Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2- Appendix): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

272 APPENDIX. that by running off with a full sail the passage will be made in much less time than by working in-shore, for you run quite through the trade-wind, and fall in with the westerly winds which are always found beyond the trades. But for the intermediate ports (except- ing Coquimbo) the case is different, as they lie considerably within the trade-wind, and must be worked for by that alone.* It may, however, be recommended to work along shore as bfefore stated, to about the island of San Gallan. Whence the coast trends more to the eastward, so that a long leg and a short one may be made (with the land just in sight) as far as Arica, or to any of the ports between Pisco and that place. From Arica, the coast being nearly north and south, vessels bound to the southward should make an offing of about fifteen or twenty leagues (to ensure keeping the sea-breeze), and work up on that meridian till in the parallel of the place to which they are bound. On no account is it advisable to make a long stretch off; for as you approach the limit of the trade-wind it gradually hauls to the east- ward, and great difficulty will be found in even fetching the port from which you started. The average passage in a well-conditioned merchant-vessel from Guayaquil to Callao is from fifteen to twenty days ; and from Callao to Valparaiso about three weeks ; fast-sailing schooners have made these passages in much less time ; and there is an instance of two men-of-war, in company, having gone from Callao to Valparaiso, remained there two days, and re-anchored at Callao on the twenty- first day. But these are rare occurrences, and only to be done under most favourable circumstances, such as taking a " norther" soon after leaving Callao. N.B. These remarks and notices, relating to Peru, are the work of Mr. Usborne. Those referring to Northern Chile are by Lieut. Sulivan. Mr. Stokes and I have added a few words, * A dull sailer might do better by running through the trade, making easting with westerly winds, and then steering northward' along the coast, than by attempting to work to windward against a trade-wirtfi, which varies but a few points.