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

242 APPENDIX- coves, useful only to small coasters, until you reach the Valley of Tambo, which is of considerable extent, and may be easily distin- guished by its fertile appearance, contrasting strongly with the barren and desolate cliffs on either side : those on the east maintain theirregu- larity for several miles, while on the west the regularity is broken, and from the near approach of the hills their aspect is bolder. The next point of this valley is called Mexico, it is E. 18° S., twenty-one miles from Islay Point, and is exceedingly low, pro^ jecting considerably beyond the general trend of the coast ; it is covered with brushwood to the water's edge, and at the distance of two miles in a southerly direction, soundings may be obtained in ten fathoms, muddy bottom ; from that depth, in the same direction, it increases to twenty fathoms ; but on each side of the bank there are tifty fathoms. W. 18° N., twenty-one miles from Point Mexico, is Point Islay, and between the two, five miles from the latter, the cove of Mol- LENDO, once the port of Arequipa ; but of late years the bottom has been so much altered, that it is only capable of affording shelter to a boat or very small vessel ; in consequence of which it has been thrown into disuse, and the bay of Islay now receives vessels tliat bring goods to the Arequipa market. Islay, the port of Arequipa, formed by a few straggling islets off the point, extending to the north-west, is capable of containing twenty or five and twenty sail. The town is built on the west side of a gradually declining hill, sloping toward the anchorage, and is said to contain fifteen hundred inhabitants (chiefly employed by the merchants of Arequipa). As in all the sea-ports of Peru, a local governor and captain of the port are the Authorities ; this is also the residence of a British vice-consul. Trade was in a more flourishing condi- tion here, even during a civil war, than at any place we visited there were generally four or five, and often double that number of vessels discharging or taking in cargoes. 'J 'he principal exports were wool, bark, and specie, in exchange for which British merchandize was chiefly coveted. Islay being much frequented by British merchant vessels, and dif- ferences of opinion having arisen as to the best method of making it, detailed and clear directions should be given. Vessels have fre- quently been in sight, to the westward of the port, yet from the strength of the current (half a knot, and at the full and change often