GALAPAGOS. 



141 



the deepness of the surrounding ocean, renders 

 these experiments not so fit to be compared with 

 those made in England, as with others made on a 

 similar volcanic soil. 



It was greatly to be regretted that our time was 

 too limited to allow of our engaging in a fresh 

 series, either at the same island, or on some other 

 lying nearer the equator : the service upon which 

 the Conway was employed rendering it necessary 

 that our stay should not be longer at the Galapa- 

 gos than the 16th of January. But as we anchor- 

 ed at Abingdon's Island on the 7th at noon, there 

 remained barely nine complete days in which every- 

 thing was to be done. We had to search for a 

 landing-place, which occupied some considerable 

 time ; to decide upon a station ; to rig our tents ; 

 to build the observatory ; then to land the instru- 

 ments and set them up ; and, as we had no time 

 for trials and alterations, everything required to 

 be permanently fixed at once. We were fortunate 

 in weather during the first two days, when our 

 things were all lying about, and our habitations 

 ill assorted ; but on the third night it rained hard, 

 and the water, which trickled through the canvas^ 



