222 APPENDIX. 



rocks on the points ; the bottom of the bay is low, but the bulls rise 

 a Uttle inland,. and the ranges become higher as they recede from the 

 coast : the first hill to the eastward is a very remarkable sharp-topped 

 hiU, the sides of which are covered with sand, with two low paps to 

 the eastward of it. They have had strong northers here for two 

 days, and sometimes a good deal of sea in the south corner of the 

 bay ; but in the north-east corner, which they call CalderiUo, it is 

 then smooth; they very seldom have heavy northers. There are' 

 fish to be got in the bay, but only with a net : in all the ports we 

 visited we caught none alongside. Near the outer points of the ports 

 there are rock fish to be caught, but there is always a heavy swell 

 in such places. 



Point Cabeza de Vaca is a remarkable point, about twelve miles 

 to the northward of Caldera : it has two small hummocks near its 

 extreme ; inside them the land is nearly level for some distance in- 

 shore, where it rises to several low hills, which form the extremity of 

 a range. The coast between Caldera and the point forms several 

 small bays, with rocky points between them, off all of which there 

 are rocks a short distance : there is no danger within a quarter of 

 a mile from Point Cabeza de.Vaca. To the northward of the point 

 there is a small rocky bay, called Tortoralillo, oiF the north entrance 

 point of which there is a reef of rocks, with a high rock at the extreme 

 of it, which extends above a quarter of a mile from the shore : about 

 half a mile to the north-west of this there is a heavy breaker when 

 there is much swell. 



To the northward of this the coast is steep and rocky for three or 

 four miles, with a high range of bills running close to the shore ; then 

 there is a small cove, called Obispito, with a white rock on the south 

 point of it : to the northward of this the land is low and very rocky, 

 with breakers about a quarter of a mile from the shore. About two 

 miles from the cove there is a point, with a small white islet off it ; to 

 the northward of which the coast trends to the eastward, and forms 

 the small cove of Obispo, in which we anchored, but it is not fit for any 

 vessel. There was a fire on shore in the night, but we saw no ore, and 

 ias the landing was bad we did notattempt it. There is a very high sand 

 hill, with the summit stony, a little in-shore of the cove, and to the 

 northward of it a higher range of stony hiUs running close to the 



* For more inronnation respecting- the vicinity of Copiapo, see pages 

 22D and 230. 



