250 A VOYAGE TO Book VIII. 



in a hard gale of wind, generally come home ; and 

 confequently the Ihips in great danger of being 

 llranded on the coaft. From thefe inconveniences it 

 may be concluded, that the only ftiips which anchor 

 here, are fuch as happen to be in thofe parts in the 

 midft of fummer, and are in hafte to take in their 

 loading, for which this road is moft convenient, as 

 being nearelt the city. 



Two rivers empty themfelves into this bay, one 

 of which paffing through the city of Conception, has 

 thence the fame name the other is called St. Pedro. 

 The firft is the watering place for fhips anchoring at 

 Cirillo Verde ; whereas thofe at Talcaguano, fupply 

 themfelves with that neceffary fluid from fome ftreams 

 which flow from the adjacent eminences they eafily 

 take on board a fufficient quantity of wood, of which 

 there is here plenty as of all other ncceflaries. 



Ships, before they enter the bay of Conception, 

 endeavour to make the ifland of Santa Maria, and 

 then coafl: along it, keeping at the fame time, a good 

 look out for a reef of rocks which flretches out al- 

 moft three leagues from the N. W. point y thence 

 they continue their courfe, keeping at a little di- 

 fiance from the rnain, there being no rocks but 

 what are above water. After weathering the real of 

 rocks on the ifland of Santa Maria, they fleer di- 

 redly for Talcaguano point, at the difl:ance of about 

 half a league ; from which leaward, is a rock called 

 Quiebraollas, which mufl: be the more carefully 

 avoided as it is fuirounded with flioals. There is, 

 however, no danger, if the fliip be not nearer than 

 half a mile ; indeed there is a fuflicient depth of 

 water within a cable's length. After their being a' 

 bread of this rock they flreer for the N. point of 

 Quiriqiiina, off Vv'hich lie ; v/o rocks, but the farthefl: 

 from the fliore is only a quarter of a league, and 

 may be fafely approached within a ftone's caii. Both 

 thefe rocks fwarm with fea-wolves j and as there is 



a 



