26 



COAST WINDS. 



Arauco, and to the Island of Mocha, in 38"" 19^ 

 south, having on this occasion been favoured with 

 a south-easterly breeze, and then a southerly one 

 to stand in with. 



We endeavoured to reach Valdivia also, but the 

 wind came from south by east, and blew so hard 

 that we were obliged, for want of time, to give it 

 up. On the return passage to Valparaiso, we had 

 light north-westerly and west winds, then S. W. 

 and so to the southward, and south by east, which 

 is the most common wind. 



These particulars would seem to point out that 

 a passage may always be made to the southward ; 

 for the winds are seldom steady for twelve hours, 

 and by taking care to profit by every change, south- 

 ing must be made. 



The passage from Valparaiso to Conception is 

 generally made in ten days, which is also the usual 

 time required for a passage to Lima ; the distance, 

 however, in the first case, is two hundred and twen- 

 ty miles, and in the latter, thirteen hundred and 

 twenty, a circumstance which points out very de- 

 cidedly the direction of the prevalent winds. 



