206 



The Island of Ichahoe — Guano. 



Vol. IX. 



and which varies in depth from 35 to 38 

 feet. Taking tlie average width of the de- 

 posit at 400 feet, and assuming the average 

 depth to be 30 feet, the total quantity of 

 guano will be about 158 millions of cubic 

 feet. The climate of Ichaboe, notwitlistand- 

 ing the etHuvia of the volatile ammoniacal 

 gases emitted from the guano, is very healthy. 

 As one proof of its salubrity, it is mentioned 

 that at a period when thirty-five ships were 

 lying off the island, their crews, comprising 

 altogether not fewer than 700 men, most of 

 whom were enduring e.xceedingly laborious 

 employment in that hot region, there were 

 only five cases of sickness, and these, com- 

 plaints or affections of the lungs. As has 

 been already remarked, there falls during 

 the night a very heavy dew, attended with 

 a piercing coldness of temperature ; and 

 even during the day, if the sun's rays be 

 intercepted, a cold, disagreeable sensation is 

 immediately experienced. On the sun again 

 breaking forth, its rays speedily scorch the 

 lips, and indeed the whole face and hands, 

 of every person of fair complexion; and the 

 lips of very few escape this tormenting an- 

 noyance. The only relief tlie sufl"erer can 

 find, is by anointing the skin with hogs' 

 lard, in imitation of the custom of the in- 

 habitants of the mainland, who profusely 

 lubricate their persons with palm oil. 



Witli reference to the guano, our author 

 expresses a decided opinion, that the sub- 

 stance is not, as has been generally sup- 

 posed, exclusively composed of the soil of 

 marine birds, which he believes to form only 

 a comparatively small portion of the mass. 

 He supposes it chiefly to consist of the de- 

 composed bodies of marine birds and ani- 

 mals, together with the eggs of the former, 

 and the excrementitious matter of both. He 

 personally superintended the working of a 

 pit of guano, 35 feet by 18 feet, and from all 

 that came daily under his observation, he 

 was inclined to the opinion that this barren 

 rock had been a favourite place of resort for 

 ages, for penguins and otlier aquatic birds; 

 that myriads of them had successively de- 

 posited their eggs there, and had subse- 

 quently died on the island ; and that it had 

 also been a favourite haunt of seals and 

 other marine animals. In working the pit, 

 the men occasionally came to a stratum of 

 a light brown colour, and of greater levity 

 than the strata above and below it, and im- 

 bedded in this stratum they invariably found 

 numerous skeletons of penguins, in the last 

 stage of decomposition, and vast quantities 

 of their eggs. Having worked through this, 

 the men would probably come after a time 

 to another stratum of a much darker brown, 

 and much heavier description ; and the sub- 



stance composing the bulk of this stratum, 

 when rubbed between the fingers, would 

 dissolve like tallow, and exude much more 

 oil or fat than the first. Throughout this 

 dark coloured stratum, the men occasionally 

 found many bones and skeletons of seals 

 nearly decomposed, and but very rarely any 

 remains of penguins. The appearance of 

 the stratum suggested to him the idea of a 

 great number of seals having been washed 

 on shore, or having laid down in this spot to 

 die. He adds, that the strata were not by 

 any means regular in their alternations; but 

 as a general rule, he did not find both the 

 light and the dark coloured strata in close 

 succession. The pit here referred to, was 

 in the centre of the island. 



With regard to the amount of guano ex- 

 isting on Ichaboe and the adjacrnt islands, 

 another writer thus remarks: "I have been 

 many times on this coast, and also on the 

 continent, in search of guano and gold dust, 

 and have found both; but in such small 

 quantities, and of such inferior qualities, 

 that it has not been worth the trouble of 

 shipping home. Here there is no rain, as 

 at Angra Pequina, which makes the guano 

 especially valuable. Many thousands of 

 tons there have been taken in, and cast 

 away when it was discovered the rains had 

 caused fermentation, and destroyed the pro- 

 perties of the guano. It is clear, tlierefbre, 

 that it can only be obtained where no rain 

 falls, and then it must be upon islands which 

 the birds frequent, as they will not settle 

 upon any part of the continent in great 

 numbers. My conclusion, after much search 

 and thought, is, that there is very little gua- 

 no in the world, and that if farmers should 

 expect it they will be deceived. The guano 

 of Ichaboe has been worked since the be- 

 ginning of 1844; up to tlie end of May, 

 about 100 cargoes had been shipped; and 

 now fully one-third of the deposit is gone. 

 I am fearful," continues this writer, " that a 

 great sacrifice will be made in this place. 

 Upwards of 1000 persons from England, — 

 living, for the time, without the law of God 

 or their country — produce much anxiety: 

 several rebellions have taken place ; the 

 Thunderbolt steamer, man-of-war, restored 

 order, but tiie very day she left, the men 

 declared their reign of power to have com- 

 menced. We repressed them, and sent two 

 ringleaders to St. Helena." — Chambers' Ed- 

 inbunrh Journal. 



Shut your eyes to the faults of your 

 neighbours, but open them wide upon your 

 own. Stop your ears to the voice of slan- 

 der, but be ever ready to listen to that of 

 friendly admonition. 



