>795- condition, I did not confider myfelf warranted to indulge my inclinations
■ Al riU . at the hazard of His Majefty’s (hips under my command, and at the rilk
of the lives of fo many valuable men, who had cheerfully endured the
fatigues of our former furvey, and who, after fo long an abfence from
their native country were intitled, in a peculiar manner, to every care and
prote&ion that were in my power, for the purpofe of infuring them a fafe
return to their families and friends.
The main-yard was fent on fhore, and the carpenters were immediately
employed upon i t ; but as I could not flatter myfelf that it would be in a
ftate fit to be received again on board in lefs than eight or ten days, I employed
this interval in examining the ftores and provifioUs with which we
had been fupphed, in attending to the repairs of the veffels, vifiting the
obfervatory on Ihore, and making fome obfervations on the harbour and
town of Valparaifo ; with which, and the refult of the aftronomical and
nautical obfervations made during our flay, I Ihall conclude this chapter.
The caulkers were yet bufy on the decks and other parts of the Dif-
edvery, and the rigging demanded infinitely more repair than I had fup-
pofed it would have required, owing to the very rotten and decayed ftate
of almoft every rope on board. In thefe eflential fervices the artificers
were conftantly engaged, .whilft the reft of the crew were employed in
procuring a full fupply of water, and fuch a ftock of flour and other pro-
vifions as I confidered would be neceffary until we fhould arrive at St.
Helena.
Ships deftined to the port of Valparaifo, lhould endeavour during the
fummer months to make the coaft well to the fouthward of the bay, in
order that a fair wind may be infured for entering the bay. The fouth-
e-rly winds, which in general extend from 60 to 70 leagues from the
coaft, moftly prevail until the month of may ; and from the middle o f
that month during all the months of june, july, auguft, and feptember,
I was given to underftand the prevailing winds were .from the north.
Thefe winds are commonly attended with great quantities of rain, and
very foggy weather, but they do not often blow with much violence.
As foon as the wind returns to the fouthward the dry feafon commences,
and fo it continues with little variation during the remainder o f the year.
Thefe
Thefe winds, however, frequently blow very ftrong, fo as to break vef- Aprfi.
fels adrift, though well fecured by anchors on the fhore, near to the ' v 1
town of Valparaifo. Within four or-five leagues of the point of Angels,
which is the weftern point of the bay, is a low rocky point, near to which
is a detached high barren rock; . thefe points lie from each other s. 51 w.
and N.51 e . T o the northward of the above low rocky point, are
fome flattered rocks, that lie about two miles from the point, and about
a fourth of that diftance from the fhore, and to the northward of thefe
rocks is a fandy bay, on the north-eaft fide of which is a houfl. In
this bay I was led to believe that anchorage might be had, though the
fituation is certainly very much expofed. The point of Angels, (off
which are alfo fome rocks lying very near to it,) may be approached by
failing at the diftance of half a league from the fhore,. and as foon as the
point is paffed the town of Valparaifo is inftantly difeovered. About
feven miles to the north-eaft from this point is a clufter of rocks lying
at fome diftance from the fhore, on. which the fea breaks violently ; but
we had no opportunity of aftertaining their fituation with any degree
of precifion. The bay is about four miles wide, and about a mile
deep ; apparently free from any fort of danger ; but as it is greatly expofed
to the northerly winds, the trading veffels conftantly moor with
two good anchors and cables in that direction, and with other cables
faft to anchors on fhore, in 5 or 6 fathoms water, foft fandy bottom,
near to the cuftom-houfe ; by which means it is expe&ed that the officers
of the revenue may be enabled to prevent any. contraband trade, by
vigilantly attending to their duty in the day time, and by a rowing
guard during the night. The depth of the water gradually increafes
with the diftance, from the fhore to 35 fathoms, and the bottom becomes
more tenacious. In the depth of 16 fathoms, in which we took
our ftation, ft was a very ftiff clay. Here we moored a cable each way,
to the northward and to the fouthward, the point of Angels bearing by
compafs N: 35 w., the fort in the town n. 86 w._, the redoubt on the
hill s. 5 e „ the church at Almandrel s. 65 E„ the eaft fort N . 83 e . , the
eaft point of the bay N . 57 E„ and the neareft fhore. s. 7 w „ a cable’s
length diftant.
V ol. HI. 3 I On