126 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
winter. Now there are cactus vines over doors and 
gateways full of white blossoms which look exactly 
like the night blooming cereus, as large and lovely, 
though I suppose they cannot be the same kind or 
they would not be open in the daylight. Altogether 
I find myself very happy to be back here again. I did 
not think it would give me so much pleasure to see it 
all once more. 
Rio de Janeiro, February 10 
Tue life one falls into on board ship is so strange. You 
have known it only in the European passages, where 
in the first place you have so many more companions 
to choose from, and then you know too that it is only 
for a fortnight; but to be shut up with some eighteen 
people for a year in such narrow quarters, seeing them 
day in and day out, all their little peculiarities brought 
out by the friction of close contact, is a curious ex- 
perience; and then you add to it that you yourself are 
subjected to the same sharp analysis — that they are 
looking at you through their microscope as well as you 
at them through yours, and the position is still more 
singular. 
TO MRS. QUINCY A. SHAW 
Straits of Magellan, Sandy Point, February 18 
Here we are safe and sound at the threshold of the 
wonderful region where mountains rise steeply from 
narrow ocean channels and glaciers plunge sheer down 
into the sea, — at least, that is what people say. I'll 
tell you whether it’s true the next time we meet. Atall 
