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CHAPTER V. 



« 



FROM ST. Catherine's to the coast of chili. — 



CONCEPTION. 



On the 31st of December we were in latitude 

 3^i" 10' south, and longitude 48^ 3' west. We here 

 perceived three large turtles, the appearance of 

 which surprised me very much, as we were at a 

 very great distance from land. Till the 10th of 

 January, 1816, in latitude 45° 56'\ longitude 57° 2', 

 nothing worth noticing occurred ; both wind 

 and weather were favourable, and we were quite 

 rejoiced at our rapid progress, until heavy storms 

 announced our nearness to Cape Horn ; we were 

 exposed to these for six days ; the storm was, 

 however, uncommonly furious to-day, raising the 

 waves to a great height, and tossing our little ship 

 from one side to the other. One of the weaves, 

 which dashed in from behind, did a great deal of 

 damage, and nearly cost me my life : I was lying 

 on a hen-coop, the storm raging round me, with- 

 out suspecting any danger, when this wave sud- 

 denly seized me and my couch, and swept us 

 together overboard. 1 must li„ve been inevitably 

 lost, had not some ropes, which were fastened to 



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