PASSAGES. 



65 



Provisions of all kinds are plenty. Wood, however, is dear and 

 with difficulty procured. Water can be obtained by the boats of 

 a vessel ; but it is a great saving of time and expense, to have it 

 brought off in tanks. The price is one dollar per tun. 



The current between Valparaiso and Callao was found to be north 

 82° west, 162 miles. 



The trades, at the season of the year when we passed over this 

 route, were uncertain and unsteady, but they generally prevailed 

 from the southward and eastward. When the wind was not strong, 

 the breeze would veer to the northward and eastward for a few hours. 

 The sky was for the most part overcast, though the weather was 

 mild and pleasant. 



During the winter, April to October, it is better to steer directly off 

 from the coast until you reach an offing of from 100 to 150 miles, 

 and then make a direct course for your port ; by this means you get 

 within the influence of the regular trade, which is generally found at 

 this distance from the coast, and beyond the influence of the north 

 monsoon, which prevails near the land ; you are then sure to have a 

 favorable breeze to carry you forward to your destined port. 



The Vincennes was 13 days on this passage ; but it is frequently 

 made in 8 days. 



At Callao we remained from the 20th of June till the 19th of July. 

 During the greater part of this time we experienced thick, misty 

 weather, so as to render it difficult to obtain the necessary observa- 

 tions for rating our chronometers. The longitude deduced by them 

 was 77° 11' 10" west, and the meridian distance between Callao and 

 Valparaiso, 5° 31' 50". 



The Bouqueron Channel seems to be seldom used by large vessels ; 

 yet coming from the windward it is certainly preferable to passing 

 round Point Galena, the north Point of San Lorenzo. The directions 

 for passing through it are extremely simple. Stand in to the south- 

 ward of Isle del Fronton until La Horadada Rock and Point Morro 

 Solar are in one ; then steer directly for the inner point of San 

 Lorenzo, until the town of Callao is seen to open with the Castle, when 

 haul in and anchor in the roads, in any berth that may be con- 

 venient. 



I passed through the Bouqueron Channel after dark, and over the 

 tail of the shoals at its entrance in oh fathoms, anchoring opposite the 

 burial-ground on the Island of San Lorenzo. Our observations place 



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