176 JOURNAL. 
seasonably, with the gluttony of the curate of Placilia, a village near 
the mouth of the little river Ligua, which runs into the bay of Quin- 
tero, and on whose banks lies the town of La Ligua, famous for its 
pasture, and its breed of horses. The poor curate, who had on 
various occasions been treated with English beer by his foreign 
friends, now took Champagne for white beer, and drank it accordingly, 
vowing he would grant absolution unconditionally for a hundred 
years, to all who drank of such divine liquor, and would doubtless 
have made a second Caliban of himself, and worshipped the bottle- 
bearer, but for an accident that rendered us all a little grave. A 
small bolt in the machinery gave way, principally from imperfect 
fitting, as this was the first time the machinery had been fairly 
tried in these seas; and our voyage was stopped just as we were 
nearly abreast of Quintero. The wind was a-head ; but we were so 
near that it was voted almost by acclamation that we should go on, 
and accordingly we trusted to the tide to take us into port. But — 
* foresight may be vain ; 
The best laid schemes of mice and men 
Gang aft agee.” 
The evening closed in, and it was a dull, raw, foggy night : those 
not accustomed to the sea grew faint and weary. The curate, and 
other partakers of the white beer, began to feel its effects, combined 
with those of the motion of the vessel, now considerably agitated by 
the waves, which began to rise obedient to a very fresh contrary 
wind which had sprung up ; and all agreed to retire to rest. Shortly 
after the strangers were in bed, the sails which had not been bent, 
so sure had we been of making our passage, were got to the yards, 
and the first thing that happened was, that the two chimneys belong- 
ing to the engines went through the foresail. Then the wind and 
weather increased, and the furniture began to roll about; and at last, 
in the morning, we found ourselves farther than ever from our place 
of destination. However, breakfast gave us courage; and it was 
determined to persevere a few hours longer: but the weather grew 
worse and worse; the sky became blacker and blacker, 
