Dec] SURVEYING THE COAST — VALPARAISO. 173 



the river ; where, with the prevailing winds, she will have a tolerable 

 good shelter, in from twenty to five fathoms of water, with sandy bot> 

 torn. Whatever refreshments may be wanted will be brought off in 

 bolses, if the sea be too rough for the ship's boat to land. There are 

 no dangers along this part of the coast, excepting off the north point 

 of the river, where there is a sandbank, running nearly dead off-shore 

 for the distance of half a mile. In approaching this bank, the water 

 shallows very suddenly, from ten fathoms to two. After bringing the 

 extremity of the north point of the river (which is very low) to bear 

 east-by-south, the ship will be to the north of the bank ; when she 

 may choose her own anchorage, taking care to be at least half a mile 

 from the shore, that she may have room to get under way, if the wind 

 should set in from the westward, which is seldom the case. 



About twenty-six leagues from the river Itata, on a north-half-west 

 course, the river Maule, mentioned in my former voyage, empties its 

 waters into the Pacific. Between these two rivers the coast is entirely 

 free from dangers, two cables' length from the shore. Twelve leagues 

 north of the Itata are three small islands, or rocks, connected with the 

 main, from which ships are perfectly safe at the distance of twenty 

 fathoms. On these rocks we found a few hair-seals, but they were 

 very wild. 



Seventeen leagues from Rio Maule, about north-half-west, lies the 

 Topocalrna Shoal, which is nearly three miles in length, and about the 

 same distance from the shore. I have seen the sea break on this reef 

 with great violence, but the passage between it and the main is safe 

 for small vessels. I would not, however, recommend it to ships, ex- 

 cept in case of necessity. This reef lies in lat. 33° 53' S., and the 

 land abreast of it runs circuitously towards the river Mapo, on the 

 north bank of which is a small town, called by the natives Logrono, 

 or Antonio. 



From the river Mapo, a course north-wcst-by-north leads to a white 

 rock, in lat. 33° 27' S., which appears at a distance like a vessel 

 under sail running along the coast. This rock is nearly connected 

 with the shore, and forms a good landmark for distinguishing this part 

 of the coast. Fifteen miles north-north-west from White Rock is 

 Point de Couramilla, having a sugar-loaf hill near it, which has the same 

 appearance from different points of view on the seaboard. The coast 

 from Topocalrna Shoal to Point Couramilla is bold, and free from 

 dangers ; but to the northward of the latter there are some rocks, which 

 run out about half a mile from the land. From hence to Point Angel, 

 at the entrance of Valparaiso Bay, the land is high, and the course 

 north-north-east, about four leagues' distance. Point Angel may be 

 known by a house and signal-staff upon it. 



December 8th. — Having thus examined the whole extent of this 

 coast, from Cape Tres Montes to the Bay of Valparaiso, we entered 

 the last-named port on Wednesday, the 8th of December, and came 

 to anchor in fifteen fathoms of water, about three cables' length from 

 shore. From this anchorage Point Angel bore west-by-north; the 

 fort in the town west-north-west ; the church of Almandel south-east- 

 by-east-half-east ; and the eastern point of the bay north-east-by-east. 



