ON AMERICAN SOIL 181 



part of the structure indicates this purpose. In course 

 of a short time this new line of vessels has reached such 

 a marvelous degree of superiority that clippers of two 

 thousand tons and more sail faster than many of our 

 justly famed steamers, thus breaking the record by cov- 

 ering fourteen to fifteen knots (nearly four German 

 miles) an hour, which is not even taken to be a very 

 remarkable accomplishment by our American brethren. 

 There is, for instance, at anchor in this harbor, the New 

 Year Clipper "Fleeing Cloud," a fine vessel of nineteen 

 hundred tons, which has made the trip from New York 

 with full freight in eighty-nine days and which is the 

 record breaker, as far as hitherto known. Another one, 

 the smaller clipper "Challenge," has made the trip from 

 Valparaiso to this port in twenty-seven days, including 

 four days of calm, while we spent fifty-nine days in mak- 

 ing the passage between the same ports. These clippers 

 aTe, notwithstanding their large freight capacity, the 

 most handsome, easy going and elegant models one can 

 possibly imagine. Special care has been taken to avoid 

 whatever might cause the least resistance to the welcome 

 wind. The whole is in appearance sharp, narrow and 

 long, beautiful to behold. While these well shaped ves- 

 sels are rigged like full-masters, every spare space be- 

 tween the masts is utilized for another smaller sail. 



There need hardly be any mention of the many steam- 

 ers in this great harbor. Ten or twelve a day leave for 

 inland points or seaward, while as many incoming vessels 

 anchor daily, among which may be seen the smallest fish- 

 ing boats and the largest merchant-men often more than 

 two hundred and fifty feet long. The number of steam- 

 ers regularly running between this and foreign ports is 

 given by harbor officials as from one hundred and forty to 

 one hundred and sixty. 



Thus far the city and its harbor. Let us now describe 

 the people. 



