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

APPENDIX. 265 shews very distinctly. The best mark for the anchorage is the ship- ping, when any are there. From this road the coast continues low, with broken cliiF, until you reach Point Eten, which is a double hiU (the southern one the highest), with a steep cliff facing the sea. The north side of this cliff is white, and shews conspicuously. N. 43° W., a Httle more than four leagues, is the road of Lam- BAYEQUE, the worst anchorage on the coast of Peru. There is a small village on the rising ground, with a church that shews white towards the sea ; off which vessels anchor in five fathoms, a mile and a quarter from the shore. The bottom is a hard sand, and bad holding ground, it is always necessary to have two anchors ready, for the heavy swell that sets on this beach renders it almost im- possible to bring up with one, particularly after the sea breeze sets in. Rice is the chief commoditj^ for which vessels touch here : the only method of discharging or taking in a cargo (or in fact landing at all), is by means of the balsa. This is a raft of nine logs of the cabbage palm, secured together by lashings, with a platform raised about two feet, on which the goods are placed. Tliey have a large lug sail which is used in landing, the wind being along the shore enables them to run through the surf and on the beach with ease and safety ; and it seldom happens that any damage is sustained by this peculiar mode of proceeding. Supplies of fresh provisions, fruit, and vegetables may be obtained, but neither wood nor water. The coast continues low and sandy, similar in appearance to that of Lambayeque, to the distance of twenty-five leagues : an extensive range of table-land of considerable height, with broken rocky points, then commences, and continues to Point Aguja or the Needle. Fifteen leagues from Lambayeque in an E.S.E. direction, lies a small group of islands called Lobos de Afuera. These islands are a league in length north and south, and a mile and a half broad ; are about a hundred feet high, of a mixed brown and white colour, and may be seen several leagues off ; they are quite barren, affording neither wood nor water. There is a cove on the north side formed by the two principal islands, but with deep water and rocky bottom ; within this cove are several nooks, in which a small vessel might careen, without being interrupted by the swell. These islands are resorted to by fishermen from Lambayeque on their balsas ; they carry all their necessaries with them, and remain a a