512 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



1409. From the Rio de Tambo one travels 5 leagues to Los Sauces, 

 where Don Pedro de Peralta, a resident of Arequipa, has a large mule 

 ranch on the lomas [on the coast] by the sea ; every year he brands 

 over 200 mules. Near this establishment there are other lomas on 

 which there are excellent olive groves with mills which produce 

 much oil ; the largest are the Jesus olive grove, and farther on, that 

 of Amoquinto, together with many others on the lomas of all that 

 coast, as far as the Hilo Valley, where there are many olive and fig 

 groves and vineyards. Licentiate Perea who lives on his establish- 

 ment down there almost at the water's edge, takes in every year over 

 6,000 pesos from oil alone. This valley has no water because it dries 

 out, and if there is a little in some locahties, it occurs in [a few] 

 depressions and notches where they cannot utilize it ; this holds up 

 to 12 leagues inland, [where the valley] widens out into a great plain 

 in which two small rivers unite, coming down from [their sources in] 

 the heights of the sierra of the Province of Chucuito ; [after thread- 

 ing different cafions], they join in this famous Moquegua Valley, 

 whose patroness against earthquakes is the glorious martyr Santa 

 Catalina. The town of Santa Catalina [San Francisco de Esquilache] 

 is built here ; it will contain [with its valley] 80 Spanish residents, 

 who live in homes on their farms and vineyards. The river in this 

 lovely valley separates the jurisdictions of the Circuit Courts of Lima 

 and the Charcas, for all the valley and the vineyards on the N. side 

 of the river, which flows from E. to W., belong to the Circuit Court 

 of Lima ; for this district the Viceroy appoints a Corregidor for its 

 satisfactory administration and the dispensing of justice. In this 

 district they produce over 30,000 jugs of wine. On the other side 

 of the valley, to the S. of where the town is built, is the valley church, 

 under the patronage of Santa Catalina. There are a few vineyards 

 there ; it comes under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of the 

 Charcas. The Governor of Chucuito appoints a representative here, 

 for it belongs to his jurisdiction. Besides all the above, this valley 

 is highly productive ; they raise excellent quinces here, large and small 

 peaches, pippins, figs, and other fruit of Spanish and native varieties, 

 and [very] good melons. There are sugar plantations and mills, and 

 down the valley, many farms with fields of wheat, corn, chickpeas, 

 kidney beans, pallares, and other cereals, and much aji or pepper is 

 raised in this valley, and everything brings a good price because of 

 the great demand for its products on llamaback for the Province of 

 Chucuito, and all the upland country. They get excellent crayfish 

 in this valley, and it is well supplied and rich in everything, and seems 

 a Paradise. 



