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226 A P r E N D I X .
on landing at the point we saw a smoke on the east side of the bay,
and, on pnlHng oyer there, found two fishermen, who told us that
the place was HUESO PARADO, and that Paposo was round another
point about eight miles to the northward. On inquiring for water,
they brought us some, which was better than what was used in some
other places to the southward, but it was still scarcely fit for use;
they said it was similar at Paposo, and they thought it very good.
In the south comer of the bay there appeared to be fit anchorage for
vessels, and the lanchng good, but very open to northerly mnds.
No vessel had ever been there in the recollection of the men that we
spoke to, neither had they heard of any ; they described Paposo as
ha^dng only four ' ranchos' and a few fishermen : the port not good.
Tlie bay that Paposo is. in they called Nuestra Señora, the north
point of the bay Point Eincon, and the soiith, Point Grajide; the
projecting point, answering to the Point Nuestra Señora of the
Spanish charts, they called Point Plata. The bay to the northward
of Point Ballena, is Ballenita; the bay in which we anchored
to the northward of it is called Lavata; the point, with the peninsula,
is Isla de las Tortolas : the point to the northward of it Point
San Pedro; the liay which we were in afterwards is Isla Blanca,
and the point of Hueso Parado Bay, Point Taltal.
The only place at which we observed the time of syzygial high-water,
quite satisfactorily, was Huasco,* where it is 8.30, and the rise fomfeet
at neap tides; at springs, it rises about two feet more. From
the swell on all tljis coast, it is very difficult to get the time of highwater
at all near the truth; the rise and fall appeared to be five
or six feet on all parts of the coast. The only perceptible current
we experienced was in the channel between Sugar Loaf Island and
the main, where there was a very slight one to the northward, not
more than a quarter of a mile an hour; and this was after a fresh
breeze from the southward for several days. It is said, however, by
coasters, that there is usually a set, towards the north, of about
half a mile an hour. ,
• And here the tide was very carefully observed in a cove, where
there was no swell; yet from the small rise, the exact time could not be
taken within a few minutes. The water remained at the same level
about half an hour.
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A P I ' E N U I X .
W I N D S ON THE COAST OF CHILE.
Very few words will suffice to give strangers to the coast of
Chile a clear idea of the winds and weather they may expect to
find there, for it is one of the least uncertain climates on the face
of the globe.
From the paraUel of 35° S., or thereabouts, to near 25 b., the
wind is southerly, or south-easterly, during nine months out of
twelve; in part of the other three there are calms, or Ught
variable breezes, and the remainder is reaUy bad weather : northerly
gales and heavy rain prevailhig, not only on the coast, but far
across the ocean in parallel latitudes.
From September to May is the fine season, during which the skies
of Chile are generally clear, and, comparatively speaking, but little
rain falls. I do not, however, mean that there are not occasional
exceptions to the general case : strong northers have been Imown
(though rarely) in summer ; and two or three days of heavy ram,
with tat little intermission, now and then disturb the equanimi^
of those who have made arrangements with impUcit confidence in
the serenity of a summer sky. These unwelcome interruptions are
rarer, and of less consequence, northward of 31° than they ai'e to
the south of that paraUel : so nearly uniform, indeed, is the climate
of Coquimbo, that the city is called ' La Serena.'
In settled weather a fresh southerly wind springs up a Kttle before
noon (an hour sooner or later), and blows till about sunset, occasionally
till midnight. This wmd is sometimes quite furious in the
height of summer; so strong, indeed, that sHps may be prevented
from working into anchorages, especially Valparaiso Bay, although
they may take every previous precaution, by sending down topgallant
yards, striHng top-gaUant masts, and close-reefing fteir
sails. But the usual strength of the southerly sea-breeze (as it is
caUed, though it blows along the land from the south) is such as a
good ship would carry double-reefed top-sails to, while working to
windward.
Tliis is also nearly the average strength of a southerly wind in
the open sea, between the parallels above-mentioned, and there it is
neither so strong by day, nor does it die away at night. Within
sight of the land a ship finds the wind freshen and cUminish,
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