68 BAY OF CONCEPTION. 
fered their supplications to the God, who at 
length relenting, commanded the winds. to 
subside, and suffered the vessel to pass on in 
safety. Soon after another vessel appeared 
bearing our flag, which the God no sooner per- 
ceived than he descended from his throne, took 
the pail respectfully from his head, and made a 
profound obeisance, in token of homage to the 
Russian flag. The olian attendants blew the 
gentlest gales, and we soon vanished with out- 
stretched sails behind our own main-mast. The 
piece concluded amidst universal applause, and 
a double portion of grog served to increase the 
general cheerfulness. 
Thus opened the year 1824.—The crew be- 
lieved that, with the passage of Cape Horn, the 
greatest danger of the voyage was over, and 
were full of life and spirits. On the 15th of 
January we saw far off the Island of St. Maria, 
and on the following morning knew, by the two 
high mountains called Biobio’s Bosom, from 
the river which flows between them, that we 
were approaching the Bay of Conception. As 
soon as these hills are clearly distinguished, the 
