106 



INTRODUCTION. 



time, the meanness of the governor; and having ascertained that the 

 two frigates had sailed for Guayaquil. 



Lord Cochrane therefore began his voyage southward, which was 

 incomparably more irksome than that to the northward had been ; 

 for, in addition to the frequent and sudden gusts of wind on that 

 coast, the water was so scarce that they had to watch the thunder 

 showers and catch the rain as it fell in sails ; and this was all they had 

 for the ships' companies. Captain Crosbie told me he had often sat 

 in the quarter-boat with his wide hat on, to catch a good drink in 

 the brim of it, when it was so hot that a draught of cold water was 

 thought of as the highest luxury. All this time the leak in the 

 O'Higgins rather increased than lessened ; and, to aggravate their 

 misfortunes, on the 10th the Valdivia discovered a most dangerous 

 leak under her fore-chains, and began to make three feet water per 

 hour. On the 13th they thrummed a sail and passed it under her ; 

 but the weather being boisterous, they found it impeded their course, 

 and on the 16th took off the sail and frapping. 



The Independencia being in good repair was ordered to remain on 

 this coast, to survey and also to watch the Spanish vessels that might 

 be hovering there. She put into the bay of San Jose for the purpose 

 of watering, salting beef, and making candles ; after which she pro- 

 ceeded with her survey, and did not arrive at Valparaiso till the 29th 



of June. 



In the meantime one of her lieutenants, two of her marines, and 

 two seamen, had been murdered on shore. 



Lord Cochrane stopped in the bay of Tacames, near the river Es- 

 meralda, for provisions, and then proceeded, in company with the 

 Esmeralda, to Guayaquil, where a decided change in the temper of the 

 government had taken place. The agents of San Martin had arrived ; 

 and, partly by bribes, partly by threats, had brought the governor over 

 to their master's interest, and had excited a jealousy of Lord Coch- 

 rane, which, though his activity and spirit might have justified, his 

 experience of his character and conduct ought to have allayed. 

 Some attempts were made to annoy, and some to intimidate His Lord- 



