l62 



Louis Agassiz. 



The steamer left Playa Parda Cove in the latter 

 part of March, and as they sailed away six fine gla- 

 ciers were visible. From here up the coast, new 

 and attractive features appeared every day. Agassiz 

 made the acquaintance of the Fuegians, finding them 

 a most interesting study. The Hassler anchored in 

 Smythe's Channel, where more glaciers and fine snow- 

 capped mountains were seen and where Agassiz 

 revelled in many of nature's offerings. At every 

 point, even though they tarried but a few hours, he 

 obtained some new and valuable fact hitherto unob- 

 served or unrecorded. Glaciers were ever in his 

 mind and in his report to Professor Peirce he says: 

 April 2yth, — While I was transcribing my report, 

 Pourtales came in with the statement that he had 

 noticed the first indication of an Andean glacier 

 in the vicinity. I have visited the locality twice 

 since. It is a magnificent polished surface, as well 

 preserved as any I have seen upon old glaciated 

 ground or under glaciers of the present day, with 

 well-marked furrows and scratches. Think of it ! a 

 characteristic surface, indicating glacial action, in 

 lat. 37° S., at the level of the sea. The place is only 

 a few feet above tide level, upon the slope of a hill 

 on which stands the ruins of a Spanish fort, near the 

 fishermen's huts of San Vicente, which lies between 

 Conception Bay and the Bay of Aranco. Whether 

 the polished surface is the work of a glacier descend- 

 ing from the Andes to the sea-shore or not, I have 

 not yet been able to determine. I find no volcanic 

 pebbles or bowlders in this vicinity, which, after my 

 experience in San Carlos, I should expect all along 



