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

262 APPENDIX. The town lies west from the anchorage, about two miles distant and the mouth of the river is a mUe and a half along the beach. This is the largest and most rapid river on the coast of Peru : from Santa Head it is seen to wind its way down the valley, with several islets interrupting its course ; but at its termination it branches off and becomes shallow, with only sufficient strength to make a narrow outlet for itself, through the sandy beach that forms the coast line : a heavy and dangerous surf lies off it ; so that no boat could approach vdth any degree of safety. This part of the coast may be known by the wide spreading valley down which the river runs, bounded on each side by ranges of sharp- topped hiUs ; and as you approach, Santa Island will be plainly seen ; with the Head of the same name ; there is also a small but remark- able white island, called Corcovado, to the N.W. of the harbour. There is no danger in entering ; the soundings are regular for some distance outside ; and you may anchor any where between the islands in a moderate depth of water, but of course exposed to the swell. N. 39° W., five leagues from Santa, lie the Chao Islands, one mile and three quarters off the point and hill of that name. The largest is a mUe in circumference, about one hundred and twenty feet high, and, like most of these islands, quite white ; there are regular sound- ings from ten to twenty fathoms, at the distance of a mile off shore. Between Santa and Chao the coast is a low sandy beach, which continues and forms a shallow bay, as far as the hill of Guanape, with moderately high land a few miles in-shore. The hill of Guanape is about three hundred feet high ; rather sharp at its summit, and when seen from the southward, appears like an island ; on the north side of it is a small cove, with tolerable landing just inside the rock that hes off the point. S. 8° W. from this point, between six and seven miles from the coast, lie the Guanape Islands, with a safe passage between them and the shore ; they may be said to be two, with some islets and rocks lying about them ; the southern is the highest and most con- spicuous. From the hiU of Guanape the coast continues a sandy beach, with regular soundings ; and ranges of high sharp-topped hills, about two leagues from the sea, until you near the little hiU of Carretas, which is on the beach, and has Morro Garita de Mocha overlooking it. Here commences the valley of Chimu, about the middle of which