1871.] 287 [Grayson. 



Exploring Expedition to the Island op Socorro, from 

 Mazatlan, Mexico. By A. J. Grayson. 



"Socorro is the largest of the group known as the ' Revillagigedo 

 Isles," and is situated in Lat. 18° 35' and Long. 111°. It is about 

 twenty-eight or thirty miles in length and twelve in width ; its great- 

 est altitude 2,000 feet ; the shores are bold and rocky, and as there 

 are no sand beaches, to make a landing in any of its coves, even in 

 calm weather, is attended with great difficulty if not danger. 



"The entire island is rent and torn by volcanic action, to such a 

 degree as to render travelling in the interior very laborious. 



"The ' Revillagigedo Islands' were so named by Capt. Collnett, in 

 1793, in honor of the Mexican Viceroy. Capt. Collnett was commander 

 of the British vessel captured by the Spaniards at Nootka Sound in 

 1788 or 1789, and carried to San Bias as a prisoner, where he was con- 

 fined some time, but was released by order of the Viceroy, then in 

 the City of Mexico. 



" The Island now called Socorro (Succor) was discovered by 

 Hernando de Guxalvo in 1533, and was by him named l Santo To- 

 mas,' which name it bears on all the ancient maps and charts. It 

 derived its present name from the timely relief which it afforded to a 

 ship's crew suffering severely with the scurvy, who were completely 

 restored to health by the use of that valuable antiscorbutic, the 

 prickly pear, which was found in abundance on the Island. This 

 was in the latter part of the last century. 



" On the second day of May, 1867, about 5, P. M., we sailed from 

 the port of Mazatlan on board the sloop ' Republicana,' of twenty- 

 five tons, commanded by Capt. Garcia, a Mexican. 



" My companions were my son, Edward Grayson, and my Mexican 

 servant, Christobal, a boy of fourteen years, to assist me in making 

 my collections of Natural History, etc. A Mr. Anderson accompa- 

 nied the expedition, representing other parties, for the purpose of 

 examining the Islands as to their utility for farming and other pur- 

 poses ; my object being to make a more thorough research of its 

 natural history, than I had done on a previous visit. The wind being 

 fair but light, we made a good offing by dark, and headed for Socorro 

 Island. At 12 M. of the 3d, Lat. 22° 50', Long. 117°, the mercury 

 was 85° Fh. in the cabin, and it was very warm on deck, there being 

 no shade. On the 4th we sighted the ' Tres Marias ' Islands, bear- 



