A DIARY 



OF 



THE WRECK OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP 



CHALLENGER. 



On the first day of April, 1835, His Majesty's 

 ship Challenger sailed from Rio Janeiro for the 

 Pacific, with orders to touch at the port of 

 Concep9ion in our way to Valparaiso, at which 

 place we hoped either to find the commodore 

 commanding on the western coasts of South 

 America, or directions for our further proceed- 

 ings. Valparaiso and Concep9ion are the two 

 principal seaports of the republic of Chili ; the 

 former being the most important, as receiving 

 the great bulk of manufactures, and other numer- 

 ous and various exports from Europe. 



The object of the Challenger's calling at Con- 

 cep9ion, situated about 300 miles south of Val- 



