Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 233 



tion in the pilots in observing the direction of the cur- 

 rents; and as tliese carry tlie ship towards tlie S. W. 

 the pilots, when in the offing-, begin to compute their 

 distance fV(»ni the coast. But ihis being- in reality much 

 greater than that given by the rhumb, they are after- 

 wards under a nect ssity of steering towards the E.and 

 thence their reckoning makes the port farther to the 

 eastward than it really is ; and the currents running 

 sometimes with a greater velocity than at others, pilots 

 often differ in placing the meritlian of Conception, so 

 that very few at first make the cape, though assisted by 

 tliat chart, which they consider as the best. For all 

 these draughts are laid doMm from the false conclusions 

 of erroneous journals, no allowance having been made 

 for the setting of the currents. The difference of lati- 

 tude proves beyond contradiction the reality of the 

 curi ents, and the degree of their velocity, as I have 

 already noticed. 



On the 26th of January, the Esperanza, a Spanish 

 frigate, commanded by Don Pedro de Mendinueta, 

 came to an anchor in the harbour of Talcaguano, after 

 her voyage from Monte- video in the river of Buenos 

 Ayres, round Cape Horn, which she had performed 

 in sixty-six days. On our arrival at Puerto Tome, 

 an orticer came on board the Belin, the very same 

 night we came to an anchor ; and the day following, 

 being the sixth of February, our two frigates joined 

 the Esperanza, at Talcaguano, and formed a little 

 squadron under the command of Don Pedro de Men- 

 dinueta, according to orders from the Viceroy, who 

 had received an account that the Esperanza lay ready 

 at Monte- video, to proceed on her voyage that sum- 

 mer into the south-sea, and that commodore Don 

 Joseph Pizarro, with other officers, were travelling 

 over land to Santi igo de Chili ; which he had reached 

 at the time of our arrival. 



CHAP. 



