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 aver 
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- 
