GUAYAQUIL RIVER. 



29 



passages are so narrow^ and the tide so rapid, as to 

 admit of no delay. Several ships have been run 

 aground^ by the captain hesitating to let go the an- 

 chor at the desire of the pilot. 



The passage down again was more difficulty in 

 consequence of the prevalent winds being up the 

 river. It afforded us, however, a means of be- 

 coming acquainted, to a certain extent, with the 

 pilotage ; and I feel assured that Mr Foster's di- 

 rections, transmitted to the Admiralty, taken a- 

 long with the chart usually supplied, and used 

 with extreme caution, would prove sufficient, in 

 time of war for instance, or when there might be 

 some urgent necessity for a ship's going up with- 

 out a pilot. In the narrow parts of the river we 

 kedged down with the ebb, without any sail set, 

 but having a bower anchor on the ground, and the 

 cable at short stay peak ; in this way the ship was 

 readily steered from side to side, or brought up at 

 an instant's warning. At other places we backed 

 and filled, and at some made short tacks. We 

 were always obliged, however, to anchor when the 

 flood-tide made. 



This is the period at which the rains are expect- 

 ed to set in, and the heavy threatening aspect of 



