104 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
arrangements, was informed that the governor intended returning 
my visit. I consequently went on board to receive him, and on 
his arrival, with a numerous suit of officers, saluted him with 11 
guns. It appears that many of them had never before seen a 
frigate, all of them being native Chilians, and this being the first, 
since their recollection, that had entered the port. The Standard, 
a British ship of the line, had touched there four months since 
for refreshments, on her way to Lima, but some misunderstand¬ 
ing having taken place between them and her officers, there was 
but little intercourse between them. The visit lasted about two 
hours, during which time they visited every part of the ship ; and 
although she appeared under great disadvantage, from having 
been so long at sea, and from the tempestuous passage around 
Cape Horn, still they were much pleased and astonished that 
Anglo-Americans , as they styled us, could build, equip, and man¬ 
age ships of so large a size. 
The governor, before he left the ship, invited myself and offi¬ 
cers to a party for the next evening, and expressed great regrets 
that we had not arrived sooner, as they had had the evening before 
great rejoicings, in consequence of a victory gained by their troops 
over those of Peru. It seems that a small, unimportant fortress 
belonging to the latter had fallen into the hands of the Chilians. 
Our purchases of provisions went on as well as I could de¬ 
sire, but our watering progressed but slowdy, as the only place 
from whence we could procure it was a small well near the land¬ 
ing-place by the custom-house, which would only admit of four 
or five casks being filled before it gave out ; we were then com 
pelled to wait for some time for the water to run in, before we 
could fill any more ; but as it afforded a supply of from 1000 to 
1500 gallons per day, I concluded to fix the period of our de¬ 
parture on the 22d, allowing one week to get all our supplies. 
When we first arrived, a few boats came off with fruit, and, as 
was the case at St, Catharines, the most exorbitant prices were 
demanded for the most trifling article. However, as they con™ 
tinued to increase in numbers, I soon saw that the evil would be 
speedily removed ; and as I permitted them to establish their 
market on board, our supply was in a few hours as abundant, 
