ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 693 



After taking our departure from the iflahd De Tierra de Juan Fernandes, we fleered 

 the three firft days north-north-ead, and north-eaft, one quarter northernly, having frefh 

 gales at weft, and a heavy fea from the fouth-weit. When we came into the latitude 

 of 28" 30' we fleered north, fix or feven degrees eafterly, till the third day at nine in 

 the morning, when being in the latitude of 16° 28' we made the land on the coaftof 

 Chala ; and the day following, being the 4th, the ifland of Sangallan, which at noon 

 bore eaft-north-eaft diftance fix leagues. We then coafted along the fhore, and on 

 the 5th at noon, we faw the ifle of Afia, bearing eaft-north-eaft fix leagues diftant ; 

 and on the 6th as before-mentioned, the fquadron came to an anchor at half an hour 

 after one in the afternoon, in Callao harbour. " 



Hence it appears, that till we were in the latitude of 28° 30^, the wind was at fouth- 

 weft, which agrees with my obfervations, mentioned Chap. III. relating to this fea ; 

 and if no other circumftance concurred to verify them, it muft be imputed to the feafon 

 of the year, it being the beginning of winter when we returned to Callao. But as 

 during the firft three days, the ftrength of the wind had driven us near the coaft, fo 

 from the latitude we found it farther to the fouth ; between twenty-five and twenty-one, 

 began to incline towards the fouth-eaft, and from the latitude of twenty degrees, when 

 we found ourfelves near the land, till our arrival at Callao, we had the wiud fouth- 

 fouth-eaft, and eaft-fouth-eaft. It was the fame with regard to the fea coming from 

 the fouth-weft, for it gradually diminifhed as we approached the coaft ; fo that from 

 twenty-five degrees it was not at all troublefome, and after we were paft twenty-one 

 degrees, became imperceptible. But it was very different with regard to the current, 

 which, from the parallel of twenty or twenty-one degrees, we perceived to fet towards 

 the north-weft, parallel to the diredtion of the coaft, and became much more fenfible 

 after we had fight of the land, its velocity increafing as latitude decreafed. 



I would recommend two precautions to be ufed in the voyage from Chili to Callao. 

 The firft is not to make the land in the bay of Arica, the many eddies of the current 

 there rendering it very difficult to get again clear of the coaft ; which muft be done 

 by keeping along fliore ; as by ftanding out to fea, you will be in danger of not 

 reaching the harbour ; for the current fetting north- weft, on ftanding in for the land, 

 you will probably find yourfelf to leeward of the harbour ; in which cafe it will be far 

 from eafy to work up againft the wind and ftrong current. The fecond flows from the 

 former, and is to make the land fomewhere between Nafca and Sangallan, as the coaft 

 may be then kept at a proper diftance, and the danger of falling to leeward of the 

 port avoided ; a misfortune which has happened to many, who have been carried far- 

 ther out than they expeded ; fo that after a long look-out for land, they find themfelves 

 on its firft appearance to leeward of their port. 



In winter, efpecially, too much care cannot be taken, as from the continual thick- 

 nefs of the atmofphere, obfervations cannot be made fo often as requifite ; fometimes 

 not for five or fix days fuccefTively ; at the fame time the fight of land is entirely inter- 

 cepted by the denfity of the fog. This we experienced ; for after we were anchored 

 in Callao at only a quarter of a league diftant from the land, the people on the fhore 

 had no fight of the fhips ; and it was owing to our being very near the coaft that we 

 made the harbour ; for had we been at a diftance, we fhould have been far to leeward, 

 when the weather cleared up. 



On the 25th of June, being the fecond day after our departure from the ifland De 

 Tierra de Juan Fernandes, we faw a meteor like that we had before ken at Quito, 

 namely, a globe of fire, or large globe of inflammable exhalations. It firft appeared 

 in the weft, at half an hour after three in the morning, and moved with great velocity 



for 



