384 ALEXANDER AGASSIZ 



the trip -were carefully thought out and arranged for far 

 in advance. 



On his way to Ceylon, where he was to join the Amra, 

 he spent three weeks in Paris, husy seeing his friends, 

 having his portrait by Lefebvre finished, and as usual 

 mulling over all sorts of projects for the future. 



TO SIR JOHN MURRAY 



Paris, Oct. 26, 1901. 



I am very glad you are likely to pass through Paris 

 while I am here. Let me know beforehand, if you can, 

 so I may be sure to be on hand. 



I begin to feel as if I might have taken Gardiner's 

 say on tbe Maldives and not go there ; still I fancy it 's 

 just as well to have a look at them. From his prelimi- 

 nary Report, he must have worked very hard there. If 

 I can make up my mind, I want next winter to explore 

 Lake Nicaragua. I 've had it in mind for quite a while. 

 It is said there are sharks and skates and other marine 

 fishes and things ! " Quien sabe?" anyway, it is prob- 

 ably a remnant of the sea, elevated in 1 ? times, and 

 one might bring up something of interest by dredging, 

 and collecting there. It 's quite accessible via Panama, 

 and in winter the climate there is fine, hot but not 

 unhealthy, and I believe there are a number of small 

 steamers available for the depths of the Lake, which is 

 said to be not more than 130 to 150 fathoms. 



Agassiz sailed from Genoa on November 26, on the 

 Prinz Heinrich, taking with him as assistants his son 

 Max, Dr. Woodworth, and Dr. H. B. Bigelow. 



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