I 



GUANO 



41 



T^de, that a company was formed for its importation. This com- 

 [)any succeeded in obtaining an exclusive privilege from the Peru- 

 vian and Bolivian governments. Within the last five years tke 

 ;iemand for guano has increased from a few tons to such an ex- 

 ^ent that it is estimated that in '43 and '44 there were upwards 

 ;; bf 1000 vessels, of large class, engaged in transferring this manure 

 , rem its barren places of deposit to the ports of Europe ; a small 

 . )roportion only was landed in the United States. Guano is con- 

 ;! ined, so far as discoveries have been made, to the west coast of 

 1 iouth America and the southwestern coast of Africa. It occurs 

 1 1 beds varying from thirty to sixty and somctiihes one hundred 

 set thick, upon the islands and rocky promontories that skirt the 

 oast. It is the product of birds— flamingoes, pelicans, &c., which 

 aving been in possession of these islamis for ages, in innumerable 

 umbers, their droppings have accumulated to the enormous extent 

 ist mentioned. This depth is undoubtedly increased by the car- 

 ! ises of dead birds and seals, as the bones are found in great 

 i uantitics at all depths. These birds are found frequenting the 

 )asts and islands of all latitudes in as profuse numbers, but as 

 tin or moisture would dissolve and render useless all deposits' 

 om them, and consequently prevent any accumulation, we find 

 ue guano confined to those regions which are comparatively free 

 cm rain. The western coast of South America is, with the ex- 

 ption of some few points, almost barren, consisting of rocky and 

 luly deserts. Almost a total immunity from rain Is a character- 

 -ic of this coast, consequently the dung of the birds has been 

 reserved in great purity. Among the deposits already opened 

 le Iquique, latitude 20° 20' south, Babellon de Pica, St. Lohos 

 itie miles south of Pica, Isle of Torricella, Islay, Jesus, the 

 lands^about the port of Arica, latitude 18° 20' south, longitude 

 16' west from Greenwich, the Chincha islands in latitude 14° 

 i;' south, longitude 76° west from Greenwich. These last are 

 ijiorted as bearing beds 900 feet thick and of the best quality. 

 [Although so lately introduced to us, yet this substance is noticed 

 along the earliest accounts given by the Spaniards of South 

 Aerica. The Peruvians, and various Indians inhabiting that 

 cimtry have been accustomed from time immemorial to the use 

 olguano. So great was their estimation of this manure that 

 gat care was taken not to molest in any way the birds which 



»"0L. II. — NO. I. F 



