104 



ISLAND OF SANTA MARIA. [1823. 



skins and the oil. These animals abound on the small keys at the 

 south side of Mocha. 



July 23d. — At six P. M. the boats returned, with thirteen fine wild 

 hogs, and a great number of small birds. Having hoisted up the 

 boats, we filled away, and steered for the port of Conception, with a 

 fine breeze from south-south-west, and fair weather. As our course 

 lay to the north, we passed the island of Santa Maria, in lat. 37° 3' 

 S., long. 72° 38' W. This island is of a triangular shape, about 

 seven miles in length, from north to south, and three miles and a half 

 in breadth, from east to west. To the north-east, however, it extends 

 out in a long narrow point, with a rocky reef running from its ex- 

 tremity. It lies near the main, on the north side of an abrupt angle 

 in the coast, forming a channel to the rivers Laran-Pangue and Lara- 

 quete. A rocky islet lies off the north-west point of Santa Maria ; 

 but on the eastern side there is good anchorage, well sheltered. In 

 running in for the anchorage, however, it will be proper to give the 

 southern point of the island a good berth, and the same precaution is 

 required in passing the north-east point, — a rocky reef extending some 

 distance from each. 



In sailing into Santa Maria Bay, it is best to fall in to the southward 

 of the island. In approaching the land a rocky head becomes visible, 

 in lat. 37° 6' S. This is the south-east head of the island, and not 

 very high. It is necessary to bring this head to bear north, and then 

 to run for the anchorage ; thus avoiding some sunken rocks which lie 

 to the south-south-west of this head. A ship must not approach this 

 head nearer than one mile, until it is brought to bear west, at which 

 time she will be past a small reef which lies to the south-east of it. 

 She may then haul into the bay until the water lessens to five fathoms, 

 sandy bottom, when she may choose her ground from seven to five. 

 The best anchorage, however, is on the south-west side, near the head 

 of the bay. 



I have said that this island is of a triangular shape ; but its longest 

 side is sufficiently concave to give it the appearance of an irregular 

 crescent, with both points bending to the eastward ; the north point, 

 however, extends much farther east than the south point. The whole 

 bay has a sandy bottom, and regular soundings ; and by proper atten- 

 tion to the lead, a ship may beat into this harbour by night with as 

 much safety as by day. Off the north-east point the reef runs out 

 about half a mile ; and ships falling in to the leeward, by giving this 

 reef a good berth, will find the northern passage equally safe with the 

 southern. 



There is a small bay on the north side of the island, in which I 

 should always advise ships to anchor, at any time from the month of 

 September to the following May ; as during that period the wind on 

 this coast blows almost constantly from the south. Indeed, for about 

 eight months of the year, it may properly be called the southerly trade- 

 wind. Consequently, ships bound to any ports along the coast of 

 Chili or Peru should always fall in with the land to the windward of 

 their destined port. 



Water and wood can be procured in this bay with great convenience 



