CHAPTER IV. 
MOCHA ; ARRIVAL AT VALPARAISO AND DEPARTURE. 
The island of Mocha is high, and may be seen at a great dis¬ 
tance. On the north part, the land gradually tapers off to a long 
low point, off which lie some rocks, at the distance of a quarter 
of a mile. On the west side is a long, narrow, and, were it not 
for the height of the island, a dangerous reef, extending three 
leagues, on which, during a heavy swell, the water breaks with 
great violence. At the anchorage, a ship is sheltered from the 
westerly and southerly winds, but is exposed to those from the 
north and east; the latter, however, seldom blows with violence 
on the coast. 
As soon as the ship was anchored, the boats were got out, and 
myself and several of the officers went on shore. The sea was 
beating furiously against the beach and rocks that skirt the shore, 
and it was some time before we could find a landing place ; at 
length, however, we found one a short distance to the north of an 
extensive sandy beach, in a small cove formed by the rocks, and 
protected from the sea by a small reef: here we found the water 
perfectly smooth. As we had been surrounded with seals and 
birds of different kinds as we ran in; and had seen, with our spy¬ 
glasses, several hogs and horses on shore, I permitted the officers, 
.and the most careful of the men, to take muskets with them, and 
in the course of the few hours we were on shore, we had killed 
and got down to the boats, 10 hogs, with some young pigs, which 
the seamen had run down, and were about embarking with them 
at dusk of the evening ; but seeing a drove of horses coming 
along, and every one being anxious to fire, and feeling apprehen¬ 
sive of some accident, I directed them to conceal themselves 
behind the boats that were hauled on the beach, and not to fire 
until I had fired ; intending to reserve my shot until they had got 
to that position, that all could fire without the least danger of 
