NAUTICAL REMARKS. 411 



marks a little open, and the pointed rock at the south ex- 

 tremity of Quiriquina a little open with Point Garzos, the 

 N.E. extremity of the peninsula, will put you on a two and a 

 half fathom shoal. There is a safe channel all round this 

 shoal : but ships can have no necessity for going to the south- 

 ward or eastward of it. 



On the Quiriquina side of the channel avoid the Aloe shoal 

 (situated one-sixth of a mile off the first bluff to the north- 

 ward of the low sandy point), by keeping the north-west bluff 

 of Espinosa ridge open a sail's-breadth [5^) with Talcahuana 

 Head *, and do not stand into the bay between the Aloe shoal 

 and the sandy point. The low sandy point, Punta Arena, 

 may be approached within three himdred yards, after which it 

 is advisable not to shut in Espinosa Bluff with Talcahuana 

 Head, both mentioned before : for although there is a wide 

 channel between the Belen Bank and Fronton Reef (off the 

 south end of Quiriquina), yet, as there are no good cross 

 marks for the shoal, a stranger had better not run the risk, par- 

 ticularly as there will be found ample space to work between 

 this line and the Para Reef. When the hut on Look-out 

 Hill is over the N.W. extremity of Talcahuana village, and the 

 Fort S. Joa bears W. by S. ^ S. the Belen is past f? find the 

 anchorage may be safely approached by a proper attention to 

 the lead. Be careful to avoid drifting down upon the Belen, 

 either in bringing up in squally weather, or in casting ; and 

 remember that on approaching it the soundings are no guide, 

 as it has eight fathoms close to it. There is no passage inside 

 the shoal for ships, except in case of urgent necessity. There 

 is no good land-mark for the channel. 



Men of war anchor in six or eight fathoms; Fort St. Au- 

 gustine S. 450 W., true; Fort Galvez, N. 5To W., true; Tal- 

 cahuana Head, S. 7° 30' W., true. Merchant vessels usually 



* These are two remarkable bluffs situated to the left of Talcahuana, 

 Espinosa being the furthest inland. 



t This mark, it must be remembered, carries you well clear of the 

 Belen, and in bringing them on, take care not to shoot too far over 

 toward Talcahuana Head, or to shoal the water on that side to less than 

 five fathoms. 



