2 A DIARY OF THE 



paraiso, and laying in the route of the latter 

 port, was for the purpose of procuring a supply f 

 of wood and water, for which Concep9ion offers 

 peculiar facilities. 



The first part of our voyage was a series of 

 calms, with light variable winds ; and our pro- 

 gress to the southward was slow, until we reached 

 the latitude of 31° south. We then began to 

 experience fresh westerly and southerly winds, 

 which, with little variation, continued until we 

 had arrived in the vicinity of Cape Horn. Nothing 

 had occurred worthy of notice, except that 

 numerous flying-fish were seen as far south as the 

 latitude of 40^ Off the Cape, in latitude 60°, 

 after a short interval of calm, a number of what 

 we only know by the name of black fish attracted 

 our attention by the peculiarity of their move- 

 ments, and the closeness of their approach to the 

 ship ; and we experienced a severe gale, which 

 began in the south, and gradually veered to 

 s.s.w. and s.w., accompanied by an unusually 

 high sea, with constant hail squalls. 



May 4. — The wind blew violently from s. 

 and s.s.w., with a heavy sea and hard squalls 

 of hail and snow. It was of consequence to 

 draw the ship to the westward, and to this 



