North side of the harbour, which has the greatest
depth, while the south side is shoaly.[260]
[Footnote 259: Chiloe reaches from lat. 41 deg. 50' to 43 deg. 50', both S. and
from long. 73 deg. 18' to 74 deg. 24', both W. extending 135 English miles in
extreme length, by 35 in medium breadth. See vol. V. p. 592, for an
account of the Archipelago of Chiloe. - E.]
[Footnote 260: Shelvocke seems here to describe the harbour leading to
the town or village of San Carlos. - E.]
My pilot carried me the contrary way to that here directed, advising me
to keep near the main land of Chili, which I did till I got to
Carelampo Point, having several small islands to the southward of my
course, which proved unfortunate for me by the loss of my anchor. The
soil of Chiloe is very fertile, producing all sorts of European fruits
and grains, and has fine pasture lands, in which great numbers of cattle
are grazed, particularly sheep. The air is wholesome and temperate; yet
I suspect the winter may be rigorous, being bounded on the west by an
immense ocean, without any land to screen it from the cold moist vapours
brought thither by the tempestuous westerly winds, which generally reign
in these latitudes, and which must render it uncomfortable in the winter
months, as the parallels of latitude to the south of the equator are
much colder than those in the same degrees to the northwards.
