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

SG(j APPExnix. about a month salting fish, M'hich fetch a high price at Lambayeque. ITiere is no danger round these islands, at the distance of a mile ; regular soundings will be found between them and the shore, from fifty fathoms abreast of the islands. N. 26° W., ten leagues from Lobos de Afuera, lies the Island of LoBo's DE TiEEEA, nearly two leagues in length, north and south, and little more than two miles wide ; when seen from seaward it has a similar appearance to the former islands, and many rocks and blind breakers lie round it, particularly on the west side. There is tolerable anchorage on the N.E. side, in eleven or t^velve fathoms, sand and broken shells. A safe passage is said to exist between this island and the main, which is distant ten miles, but as no advan- tage could be gained by going between, it was not thoroughly exa- mined by us. Point Aguja is long and level, terminating in a steep bluff 150 feet high, and has a finger rock a short distance off it, with several detached rocks round the point. Three miles and a half N.N.E. of this is Point Noniira, and five miles farther in the same direction is Point Pisura, the south point of the Baj' of Sechura ; between Aguja and Point Pisura are two small bays, where anchorage may be obtained, if required. The land about this part is much higher, and has deeper water oflf it, than on either side, and may be readily known by its regularity and table- top. The bay of Sechura is twelve leagues in length, formed by the little Lobos Island of Payta and Point Pisura, and is six leagues deep ; on the S.E. side the coast shows low sand hills, but as you go northward it becomes chffy and considerably higher. Near the centre of the bay is the entrance to the River Piura, and the tovra of Sechura situated on the banks of it. This town is inha- bited chiefly by Indians, who carry on a considerable trade in salt, which they take to Payta on their balsas, and sell to the shipping. The river is small, but of sufficient size to admit the balsas when laden. There is anchorage any where off the town, in from twelve to five fathoms, coarse sand ; in the latter depth you will be better than a mile from the shore. This place may easily be distinguished by the church, which has two high steeples on it, and shows conspicuously above the surrounding sand hills ; one of these steeples has a con- siderable inchnation to the northward, which at a distance £rives it more the appearance of a cocoa-nut tree than a stone building.