356 



had not risen, but that part of the milky wayv 

 which extends from the feet of the Centaur 

 toward the constellation of Sagittarius, seemed 

 to pour a silvery light over the surface of the 

 ocean. The white rock, crowned by the Castle 

 of St. Antonio, appeared from time to time be- 

 tween the high tops of the cocoa trees, that 

 border the shore. We soon recognized the 

 coasts only by the scattered lights of the Guay- 

 queria fishermen. In these moments we felt 

 in all it's force the charm of that spot, and the 

 regret of leaving it. Five months had passed 

 since we disembarked on that shore, as on a 

 newly discovered land, strangers to all that 

 surrounded us, approaching with mistrust every 

 bush, every humid and shadowy spot. That 

 coast now disappeared to our eyes, leaving re- 

 membrances which seemed of a long date. 

 The soil, the rocks, the plants, the inhabitants, 

 all now were become familiar to us. 



We sailed at first to the N. N. W., approach- 

 ing the peninsula of Araya; we then ran thirty 

 miles to the W. and to the W. S. W. As we 

 advanced toward the shoal that surrounds Cape 

 Arenas, and stretches as far as the petroleum 

 springs of Maniquarez, we enjoyed one of those 

 varied sights, which the great phosphorescence 

 of the sea so often displays in those climates. 

 Bands of porpoises seemed to take pleasure in 



following our bark. Fifteen or sixteen of these 



" i / »i, ,> • f" j . ■ 



1 . 



