32 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



excepting at one or two places the channel is of 

 sufficient breadth to enable vessels to proceed 

 during the night. 



The climate of the Straits is wretched; 

 although we were there in summer we had 

 constant gales, accompanied by snow, sleet, and 

 hail. The scenery, especially in Smyth' fa Channel, 

 is very fine. 



On entering the Pacific we met with a heavy 

 gale, which detained us for three days in the 

 Gulf of Penas, but a slant of wind enabled us 

 to bear away for Valparaiso, where we arrived 

 six days afterwards. The town of Valparaiso 

 is built on the slope of a hill overlooking the 

 bay, the streets are clean and well laid out, and 

 there are some capital shops ; there is also a 

 good club, which is generally placed at the 

 disposal of naval officers. The port is about 

 the worst on the coast, and in the season for 

 Northers is altogether unsafe. Ships have to 

 anchor in from thirty to thirty-five fathoms of 

 water. There is no doubt but that the town 

 ought to have been built at Quintero, an 



