THE COAST OF CHILI. 1^7 



Rurick well. On the 15th, at ten o'clock, A. M. 

 the guns of the fortress announced the arrival of 

 the Governor, Don Miguel Maria d'Attero, and 

 he soon appeared on board the Rurick, with several 

 inquisitive ladies from the town. I received him 

 with all the honours due to his rank, and he ex- 

 pressed his satisfaction in the most obliging terms ; 

 saying, how happy he was in being able to serve us, 

 who belonged to a nation whom he loved and ho- 

 noured. He likewise requestedme to makemy wants 

 known to him, that he might issue orders imme- 

 diately to supply me with every thing I desired. 

 When the Governor left the ship, we saluted him 

 with eight guns. 



February l6th. The chronometers and instru- 

 ments w^ere brought to-day on shore. A handsome 

 house, with a pretty garden, was assigned me ; 

 where I could try my chronometers without in- 

 terruption. Lieutenant Schischmareff, in the 

 meantime, undertook the repairs of the ship : our 

 scientific gentlemen, were, likewise, not in want of 

 employment in this beautiful country. 



On the 25th we were invited to a fete at the 

 Governor's, which he had prepared in our honour. 

 To avoid the heat, we rode from Talcaguano early 

 in the morning, in company with the commandant, 

 and several officers. We had an opportunity, in 

 this short toiir, to admire the rich and luxuriant 

 nature of this country ; the inhabitants, notwith- 

 standing the negligent manner in which they cul- 



