A CALM. 69 
entrance to the bay is easily found.—In fine 
weather they are excellent guides. 
A brisk south wind carried us swiftly to- 
wards the land, which, far from charming the 
eye with the picturesque beauty of Brazil, pre- 
sents an almost undeviating straight line.— 
The round sides of the mountains are but 
sparingly covered with vegetation, and in this 
dry season had a sterile appearance. At noon, 
having doubled the Island of Quiquirino, at the 
the mouth of the bay, we found ourselves in a 
smooth and spacious sheet of water, surrounded 
by crowds of sea-dogs, dolphins, whales, and 
water-birds, which abound on the coasts of 
Chili. This part of the country is but thinly 
inhabited, and a few poor and scattered huts 
only are visible. During the centuries that it 
has been in possession of the Spaniards, it has 
advanced as little as their other colonies in cul- 
tivation or civilization. 
The calm made it impossible on that day to 
reach the village of 'Talcaguana, where ships 
usually lie at anchor, and we were consequently 
obliged in the evening to lay-to at some miles 
distance. 
