168 



ST. CARLO S — VALDI VIA BAY. 



[1824. 



good berth, as the tides run very rapidly along the shores of this island. 

 The port is defended by two forts, about three miles from each other. 

 It runs into the land in a south-west direction, and is safe, but subject 

 to violent blows from the north-west and west-south-west in the winter 

 season; and these often come on very suddenly, with heavy falls 

 of rain. 



Vessels bound to this port should endeavour to enter it in clear 

 weather, as the tides run through the strait about seven miles an hour, 

 and renders the navigation very dangerous in calms or thick weather. 

 In all cases it is proper to keep the shore of the island best on board, 

 as the middle of the strait contains many sunken rocks and small low 

 islands. Wood, water, fish, and refreshments of every kind, may be 

 had here on the most moderate terms. The tide rises from fourteen 

 to eighteen feet ; and it is high water, on full and change days, at half- 

 past eleven o'clock. 



CHAPTER III. 



Bay and City of Valdivia — The Araucanians — Town of Pelchue — Retrospective 

 Observations — Towns of Colema and Chilian — Province of Chilian — Arrive at 

 Valparaiso — Continue the Survey of the Coast — Province and City of Copiago 

 — Bay and Town of Pisco — Sailing Directions, &c. — The Bay or Roads of Cal- 

 lao — The Blockade and Siege of Callao — General Rodil refuses to Surrender — 

 The Tartar enters without Ceremony. 



Having supplied ourselves with such refreshments as we stood in 

 need of, and taken leave of our kind and hospitable friends at St. Car- 

 los, we left the island of Chiloe, and steered to the northward as far as 

 the port of Valdivia, carefully examining the coast, which proved to be 

 one continued range of rocks and breakers for the distance of about 

 forty leagues. They extend from one to three miles off-shore, and 

 are very dangerous for mariners to approach, who should always be 

 careful to give them a good berth, unless they are in search of hair- 

 seals, which frequent this part of the coast ; but are difficult of access, 

 on account of the heavy swell that continually rolls in from the west- 

 ward. 



Between St. Carlos and Valdivia, or rather Baldivia, as it ought to 

 be written, there is no resting-place for the mariner ; neither port nor 

 shelter — trade nor refreshments. Far inland are seen the towering 

 Andes, lifting their giant forms to the sky, and collecting at their base 

 the means of supplying several small rivers which descend to this part 

 of the seacoast ; but none of them are navigable. Between the paral- 

 lels of thirty-nine and fifty of south latitude, there are several volca- 

 noes to be seen among the Andes. I have seen more than a dozen in 

 running along this part of the coast, some of which were near the 

 Shore, and burning with inconceivable rage. Some distance inland 

 are extensive plains, which form fine grazing fields for cattle. 



November 27th. — We reached the mouth of Baldivia Bay on 



