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

240 APPENDIX. the head by a reef of rocks. To the northward of this island, and round the head is the port and town of Arica, the sea-port of Tacna. Of late this place has been the seat of ci\'il war from which it has severely suffered. It was in contemplation in the latter end of 1836 to make it the port of the BoliA-ian territory ; should that take place, it would perhaps become next in importance to the harbour of CaUao, the principal port in Peru : its present exports are bark, cotton, and wool ; for which is received, in return, merchandize, chiefly British. Fresh provisions and vegetables, with all kinds of tropical fruit, may be had in abundance and upon reasonable terms ; the water also is excellent, and may be obtained Math little difficult}^ ; as a mole is run out into the sea, which enables boats to lie quietly while loading and discharging : the only inconvenience is ha\dng to carry or roll it through the town. Fever and ague are said to be prevalent ; this in all probability arises from the bad situation which has been chosen for the town, the high head to the southward excluding the benefit of the refreshing sea-breeze, which generally sets in about noon. In entering this place there is no danger whatever ; the low island may be rounded at a cable's distance in seven or eight fathoms, and an- chorage chosen where convenient. Hence the coast takes a sudden turn to the westward, and as far as the river Juan de Dios, is a low sandy beach with regular soxuidings: from this river it gradually becomes more rocky, and increases in height tiU it reaches the Point and Moero S.\ma, kno^^^l by some as the Devil's Headland. This is the highest and most conspicuous land near the sea, about this part of the coast, and appears from its boldness to project beyond the neighbouring coast hne ; on its western side is a cove formed by the point called Sama, where coasting vessels occasionally anchor for guano ; there are three or four miserable looking huts, the residence of those who collect the guano ; it would be quite impossible to land except in a balsa, and even then with difficulty. Should a vessel be drifted down here by baffling winds and heavy swell, which has been the case, she should endeavour to pass the head (as a number of rocks surround it) ; and about a mile to the westward anchorage may be obtained in fifteen fathoms. N. 4&° W., nine miles from Point Sama, is a low rocky point, called Tyki, t.nd between the two, the small river Lucumbu, having low cliffs on each side of it ; this, like most of the rivers on the coast, kas not strength to make an outlet for itself, but is lost in the