22 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, dente, we took our leave and returned to the port. Our occu- 
Potions there were divided between astronomical observations, making 
^1825^ ’ ^ survey of the bays of Conception and St. Vincent, and equipping 
the ship for sea. 
I had some hesitation in procuring coal for our sea stock of fuel ; 
not that the article was become scarce, but on account of the enormous 
price to which the owner thought proper on this occasion to raise it. 
Captain Hall -states, that when he was at this place, the Penco coal, 
which was the best, was sold for twelve shillings a ton, all expenses 
included ; but the same quantity was now valued at nine dollars, besides 
the labour of digging and carrying. This arose from a report that some 
mines which had been recently discovered were about to be worked, 
w’^hich would occasion a great and permanent demand for the material. 
The coal is of a very inferior quality, and fit only for the forge. Hitherto, 
however, experiment has been made only upon that which is near the 
surface : when the mines are worked, if they ever be, a better quality, 
in all probability, will be obtained. Talcahuana and Penco are, I believe, 
the only places where coal has yet been discovered near Concep- 
tion. Were this article of a good quality and reasonable, there would 
be a great demand for it at Valparaiso, and among the several squadrons 
upon the station ; and it would probably be well worth the experiment 
of the owner to search a little deeper in the earth, and ascertain the 
nature of the lower strata. These veins occur in red sandstone forma- 
tion, and do not appear at the surface to be very extensive, or to 
promise any very large supply of fuel. This observation applies only 
to that part of the coast which lies in the vicinity of Conception and the 
port, a large proportion of which is composed of alluvial depositions. 
We were informed by a visiter to this country, that limestone 
is found at Conception, and is used by the inhabitants for white- 
washing their houses ; but this is evidently a mistake, as the natives col- 
lect shells, and calcine them for that purpose ; besides, in no part of the 
bay or vicinity of Conception could we perceive limestone, or even hear 
of its existence. A gentleman pointed out a place to the northward of 
Tome Bay, where he said it occurred ; but, on examination, only clay- 
slate, chert, and greenstone were found. 
As the geology of Conception will appear in another place, I shall 
