VOYAGE TO THE
CH AP . on the rocks, and among the trees. There are one or two species of
I- snakes; a large one resembling the common English adder is frequent,
October, and a small green snake was caught by one of the officers.
1820. numerous, only coming into the bay
with a particular wind. The number of whales which guard the
entrance, and the shoals of seals, grampuses, and porpoises, which crowd
the bay, must destroy a great many. Shell-fish' are an exception to
this scarcity, and being very large, form no small portion of the food
of those inhabitants who live on the borders of the bay. Besides the
choros, a large muscle, and locas {concho kpiis), mentioned by Ulloa,
there are several other small species which are more esteemed than the
large choros, a number of razor-shells, and some venuses. Large sea-
eggs are highly esteemed, and, like the others, eaten raw. The smaller
shell-fish are, various sorts of limpets, turbos, neritas, nuirex, and some
others : there are also a great many crabs.
In the survey of the Bay of Conception a shoal was discovered by
Lieutenant Belcher on the Penco side, which is probably that upon
which a vessel struck some time previous, but which the boats of the
squadron could not afterwards find. It was necessary to make some
alteration in the position of the Belen bank, from the manner in which
it is laid down in the Spanish charts, and the shoal said to occur off the
sandy point of Quiriquina does not in fact exist. The western entrance
was thoroughly examined, and found to be quite safe, though
very narrow, and should only be used in all cases of difficulty in
weathering Paxaros Nihos, with a northerly wind. The Bay of St.
Vincent does not appear to me to afford security to any vessel of more
than a hundred tons with a strong westerly wind; and 1 would advise
no large ship to put in there under such circumstances, if she could
possibly avoid it. Further information on the subject will be found
among the Nautical liemarks.
Conception, as a place of refreshment, in every way answered our
expectations; fresh beef, poultry, good water, vegetables, and wood
are to be had: they happened to be dear at the time of our visit, but
no doubt, if the country remains tranquil, they will be both cheap
and more abundant.
On the 20th our operations were completed; but a strong northerly CH A P ,
wind prevented our putting to sea, and we anchored under the little , ,
island of Quiriquina. This place is very secure resting, and, in the
winter season, it is a better anchorage to refit a ship at than that off
Talcahuana. It is small, and a ship must lie very close to the shore.
After two days of contrary wind, we put to sea on the 24th, and three
days afterwards anchored at Valparaiso, in the hope of receiving some
supplies which we could not procure at Conception; but being disappointed
in their arrival, on the 29th we weighed, and took our final
leave of the coast.
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