CHAPTER II.
THE VOYAGE AROUND CAPE HORN.
Valparaiso to Fort Vancouver.
Pleasant voyage to Callao - Observations on Lima and Peru - Enthusiastic reception by the populace - To sea again - Trade-winds and calms - Provisions running low - Coast of Oregon sighted - Confronted by bar of the Columbia-Doubts and fears-The wonderful crossing-Arrival at Astoria and reception by Birnie-Fort Vancouver and Dr. McLoughlin - News from the mountain missions.
E took leave at last of the respectable Tagle family, i who entertained us with all the charity and hospitality imaginable for ten days. We reached Valparaiso in time to make all preparations for our second embarcation. On the Ist of May we said farewell to our dear brothers in Valparaiso, and the Infatigable weighed anchor on the day following. The distance from Valparaiso to Callao, the port of Lima, is about 500 leagues. I have never seen so calm, smooth and beautiful a sea as that which now passed before our eyes: rightfully do they call it Mare Pacificum. We had a constantly favorable breeze, and the same sails that were set at Valparaiso remained untouched, nor did the ship deviate a line from its course, until we arrived in the beautiful bay of Callao, after a navigation of eight days. An almost entire uniformity marked our passage -not the slightest accident nor unpleasantness arose to mar this beautiful run, and save for the usual changes of day and night, sunshine and cloud, nothing interrupted the agreeable monotony of the scene. On the I Ith of May I found myself in the capital of Peru.
Since we have coasted along a great part of South America, I will give you my observations and such information as I have gathered concerning those coasts. On the Pacific