692 ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



courfe into this harbour is to keep near the point of Valparaifo, within a quarter of a 

 league from the fhore, where there is twenty, eighteen, and lixteen fathoms water. 

 After getting round the point, you muft ftand nearer to the fhore, in order to avoid a 

 bank which lies thereabouts ; not that it can be attended with any danger ; for the fide 

 of it is fo bold, that if the fhip ihould touch it little damage could enfue. This bank is 

 always above water, and there is a neceflity for palling fo near it, in order to keep to 

 windward, as otherwife it would be difficult to fetch the harbour. Regard muft alfo 

 be had to the time proper for entering the port of Valparaifo ; for it is by no means 

 proper to attempt it in the morning, as the wind, though blowing frefh without, does 

 not then extend fo far into the bay, and thus the fhip, by having very little way, and 

 consequently not anfwering her helm, might drive upon the bank ; and to let go your 

 anchor in fifty fathom water, which is the depth clofe to the fand, will be very incon- 

 venient, llie common method, therefore, is to keep in the offing till about noon, or 

 fomething after, when the wind ufually continues to the bottom of the harbour, and 

 then, by obferving the above-mentioned rules, the fhip will fall into her ftation without 

 any difficulty ; or you may run into the bay, and there come to an anchor till the day 

 following, and then weigh early and go in with the land-breeze, here called Concon, as 

 blowing from that point ; and this breeze may be depended on every day at a certain 

 hour, except during the time of the north winds, which caufe fome alteration in it. 



The fafeft method of mooring fhips is lying one anchor on the fhore towards the fouth- 

 fouth-weft, and another in the channel towards the north-north-weft. The former muft 

 be well fecured, as the refource againft the fouth and fouth-weft winds ; for though they 

 come over the land, they are often fo violent, and the fhore of the harbour fo floping, 

 that the fhips would otherwife drive. 



As foon as the north winds fet in, which happens in the months of April and May, the 

 veffels in the harbour are expofed to their whole violence, which alfo caufes a very high 

 fea. In this exigence, the whole fecurity of the fhips depends on the anchor and cable to- 

 wards the north-north-eaft, it will therefore be very proper to lay another in the fame direc- 

 tion ; for if i; fhould give way, it would be impoffible to hinder the fhip from ftriking on 

 the rocks near the fhore. The only favourable circumftance here is, that the bottom 

 being very firm, and rifing towards the fhore, the anchor has good hold, ai)d confe- 

 quently the whole depends on the ftrength of the cable. ' 



CHAP. XI. — Voyage from Valparaifo to Callao : — fecond Return to Quito to finifh the 

 Obferiiations : — third Journey to Lima, in order to return to Spain by the way of Cape 

 Horn. 



THE fervice our fquadron was employed on being that of cruizing in thofe feas, in 

 queft of the enemy as long as it fhould be thought requifite, the commodore, without 

 flaying any longer than was abfolutely neceffary, came on board, and we immediately 

 put to fea, and feveral times vifited the iflands of Juan Fernandes, till the 24th of June 

 1743, when we fhaped our courfe for Callao, which port we entered on the 6th of July. 

 The day following the commodore and principal officers went on fhore, and were re- 

 ceived by Don Jofeph de Llamas, general of the forces in Peru, and government of 

 Callao ; who, on account of the firft employment, refides at Lima, but was come to 

 Callao to compliment the commodore. He attended him to Lima, and introduced him 

 to the viceroy, who expreffed his great fatisfadion at his fafe arrival after fuch long ex- 

 peftations. He was alfo met on the road by the principal perfons of the city. 



* X After 



