4io A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R T
JJ7M- four inches in circumference downwards, being all white rope, fuch as
—----- 1 the Spanilh trading veffels in thefe feas ufe for running rigging. Thefe
feveral fervices were all put into a regular train of execution; but as the
following day was the anniverfary of our departure from Falmouth, and
the commencement of the fifth year of our labours, all work was fuf-
pended, and the people as ufual had the day to themfelves. They were
all ferved with a double allowance of grog, and an excellent dinner, com-
pofed of the various good things that this country fo abundantly afforded.
Wcdncf, i. All our operations were cheerfully refumed the next morning; and on
my vifiting the artificers employed on the mail, I had the mortification to
underftand, that on framing the heel of the mail for the purpofe of its
becoming the head, that end, near to the placé where the cheeks were to
be fixed on to it, was found to be extremely decayed, and fcareely in a
better ftate than the other extremity. It was however, though rotten,
not fprung, and having no refource but that of applying the beft remedy
in our poffeuion, two flout cheeks made of our fpare anchor flocks, together
with two ftrong fifiies, were fixed to the mail below the partners
of the main deck, and continued up to its head; and even with thefe additional
feeurities, it would be but a crippled flick to depend upon : yet
as' we had no alternative, we were compelled to make the beft fhift we
could, which would neceffarily oblige Us to be particularly cautious,
and to prefs it as little as pofhble in our paffage homewards.
The obfervatory, with the requifite inftruments, was fent on fhore,
and, as ufual, committed to the charge of Mr. Whidbey, for the purpofe
of making fuch obfervations as were now become neceffary for afcertaining
the rates and errors of the chronometers, and for finding the latitude and
longitude of Valparaifo. Having made this and feme other arrangements
for carrying into feffefl the re-equipment of the veffels, I determined
to avail myfelf of the obliging permiffion of the prefident to vifit
the capital of Chili, and ordered preparations to be made for an excur-
fiott to St. Jago.
Our party was to confift of Mr. Puget and Lieutenant Johnftone of
the Chatham, and Lieutenants Baker and Swaine, and Mr. Menzies of
the Difcovery. I had already made known to governor Alava my intention
r o u n d t h e w o r l d .
tention of vifiting St. Jago, who very obligingly gave direHions, as Val- H9sparaifo
did not afford any travelling carriages, that we fhould be pro- 1---- -
vided with a proper number of horfes and mules for the expedition ; the
former for our riding, and the latter for carrying our luggage.
I now had the pleafure of finding that His Excellency the Prefident,
together with his polite invitation to the capital, had alfo fent two dragoons
from St. Jago, who were natives of Ireland, in his Catholic Majefty s fervice,
for the purpofe of being our guides and interpreters, and for rendering
us every other fervice that we might require on the journey. Thefe
people had been long in New Spain; they Teemed to be highly delighted
with the charge now intruded to their care, and not a little proud of the '
power and confequence that was attached to i t ; for, as on this occafion
they bore the immediate order of the Captain-general, they had authority
to do many aHs from which, in the capacity of dragoons only, they
were prohibited. This power, amongft other things, permitted them to
take any horfe or horfes whatfoever, whether in the ftables or at paflure,
for the purpofe of facilitating the fervice on which they were employed ;
but as our vifit to St. Jago was purely for recreation, I would not permit
any compulfory meafures to be reforted to for our accommodation;
and a fufficient number of horfes Was foon procured, at twelve dollars
each, for the journey thither, and back again to Valparaifo.
Every thing being'prepared, we fet out early on friday morning, with Friday 3.
a-numerous cavalcade; for, notwithftanding this country had been fettled
a great length of time, we were given to underftand that we fhould
find no accommodation on the road between thefe two principal towns of
the kingdom of Chili, excepting fuch as might be met with m the villages
through which we might pafs or occafionally flop at, and thefe
would confift only of a fired or uninhabited .empty houfe. A fupply of
provifions might be depended upon, but there were neither beds, feats,
tables nor any fort of convenient or neceffary articles or utenfils to prepare
them for our table; all thefe, with our cook, we were obliged to
take with us ; and, left we fhould be difappointed of the promifed flielter,
we were provided with a tent, which was packed in convenient travelling
trunks, and carried on the backs of the mules, according to the
• 3 G 2 ufual ■