1833.] 
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 
473 
of being well attended to. The consequence is, frequent instances 
of suffering and death, under the most melancholy circumstances, 
but for which neither the owners nor the captains are responsible. 
The mild and healthy climate of Payta would be in its favour ; 
and the expense would be very small, as could easily be shown. 
We could say much more on this subject, but think it high time 
to return to La Floriana. 
The arrival of the Potomac brought the first intelligence to 
Governor Vilamil, that he had been appointed United States con- 
sul for the port of Guayaquil. He remarked, that under any other 
circumstances, he would have received with pride this mark of 
confidence on the part of his native country ; but having engaged 
in his present enterprise, nothing could induce him to abandon it; 
and seated, as it were, upon a rock, separated from all the world, 
he hoped he should be able to render more important services, at 
least to one branch of our commerce, than he could in the con- 
sulate of Guayaquil. 
As governor of the island his power is absolute, and his right 
in the soil is without limit of time. Crimes are punished severely, 
and minor offences by sending the delinquent six, eight, or ten 
months on board any whaler in need of men, to be returned to the 
island previously to the departure of the ship for the United States. 
By this policy the whaler is benefited, the otfender punished, and 
also improved by a knowledge of a new business, and by earning 
something for himself. 
