674 ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



it being difficult to reach either of the other two before day light, as feveral tacks muft 

 be made for that purpofe. 



In this bay the principal port is that of Talcaguano. It is properly an elbow, and 

 bears fouth-fouth-wefl from the fouth point of Quinquina. This is by far the mofl fre- 

 quented, fhips in general anchoring here, having not only better ground than any 

 other part of the bay, but are in fome meafure fheltered from the north winds. Whereas 

 at Cirillo Verde, they lie expofed, not only to thefe, but alfo to the fouth winds, the 

 land which fhould intercept them being low. Befides, the bottom is of a loofe mud, 

 fo that the anchors in a hard gale of wind generally come home ; and confequently the 

 (hips in great danger of being ftranded on the coaft. From thefe inconveniences it 'may 

 be concluded, that the only fhips which anchor here, are fuch as happen to be in thofe 

 parts in the midfl of fummer, and are in hafte to take in their loading, for which this 

 road is moft convenient, as being neareft the city. 



Two rivers empty themfelves into this bay, one of which, palling through the city of 

 Conception, has thence the fame name ; the other is called St. Pedro. The firfl is 

 the watering-place for Ihips anchoring at Cirillo Verde ; whereas thofe at Talcaguano 

 fupply themfelves with that neceflary fluid from fome dreams which flow from the ad- 

 jacent eminences ; they eafily take on board a fufficient quantity of wood, of which 

 there is here plenty ; as of all other necefl'aries. 



Ships, before they enter the bay of Conception, endeavour to make the ifland of 

 Santa Maria, and then coaft along it, keeping at the fame time a good look-out for 

 a reef of rocks which ftretches out almoft three leagues from the north-weft point ; 

 thence they continue their courfe, keeping at a little diftance from the main, there being 

 no rocks but what are above water. After weathering the real of rocks on the 

 ifland of Santa Maria, they fteer direftly for Talcaguano point, at the diftance of about 

 half a league ; from which feaward, is a rock called Quiebraollas, which muft be the 

 more carefully avoided as it is furrounded with flioals. There is, however, no danger, 

 if the fhip be not nearer than half a mile ; indeed there is a fufficient depth of water 

 within a cable's length* After their being a-breaft of this rock, they fteer for the north 

 point of Quinquina, off which lie two rocks, but the fartheft from the fliore is only a 

 quarter of a league, and may be fafely approached within a ftone's caft. Both thefe 

 rocks fwarm with fea- wolves, and as there is a fufficient depth of water all round them, 

 there'^is no other danger in ftanding near them, than what may be feen. There is 

 indeed a neceffity for ftanding near them, to avoid falling to leeward of the bay. After 

 paffing them, the courfe is continued as near as poffible to the ifland of Quiriquina, 

 taking care to avoid fome other rocks lying along the ftiore. 



As fliips are generally obliged to make feveral tacks in order to get into Conception 

 bay, care muft be taken not to approach too near to the ifland of Quiriquina, either on 

 the eaft or fouth fides ; for though the coaft is bold on the north and north-weft fides, 

 there is a flioal on the fouth extending to a confiderable diftance froui the ftiore. At 

 a third part of the diftance between the road at Talcaguano, and the point of the fame 

 name, is another flioal, running about half a league to the eaftward, in the middle of 

 it is a ledge of rocks, whofe tops are dry at low water. To avoid this flioal, though 

 the thick water fufficiently indicates it, the beft way is, at entering the mouth of the 

 bay with a land wind, to fteer direftly for the middle of a fpot of red earth on a moun- 

 tain of a middling height, fiituated at the bottom of the bay, continuing this courfe till 

 the fliip is pa(t the flioal ; and then fteer diredly for the houfes at Talcaguano, till 

 within about half a mile from the fliore, which is the ufual anchoring place in five or 



11 fix. 



