22 



WINDS ON THE COAST. 



from the westward a great deal of vigilance is re- 

 quisite to take advantage of every occasional shift 

 of wind, since by this means alone can a passage 

 be made. The best authorities are, I think, against 

 standing out to sea to the south-westward, in the 

 hopes of fetching in upon the starboard tack. The 

 Constellation, American frigate, tried this passage;^ 

 but she lost a great deal of time thereby, being at 

 least three weeks in going from Lima to MoUendo. 



The San Martin, bearing Lord Cochrane's flag, 

 made the passage to Arica, which is considerably 

 further, in thirteen days, by keeping in- shore, and 

 taking advantage of the changes which take place^ 

 with more or less regularity every evening and 

 morning. 



As the weather along the south coast of Peru is 

 invariably fine, ships are not otherwise incom- 

 moded at the various anchorages, than by a high 

 swell, which always rolls in at the full and change 

 of the moon. Arica is the only place having any 

 pretensions to the name of a harbour ; but the se- 

 veral bays described in Mr Foster's Memoir may 

 be considered safe, provided the ground-tackling be 

 good. 



