"what Is The Balsa?"

There was, 110 doubt, a question in the minds of mauy who read Ênsigu Lucien YouDg's graphic description of the wreek of the Huron and of bis own escapo on "the balsa." The latter is a fait or float, and on the Pacific coast of South America, whence the name is derived, it is made of whole hides of builocks Bewed into air-tight bngs, two of whieh are fastened together at the smaller end, and forra a flat, upon which a board is laid cross was. On tliis board the oecupant of the balsa sits, with kgs daagling in the water, and by means of a paddie guilles the buo.yant raft through the surf. The balsa is mueh used by Peruvian women, who go out to vessels at anchor off shore to sell provisions, frnits and whisky to the sailors. As they sit on the cros3-borul, with the inflaited bas;s spread out like two wings from their poiut of junction, ut'nr wkich the board is placed, ono end of the balsa is elevated high above the water, and it ia ouly necessary to turn this end to shore as the balsa approaches the breakers to insure a safe passage through them. The balsa of the Huron waa probably au air-filled Iudia-rubber float, suffidently like its South American prototype to bear the family name. It saved the lives of two men, and, under more favorable circumstiinces, miglit have carried a line ashore acd been instrumental in saving the lives of others.-