January18-Thismorning{*4}wecontinuedtothesouthward，withthesamepleasantweatherasbefore。Theseawasentirelysmooth，theairtolerablywarmandfromthenortheast，thetemperatureofthewaterfifty-three。Wenowagaingotoursounding-gearinorder，and，withahundredandfiftyfathomsofline，foundthecurrentsettingtowardthepoleattherateofamileanhour。Thisconstanttendencytothesouthward，bothinthewindandcurrent，causedsomedegreeofspeculation，andevenofalarm，indifferentquartersoftheschooner，andIsawdistinctlythatnolittleimpressionhadbeenmadeuponthemindofCaptainGuy。Hewasexceedinglysensitivetoridicule，however，andIfinallysucceededinlaughinghimoutofhisapprehensions。Thevariationwasnowverytrivial。Inthecourseofthedaywesawseverallargewhalesoftherightspecies，andinnumerableflightsofthealbatrosspassedoverthevessel。Wealsopickedupabush，fullofredberries，likethoseofthehawthorn，andthecarcassofasingular-lookingland-animal。
　　Itwasthreefeetinlength，andbutsixinchesinheight，withfourveryshortlegs，thefeetarmedwithlongclawsofabrilliantscarlet，andresemblingcoralinsubstance。Thebodywascoveredwithastraightsilkyhair，perfectlywhite。Thetailwaspeakedlikethatofarat，andaboutafootandahalflong。Theheadresembledacat’s，withtheexceptionoftheears-thesewerefloppedliketheearsofadog。Theteethwereofthesamebrilliantscarletastheclaws。
　　January19-To-day，beinginlatitude83degrees20’，longitude43degrees5’W。theseabeingofanextraordinarilydarkcolour，weagainsawlandfromthemasthead，and，uponacloserscrutiny，foundittobeoneofagroupofverylargeislands。Theshorewasprecipitous，andtheinteriorseemedtobewellwooded，acircumstancewhichoccasionedusgreatjoy。Inaboutfourhoursfromourfirstdiscoveringthelandwecametoanchorintenfathoms，sandybottom，aleaguefromthecoast，asahighsurf，withstrongrippleshereandthere，renderedanearerapproachofdoubtfulexpediency。Thetwolargestboatswerenoworderedout，andaparty，wellarmedamongwhomwerePetersandmyself，proceededtolookforanopeninginthereefwhichappearedtoencircletheisland。Aftersearchingaboutforsometime，wediscoveredaninlet，whichwewereentering，whenwesawfourlargecanoesputofffromtheshore，filledwithmenwhoseemedtobewellarmed。Wewaitedforthemtocomeup，and，astheymovedwithgreatrapidity，theyweresoonwithinhail。CaptainGuynowheldupawhitehandkerchiefonthebladeofanoar，whenthestrangersmadeafullstop，andcommencedaloudjabberingallatonce，intermingledwithoccasionalshouts，inwhichwecoulddistinguishthewordsAnamoo-moo！andLama-Lama！Theycontinuedthisforatleasthalfanhour，duringwhichwehadagoodopportunityofobservingtheirappearance。
　　Inthefourcanoes，whichmighthavebeenfiftyfeetlongandfivebroad，therewereahundredandtensavagesinall。TheywereabouttheordinarystatureofEuropeans，butofamoremuscularandbrawnyframe。Theircomplexionajetblack，withthickandlongwoollyhair。Theywereclothedinskinsofanunknownblackanimal，shaggyandsilky，andmadetofitthebodywithsomedegreeofskill，thehairbeinginside，exceptwhereturnedoutabouttheneck，wrists，andankles。Theirarmsconsistedprincipallyofclubs，ofadark，andapparentlyveryheavywood。Somespears，however，wereobservedamongthem，headedwithflint，andafewslings。Thebottomsofthecanoeswerefullofblackstonesaboutthesizeofalargeegg。
　　Whentheyhadconcludedtheirharangueforitwascleartheyintendedtheirjabberingforsuch，oneofthemwhoseemedtobethechiefstoodupintheprowofhiscanoe，andmadesignsforustobringourboatsalongsideofhim。Thishintwepretendednottounderstand，thinkingitthewiserplantomaintain，ifpossible，theintervalbetweenus，astheirnumbermorethanquadrupledourown。
　　Findingthistobethecase，thechieforderedthethreeothercanoestoholdback，whileheadvancedtowarduswithhisown。Assoonashecameupwithusheleapedonboardthelargestofourboats，andseatedhimselfbythesideofCaptainGuy，pointingatthesametimetotheschooner，andrepeatingthewordAnamoo-moo！andLama-Lama！Wenowputbacktothevessel，thefourcanoesfollowingatalittledistance。
　　Upongettingalongside，thechiefevincedsymptomsofextremesurpriseanddelight，clappinghishands，slappinghisthighsandbreast，andlaughingobstreperously。Hisfollowersbehindjoinedinhismerriment，andforsomeminutesthedinwassoexcessiveastobeabsolutelydeafening。Quietbeingatlengthrestored，CaptainGuyorderedtheboatstobehoistedup，asanecessaryprecaution，andgavethechiefwhosenamewesoonfoundtobeToo-wittounderstandthatwecouldadmitnomorethantwentyofhismenondeckatonetime。Withthisarrangementheappearedperfectlysatisfied，andgavesomedirectionstothecanoes，whenoneofthemapproached，therestremainingaboutfiftyyardsoff。Twentyofthesavagesnowgotonboard，andproceededtorambleovereverypartofthedeck，andscrambleaboutamongtherigging，makingthemselvesmuchathome，andexaminingeveryarticlewithgreatinquisitiveness。
　　Itwasquiteevidentthattheyhadneverbeforeseenanyofthewhiterace-fromwhosecomplexion，indeed，theyappearedtorecoil。
　　TheybelievedtheJanetobealivingcreature，andseemedtobeafraidofhurtingitwiththepointsoftheirspears，carefullyturningthemup。OurcrewweremuchamusedwiththeconductofToo-witinoneinstance。Thecookwassplittingsomewoodnearthegalley，and，byaccident，struckhisaxeintothedeck，makingagashofconsiderabledepth。Thechiefimmediatelyranup，andpushingthecookononesideratherroughly，commencedahalfwhine，halfhowl，stronglyindicativeofsympathyinwhatheconsideredthesufferingsoftheschooner，pattingandsmoothingthegashwithhishand，andwashingitfromabucketofseawaterwhichstoodby。Thiswasadegreeofignoranceforwhichwewerenotprepared，andformypartI
　　couldnothelpthinkingsomeofitaffected。
　　Whenthevisitorshadsatisfied，aswellastheycould，theircuriosityinregardtoourupperworks，theywereadmittedbelow，whentheiramazementexceededallbounds。Theirastonishmentnowappearedtobefartoodeepforwords，fortheyroamedaboutinsilence，brokenonlybylowejaculations。Thearmsaffordedthemmuchfoodforspeculation，andtheyweresufferedtohandleandexaminethematleisure。Idonotbelievethattheyhadtheleastsuspicionoftheiractualuse，butrathertookthemforidols，seeingthecarewehadofthem，andtheattentionwithwhichwewatchedtheirmovementswhilehandlingthem。Atthegreatgunstheirwonderwasredoubled。Theyapproachedthemwitheverymarkoftheprofoundestreverenceandawe，butforboretoexaminethemminutely。Thereweretwolargemirrorsinthecabin，andherewastheacmeoftheiramazement。Too-witwasthefirsttoapproachthem，andhehadgotinthemiddleofthecabin，withhisfacetooneandhisbacktotheother，beforehefairlyperceivedthem。Uponraisinghiseyesandseeinghisreflectedselfintheglass，Ithoughtthesavagewouldgomad；but，uponturningshortroundtomakearetreat，andbeholdinghimselfasecondtimeintheoppositedirection，Iwasafraidhewouldexpireuponthespot。Nopersuasioncouldprevailuponhimtotakeanotherlook；throwinghimselfuponthefloor，withhisfaceburiedinhishands，heremainedthusuntilwewereobligedtodraghimupondeck。
　　Thewholeofthesavageswereadmittedonboardinthismanner，twentyatatime，Too-witbeingsufferedtoremainduringtheentireperiod。Wesawnodispositiontothieveryamongthem，nordidwemissasinglearticleaftertheirdeparture。Throughoutthewholeoftheirvisittheyevincedthemostfriendlymanner。Therewere，however，somepointsintheirdemeanourwhichwefounditimpossibletounderstand；forexample，wecouldnotgetthemtoapproachseveralveryharmlessobjects-suchastheschooner’ssails，anegg，anopenbook，orapanofflour。Weendeavouredtoascertainiftheyhadamongthemanyarticleswhichmightbeturnedtoaccountinthewayoftraffic，butfoundgreatdifficultyinbeingcomprehended。Wemadeout，nevertheless，whatgreatlyastonishedus，thattheislandsaboundedinthelargetortoiseoftheGallipagos，oneofwhichwesawinthecanoeofToo-wit。Wesawalsosomebichedemerinthehandsofoneofthesavages，whowasgreedilydevouringitinitsnaturalstate。Theseanomalies-fortheyweresuchwhenconsideredinregardtothelatitude-inducedCaptainGuytowishforathoroughinvestigationofthecountry，inthehopeofmakingaprofitablespeculationinhisdiscovery。Formyownpart，anxiousasIwastoknowsomethingmoreoftheseislands，Iwasstillmoreearnestlybentonprosecutingthevoyagetothesouthwardwithoutdelay。Wehadnowfineweather，buttherewasnotellinghowlongitwouldlast；andbeingalreadyintheeighty-fourthparallel，withanopenseabeforeus，acurrentsettingstronglytothesouthward，andthewindfair，I
　　couldnotlistenwithanypatiencetoapropositionofstoppinglongerthanwasabsolutelynecessaryforthehealthofthecrewandthetakingonboardapropersupplyoffuelandfreshprovisions。I
　　representedtothecaptainthatwemighteasilymakethisgrouponourreturn，andwinterhereintheeventofbeingblockedupbytheice。Heatlengthcameintomyviewsforinsomeway，hardlyknowntomyself，Ihadacquiredmuchinfluenceoverhim，anditwasfinallyresolvedthat，evenintheeventofourfindingbichedemer，weshouldonlystayhereaweektorecruit，andthenpushontothesouthwardwhilewemight。Accordinglywemadeeverynecessarypreparation，and，undertheguidanceofToo-wit，gottheJanethroughthereefinsafety，comingtoanchoraboutamilefromtheshore，inanexcellentbay，completelylandlocked，onthesoutheasterncoastofthemainisland，andintenfathomsofwater，blacksandybottom。Attheheadofthisbaytherewerethreefinespringsweweretoldofgoodwater，andwesawabundanceofwoodinthevicinity。Thefourcanoesfollowedusin，keeping，however，atarespectfuldistance。
　　Too-withimselfremainedonboard，and，uponourdroppinganchor，invitedustoaccompanyhimonshore，andvisithisvillageintheinterior。TothisCaptainGuyconsented；andtensavagesbeingleftonboardashostages，apartyofus，twelveinall，gotinreadinesstoattendthechief。Wetookcaretobewellarmed，yetwithoutevincinganydistrust。Theschoonerhadhergunsrunout，herboarding-nettingsup，andeveryotherproperprecautionwastakentoguardagainstsurprise。Directionswereleftwiththechiefmatetoadmitnopersononboardduringourabsence，and，intheeventofournotappearingintwelvehours，tosendthecutter，withaswivel，aroundtheislandinsearchofus。
　　Ateverystepwetookinlandtheconvictionforceditselfuponusthatwewereinacountrydifferingessentiallyfromanyhithertovisitedbycivilizedmen。Wesawnothingwithwhichwehadbeenformerlyconversant。Thetreesresemblednogrowthofeitherthetorrid，thetemperate，ofthenorthernfrigidzones，andwerealtogetherunlikethoseofthelowersouthernlatitudeswehadalreadytraversed。Theveryrockswerenovelintheirmass，theircolor，andtheirstratification；andthestreamsthemselves，utterlyincredibleasitmayappear，hadsolittleincommonwiththoseofotherclimates，thatwewerescrupulousoftastingthem，and，indeed，haddifficultyinbringingourselvestobelievethattheirqualitieswerepurelythoseofnature。AtasmallbrookwhichcrossedourpaththefirstwehadreachedToo-witandhisattendantshaltedtodrink。Onaccountofthesingularcharacterofthewater，werefusedtotasteit，supposingittobepolluted；anditwasnotuntilsometimeafterwardwecametounderstandthatsuchwastheappearanceofthestreamsthroughoutthewholegroup。Iamatalosstogiveadistinctideaofthenatureofthisliquid，andcannotdosowithoutmanywords。Althoughitflowedwithrapidityinalldeclivitieswherecommonwaterwoulddoso，yetnever，exceptwhenfallinginacascade，haditthecustomaryappearanceoflimpidity。Itwas，nevertheless，inpointoffact，asperfectlylimpidasanylimestonewaterinexistence，thedifferencebeingonlyinappearance。Atfirstsight，andespeciallyincaseswherelittledeclivitywasfound，itborere。semblance，asregardsconsistency，toathickinfusionofgumarabicincommonwater。Butthiswasonlytheleastremarkableofitsextraordinaryqualities。Itwasnotcolourless，norwasitofanyoneuniformcolour-presentingtotheeye，asitflowed，everypossibleshadeofpurple；likethehuesofachangeablesilk。ThisvariationinshadewasproducedinamannerwhichexcitedasprofoundastonishmentinthemindsofourpartyasthemirrorhaddoneinthecaseofToo-wit。Uponcollectingabasinful，andallowingittosettlethoroughly，weperceivedthatthewholemassofliquidwasmadeupofanumberofdistinctveins，eachofadistincthue；thattheseveinsdidnotcommingle；andthattheircohesionwasperfectinregardtotheirownparticlesamongthemselves，andimperfectinregardtoneighbouringveins。Uponpassingthebladeofaknifeathwarttheveins，thewaterclosedoveritimmediately，aswithus，andalso，inwithdrawingit，alltracesofthepassageoftheknifewereinstantlyobliterated。If，however，thebladewaspasseddownaccuratelybetweenthetwoveins，aperfectseparationwaseffected，whichthepowerofcohesiondidnotimmediatelyrectify。ThephenomenaofthiswaterformedthefirstdefinitelinkinthatvastchainofapparentmiracleswithwhichIwasdestinedtobeatlengthencircled。