26 



Porter's Voyage 



reserved our appetites for some of the delicacies which we per- 

 ceived were hkely to succeed the substantial food of the first 

 course, which we had began upon with keen appetites, and were 

 soon cloyed. The officers of the Portuguese ship, and some Eng- 

 lish merchants, were also at table ; but when the wine began to 

 circulate, and the Chilian officers to feel the ardour of their 

 patriotism, such flaming toasts were given, as to make them think 

 it prudent to retire. 



As the ball was to succeed the dinner in the tent, we walked 

 round with the governor to look at the fortifications, which were 

 in tolerable order ; and on our return found the ladies assembled, 

 dressed in all their splendour, and unusually disfigured with 

 paint. The night was spent with much hilarity, and at one 

 o'clock in the morning we repaired on board. Having now little 

 to detain us, I intended sailing early ; but the ladies seemed de- 

 termined not to be cheated out of a visit to the ship, for the 

 governor, his wife, with a boat-load of other ladies, came on 

 board about nine o'clock, and remained until twelve. 



From my extreme occupation with my duty, and the rapidity 

 of the events which took place during the week I remained at 

 Valparaiso, it could scarcely be supposed that I could have an 

 opportunity of making many observations on the place, the man- 

 ners and customs of the people, or the political state of the 

 country. Perhaps no week of my life was ever more actively 

 employed, both in labour and in pleasure ; and had not a strong 

 desire of serving our country to the utmost overcome every other 

 consideration, we should have left Valparaiso with much regret. 

 But during our stay there two Spanish ships had sailed for Lima, 

 and the certainty that they would give intelligence of us to the 

 enemy, made our speedy departure the more necessary, as it had 

 always been my intention to visit that coast previous to my going 

 to any other place. Prom all accounts, the coast of Peru, and 

 from there to the Gallipagos, is the favourite fishing-ground of 

 the British whalers. Prom thence I intended proceeding to the 

 latter place, and to endeavour to arrive at their general rendez- 

 vous at Albemarle island, before the British agent at Lima could 

 have an opportunity of giving them intelligence of my arrival in 

 this sea ; for it seemed beyond a doubt that they would con- 

 jecture that my designs were not confined to the doubling Cape 

 Horn merely for the pleasure of visiting Valparaiso. 



The town of Valparaiso is pleasantly situated at the bottom of 

 the bay, and is a place of considerable commerce. The anchor- 

 age is in front, and from two to five cables length from the shore, 

 where vessels lie secure, and are sheltered from all except the 

 north winds, which blow directly into the harbour, and occasion 

 a considerable sea. There have been instances of vessels being 



