded: 

 how much more the hot-headed Chilean. If, however, 

 the excitement were only headed against La Monte and 

 the ruling party, the foreigners could watch the whole 

 matter quietly, but that is not the case. The lower classes 

 hate the English and the Germans unto death, and I am 

 convinced that they are only awaiting an opportunity in 

 order to give vent to their hatred. It has come to the 

 point that no foreigner dares to go after dark to the up- 

 per-town, except in company and well armed; even the 

 less frequented streets of the lower-town are not consid- 

 ered safe. This state of affairs cannot possibly last long 

 and, until complete order will have been restored, I shall 

 advise nobody to emigrate to Chile, particularly if it be 

 hiB intention to settle in the interior. Matters will un- 

 doubtedly be carried to a very dangerous point. The 

 hatred against the English (and the natives seem unable 

 to distinguish between English and Germans) has been 

 fanned anew by a very queer incident. A few weeks ago 

 it occurred that a partisan of Cruces of Coquimbo took 

 possession of a small steamer, belonging to La Monte. 

 As the latter could not possibly s^ot hold of it again, he de- 

 clared it outlawed. The English frigate ''Thesis" hap- 

 pened to be stationed in Coquimbo and undertook to profit 

 by the announcement by forcibly taking possession of 



