2o6 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



more than four hundred miles of the heavy seas of 

 the Southern Pacific is a further inducement. A 

 naturalist finds an additional attraction in the general 

 sympathy and helpfulness which he may expect from 

 every officer in a German ship. Courtesy and friendly 

 feeling are almost invariably to be found on board our 

 steamers, but the pursuits of a naturalist rarely seem 

 to call forth the slightest show of interest. 



Our departure was fixed for two p.m., but in fact 

 we did not move till past seven, long after dark at 

 this season. On getting out to sea we found a 

 moderate swell running from the southward, and 

 moved slowly, as coal was economized. On the follow- 

 ing morning we found ourselves rather far from land, 

 and, although the weather was moderately clear, we 

 had only a few distant glimpses of the coast during 

 the day. The barometer fell slowly about two-tenths 

 of an inch from morning to night, and it seemed 

 evident that we were about to bid farewell to the 

 bright skies of Central Chili. We were to take in 

 coal for the voyage to Europe at Lota, about two 

 hundred and fifty nautical miles south of Valparaiso. 

 That distance could be easily accomplished, even by 

 the Rhamses, in twenty-four hours ; but as there was 

 no object in arriving before morning, we economized 

 fuel and travelled slowly. Heavy rain fell during the 

 entire night, and ceased only when, on the morning of 

 May 31, we entered the harbour of Lota. 



Lota is a place which, although not marked on 

 Stanford's latest map of South America, has within 

 a short time risen to considerable importance, owing 

 to the discovery of extensive deposits of lignite of 



