236 PERU. 
On the 6th, we had a breeze from the southward and eastward, and 
immediately got under way with the squadron, and succeeded in 
making an offing. As we opened the land to the southward my view 
and thoughts wandered in that direction, hoping that still, and at the 
last moment, the missing tender might heave in sight. But no white 
speck was seen, or any thing that could cause a ray of hope that she 
might yet be in existence, and my fears foreboded what has since 
proved too true, — she and her crew had perished. 
On the second day after leaving Valparaiso, we had a fresh gale 
from the northward, accompanied with much sea. During the night, 
in thick weather, we lost sight of the Peacock and Flying-Fish. On 
the 9th we got beyond the wind, which blows along the coast from 
the northward, and our weather improved, exchanging fog, rain, mist, 
and contrary winds, for clear weather, and winds from the southwest. 
The current was found west by north, nine miles in twenty-four 
hours. The wind, however, continued variable. On the 12th, in 
longitude 74° 40' W., latitude 28° 34' S., we took the trades, but they 
proved very unsteady. They would be very strong for a few hours, 
and then again light and almost calm, with squally appearances all 
around the horizon. The sea was quite smooth, and the weather 
pleasant. During the days that the trade winds were not strong, we 
usually had the wind to vary to the northward and eastward for a 
few hours. 
On the morning of the 19th, the zodiacal light was quite brilliant, 
resembling the aurora borealis, but without its radiating, vacillating, 
and transitory appearance, and having the form of a distinct narrow 
cone. At its base it was 20° ; the apex could not be ascertained on 
account of the intervention of clouds. As the dawn increased the 
cone grew broader, until it was lost in the daylight. Its whole 
duration was about forty-five minutes. The stars were seen through 
it, as though covered with a transparent veil. On the same day we 
found the temperature at bottom in eighty-three fathoms 57°, whilst 
at the surface it was 63°. We were then abreast of Point Sola, and 
San Lorenzo bore to the north, distant twenty-five miles. 
On the 20th, in the evening, we passed through the Bouqueron 
Passage, having got several casts of the lead in three and a quarter 
fathoms water, and by the assistance of the lights of the other vessels, 
anchored near the rest of the squadron at San Lorenzo, after a pas- 
sage of thirteen days. We found them all well, and proceeding 
rapidly with their repairs. The Peacock and Flying-Fish arrived 
