RESISTING AN ATTACK. 99 
frigate tacking to follow us ; but having already 
greatly the advantage, and the mouth of the 
bay clear before us, we rehoisted our sails, and 
without waiting for further evidence of Chilian 
hostility, stood out to sea; thus escaping at- 
tempts upon our liberty, the real motive of 
which, perhaps, was a desire to employ our 
ships in the transport of troops to Chiloe. The 
two English whalers had already been taken 
possession of for this purpose, without the con- 
sent of their captains. 
The result of our observations on land are 
as follows : 
Latitude from Mendiburu’s house in 
Talcaguana A . ; 36° 42’ 15” 
West Longitude : : Tan (a Q0r 
Declination of the needle. oi a4e ast 
Inclination : : ; 80° 4’ 
The tide is here quite imperceptible. During 
the whole time of our stay, Reaumur’s thermo- 
meter stood between 15 and 17 degrees. 
