By two in the afternoon the Pizarro was under sail. The channel that ships follow to leave the port of La Coruña is long andnarrow. As it opens towards the north, and as the wind blew against us, wehad to tack eight times, three of which were useless. We manoeuvred very clumsily, and once dangerously, as thecurrent dragged us close to some reefs against which waves noisily broke. stared at the San Antonio castle where the luckless Malaspina fretted in a State prison. At this moment of leaving Europe to visit thosecountries this illustrious traveler had so fruitfully visited, I wouldrather have thought about something less sad.