CHAPTER XV 



1897-1898 

 THE FIJIS 



As soon as Agassiz had returned from Australia, he 

 began to consider what region would be best suited for 

 a further investigation of coral reefs. With the advice 

 of Dana and Admiral Wharton, he selected the Fiji 

 Islands, for they appeared to be remarkably rich in a 

 great variety of coral formations. At once he started 

 preparations for the voyage. He chartered from the Aus- 

 tralasian Navigation Company the steamer Yaralla, of 

 about five hundred tons ; Captain Thomson, who had 

 commanded the Croyden, was again put in charge. The 

 summer before he left, all his equipment and materials 

 for preserving his collections were shipped direct to 

 Sydney. He also planned to take with him a number of 

 the various self-closing nets known to the scientific 

 world, in order to compare them with his old love, the 

 Tanner net. 



While these arrangements were in progress, he spent 

 the spring of 1897 in visiting the last of his unsuccess- 

 ful mining ventures in Mexico. Three days on horse- 

 back from the picturesque little city of Culiacan brought 

 him to the mine. On leaving, he continued his journey 

 across the mountains to Jimenez on the Mexican Cen- 

 tral Railroad ; and from there went to the City of 

 Mexico to arrange some business matters. 



