286 



A VOYAGE TO 



Book VIII. 



the harbour or along the coaft, in comparifon of what 

 may be taken in the other parts. 



The coaft of Valparaifo forms a bay, lying N.E. 

 and S. W. three leagues in length, and having two 

 capes called Concon, and Valparaifo. In the S. W. 

 par: of this bay is the harbour, of a convenient fize, 

 and running above a league farther up the country. 

 The bottom is a firm tenacious mud. At the diftance 

 of a cable's length and a half from the fhore, is from 

 fourteen to fixteen fathom water, which increafes in 

 depth proportional to the diftance, that at the" diftance 

 of half a league there is thirty-fix or forty fathom. 

 The harbour is every where free from rocks and 

 fhoals, except to the N. E. of the breach de los An- 

 geles, where, about a cable's length or two from the 

 Jand is a rock, which muft be the more carefully a- 

 voided, as it never appears above water, but fometimes 

 has not a depth fufficient for a ihip of any burden to 

 pafs over it. The courfe into this harbour is to keep 

 near the point of Valparaifo, within a quarter of a league 

 from the ftiore, where there is twenty, eighteen, and 

 fixteen fathom water. After getting round the point 

 you muft ftand nearer to the ftiore, in order to avoid a 

 bank which lies thereabouts. Not, that it can be at- 

 tended with any danger, for the fide of it is fo bold, 

 that if the fliip ftiouid touch it little damage could en- 

 fue. This bank is always above water, and there is a 

 neccftity for paffing fo near ir, in order to keep to wind- 

 ward, as otherwife it would be difficult to fetch the 

 harbour. Regard muft alfo be had to the time proper 

 for entering the port of Valparaifo ; for it is by no 

 means proper to attempt it in the morning, as the 

 wind tho' blowing frefti without does not then extend 

 fo far into the bay, and thus the ftiip, by having very 

 little way, and, confequently not anfwering her helm, 

 might drive upon the bank and to let go your anchor 

 in fifty fathom water, which is the depth clofe to the 

 fand, will be very inconvenient. The common me- 

 thod 



