NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 227 



was composed of the remains of Radiolaria, and these deposits have consequently been 

 called Radiolarian ooze. The well known chalk-like rock from the island of Barbados 

 and the Nicobar Islands resembles in many respects a Radiolarian ooze, and a somewhat 

 similar formation is also found in parts of Greece, Sicily, and other places ; it is chiefly 

 made up of the delicate, and in most cases wonderfully preserved, perforated skeletons of 

 Polycystina (Spumellaria and Nassellaria). 



" It has been stated (p. 216) that the method of lowering the tow-net and dragging it 

 at a depth of 50 and 100 fathoms proved a great success. No attempt was, however, 

 made to drag the nets at still greater depths till the Expedition reached the western 

 part of the Pacific, south of Japan, when they were lowered to 900, 1000, and even 2000 

 fathoms, and subsequently these nets were attached to the trawl, the dredge, and different 

 parts of the dredging line. The immediate result of these experiments was the dis- 

 covery of a large number of Rhizopodal organisms not hitherto met with in the shallower 

 water, the most characteristic of which were the Phaeodaria. The net never failed to 

 bring - up some of these species when sent down to great depths, in both the Pacific 

 and Atlantic ; but, on the other hand, they were never met with when the net was 

 dragged within 100 fathoms of the surface, except on one or two occasions in the 

 Antarctic Ocean." 



Bahia. 



The Expedition remained at Bahia ten days, the departure being somewhat hastened 

 owing to one of the crew, who had been sleeping on shore, having caught yellow fever, 

 from which he afterwards died. Yellow fever is nearly always prevalent at Bahia, nor 

 can this be wondered at when the absence of sanitary arrangements in some parts of 

 the town is considered, the streets having in many places no drains. Viewed from the 

 sea, Bahia is a charmingly situated place. 



Lying here during the stay was a small Brazilian ironclad of about 1000 tons, armed 

 with two 150-pounder rifled guns and two 68-pounder smooth bores. The vessel had 

 been engaged in the Paraguay war, and was reported to be a good one for river work 

 or coasting in smooth water, but a bad sea boat ; in fact the sister ship was swamped 

 and went down, but the number of the crew lost could not be ascertained. 



San Marcello do Mar, a circular fort built on a detached rock off the landing place, is 

 used as a school for boys entering the Brazilian navy. 



Into the wide bay of Bahia, which is twenty miles across in the broadest part, open 

 several navigable rivers, on two of which steamers ply regularly. The Peruaguacu, the 

 largest of these, is navigable for fifty-four miles up to a town called Caxoeira. At 

 Caxoeira a railway was in process of construction. The English engineer of the line 

 Mr. Hugh Wilson, most hospitably offered to provide free passes by the steamer to 

 Caxoeira, and the use of his own mules, and a guide for a trip thence up country, to any 



