96 Cruise of the "Alert" 



of 1835, when the city was reduced to ruins. Penco, the old 

 Spanish capital of the province of Concepcion, was situated in 

 the eastern extremity of the Bay of Concepcion ; but when it 

 was destroyed by a tidal wave in 1730, the people moved inland 

 and established themselves near the site of the present city. 

 However, by the cataclysm of 1751, the newly-founded city of 

 Concepcion shared the fate of Penco, but was soon rebuilt, as it 

 was again, in great part, after the earthquake of 1835. 



We had intended to make only a short stay at Talcahuano, 

 but on the day preceding our arrival there, a case of smallpox 

 appeared among the crew, followed by a second and third, and 

 we were therefore obliged to remain in this harbour until our 

 patients should be sufficiently well to return on board. 



There was a long, low, sandy island (Isla de los Reyes) lying 

 across the head of Talcahuano Bay, and inhabited only by a 

 couple of shepherds who were looking after a herd of cattle 

 and horses. There being no available hospital to which our 

 patients could be sent, we obtained leave from the Chilian autho- 

 rities to establish a temporary quarantine station on the island. 

 Accordingly, on the day of our arrival we set up tents on an 

 unfrequented and particularly airy part of the island, and having 

 supplied them with provisions and all the necessary appliances, 

 we installed our patients in their new quarters. They made 

 good recoveries. My medical duties required me to make 

 frequent visits to this little establishment, and I found it con- 

 venient to make it the centre of my afternoon rambles. On 

 the mainland immediately adjoining the island, I found a great 

 marshy plain of many miles in extent, and intersected in various 

 directions by deep muddy ditches which communicated with the 

 sea, and at high tide brought supplies of sea water to a chain of 

 broad, shallow lagoons, the home of multitudes of waterfowl. 

 Pintail ducks, widgeon, herons, curlew, flamingoes, turkey-buz- 

 zards, gulls, lapwings, and sandpipers found here a congenial 

 home. The shrill, harsh cry of the spur-winged lapwing (the 



