Ch.VI. S&^FF^ AMERICA. 249 



of it, forms two entrance^ of which that on the eait 

 fide is the fafeft, being two miles in breadth, and 

 accordingly frequented by moft fl-iips. The weft 

 entrance is between the ifiand and Talcaguano points 

 and is near half a league in breadth. In the prin- 

 cipal entrance of this bay is thirty fathom water, 

 which depth afterwards decreafes to eleven and ten, 

 till within about a mile of the fhore, oppofite to the 

 entrance. The wefliern, though the many rocks and 

 breakers in it make it appear very dangerous, has a 

 channel with water fufficient for the largeft fhip, the 

 depth being at firft thirty fathom, and never iefs 

 than eleven •, it is fituated in the middle of the en- 

 trance, that is at an equal diftance between the rocks 

 which projedt about a quarter of a league from Talca- 

 guano point, and Quiriquina. 



Within the bay are three roads or harbours, 

 where fhips anchor for though the bottom be every 

 where clear, it is only in one of thefe three places 

 fhips can ride in fafety, being no where elfe fheltered 

 from the wind. The firft called Puerto Tome, lies 

 E. and W. with the N. point of Quiriquina, conti- 

 guous to the coaft of Tierra Firma. The anchoring 

 place is about half a league diftant from the land, in 

 about twelve fathom water. But this road is only 

 ufed when fhips come in during the night, it being 

 difficult to reach either of the other two before day 

 light, as feveral tacks mull be made for that purpofe. 



In this bay the principal port is that of Talcagua- 

 na. It is properly an elbow, and bears S. S. W. from 

 the S. point of Quiriquina. This is by far the moil 

 frequented, fhips in general anchoring here, having 

 not only better ground than any other part of the 

 bay, but are in fome meafure fheltered from the N* 

 winds. Whereas at Cirillo-verde, they lie expofed, 

 not only to thefe, but alfo to the S. winds, the land 

 which fliould intercept them being low. Befides 

 the bottom is of ji ioofe mud, fo that the anchors 



in 



