136 



VALPARAISO— PASSAGE HOME. 



[1824. 



in confessing that this was the pleasantest breakfast they ever partook 

 on shipboard. 



In due time I accompanied my guests on shore ; and on the same 

 evening the governor gave a splendid ball in honour of the " Yankee 

 joke" as he called it, at the same time informing his guests, that as 

 the festival of St. Valentine had been commenced with a breakfast on 

 the water, he was determined to have it concluded with a supper on 

 shore. From this time to the day of our sailing we were treated with 

 the most marked attention and respect by all classes, from the highest 

 to the lowest. 



February 22d. — The river continued closed until Saturday the 21st, 

 when we put to sea, and steered for Valparaiso, where we arrived on 

 the following day, and at 3, P. M., came to anchor in five fathoms of 

 water, sandy bottom. After paying the necessary visits on shore, I 

 found an opportunity of shipping my cargo of seal-skins to the United 

 States, by the ship Endeavour, of Salem, Captain Elwell ; I then sold 

 the Wasp to Mr. Hogan, the American consul ; taking in payment 

 bills on the United States. 



February 28th. — Having completed all my business, and taken pas- 

 sage for my crew to the United States, I took leave of my worthy friend 

 Hogan, and went on board the ship Endeavour. On Saturday, the 

 28th, at 1 1, A. M., we weighed anchor and put to sea, bound for home, 

 from which I had now been absent one year and eight months, without 

 hearing a word from my family. I could not help experiencing some 

 sensations of regret in taking leave of my faithful little bark, the 

 Wasp, which had safely carried me through so many dangers and diffi- 

 culties. It was like parting with an old friend, or quitting a scene to 

 which we have long been attached, and with which are associated 

 many interesting reminiscences. 



Our passage to the Strait of Magellan was much retarded by the 

 prevailing southerly winds, so that we did not make Cape Pillar until 

 the 20th of March. On the following day, at 1, P. M., we entered the 

 strait, with the wind from south-south-west, and fair weather. On 

 the 22d, at 12, M., we were nearly abreast of Port Famine, where 

 we took the wind from north-east, attended with fog and light rain. 

 This weather continued for about thirty hours, when the wind changed 

 to the south-east and south-south-west. 



March 24th. — Having taken leave of the strait at Cape Virgin, we 

 now once more found ourselves in the Atlantic Ocean, the Endeavour 

 being the first American ship that had ever made this passage. Many 

 of the natives were seen on this occasion, making their smokes and 

 inviting us to land ; but knowing that they had no articles of trade, 

 Captain Elwell declined having any intercourse with them. Nothing 

 occurred on this passage to change my previous opinion of the safety 

 and facility with which this strait may be navigated by vessels of any 

 size, which in clear weather may run day and night. Captain Elwell 

 observes that there can never be any sea to injure a ship lying at an- 

 chor in any part of the strait ; as the fresh-water grass grows within 

 a few inches of high-water mark, and the sand and pebbles on the 



