[33] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. . 403 



ooze, latitude 1° 13' K, longitude 88° 02' W., followed by a cast at 4.45 

 p. m., iu 1,379 fathoms, ooze, latitude 0° 30' K, longitude 88° 37' 30" 

 W. A cast of the trawl resulted in a water haul, notwithstanding an 

 unusual allowance of rope. 



The line of the hydrographic soundings from Cape Mala to the Gala- 

 pagos via the reported position of Rivadeneyra Shoal ended with the 

 last cast, and demonstrated the non-existence of the danger in the po- 

 sition assigned it, or in the line of our soundings. The matter should 

 not be considered as finally settled, however, for it may lie north or 

 south of our route, and it is only by a line of soundings at right angles 

 to those of the Albatross that it can be satisfactorily determined. 



Chatham Island was sighted from the mast-head at daylight on the 

 4th of April, and at 5.31 a. m. we cast the trawl in 812 fathoms, glo- 

 bigeriua ooze, latitude 0° 24' S., longitude 80° 0G' W., and again at 

 9.07 in G3G fathoms, gray sand, latitude 0° 36' 30" S., longitude 89° 

 19' W. A third haul was made at 2.20 p. m., in 45 fathoms, gray sand, 

 latitude 0° 50' S., longitude 89° 36' W. They were all successful, al- 

 though the net was badly torn, the second and third casts having come 

 iu contact with rocks or coral heads. 



The Galapagos Islands. — Steaming along the west, or lee side of Chat- 

 ham Island, we passed Kicker Rock, its vertical walls, 100 feet or more 

 in height, giving it the appearance of a sail ; in fact it was reported by 

 the lookout as a square-rigged vessel. Dalrymple Eock is smaller, 

 from 50 to GO feet in height, and at a distance resembles a boat with lug 

 sail. It lies about 2 miles from Lido Point, and is an unmistakable land- 

 mark. 



At 3.20 p. m. we anchored in Wreck Bay, a safe and convenient har- 

 bor, near the southwest end of Chatham Island. This is the sea-port 

 of the Hacienda del Progres, a plantation located on the highlands in 

 the interior of the island, about 5 miles distant, and connected with the 

 coast by a good wagon road. The bay is surrounded by low land cov- 

 ered with bushes and small trees, and a smooth steep sand beach affords 

 convenient landing. The projecting points are composed of lava rock. 

 There is a light-house near the beach, and a short distance south of it 

 a store-house, which is also used as a keeper's dwelling, the landing- 

 place being directly in front of it. 



The land begins to rise a few hundred yards from the beach, aud the 

 ascent is constant until the hacienda is reached, at an elevation of 

 about 900 feet above the level of the sea. The low lands of Chatham, 

 in common with those of all the islands of the archipelago, is entirely 

 without living water, aud in the dry season presents a most barren and 

 desolate appearance. All this is changed, however, during the rainy 

 season, which usually begins about the 1st of April, and continues un- 

 til the last of June. It began in February this year, and iu consequence 

 everything was fresh and green, the general aspect being decidedly 

 tropical. 



