Grapes at Pisco — Brand/j Manufacture — Chlncha Islands. 2,5 S 



thrown into this fantastic shape by the caprice of some pass- 

 ing storm. 



The chief staple of cultivation at Pisco, and throughout the 

 province, is the vine. I never tasted such delicate, juicy, 

 luscious grapes as those I got tliere. They are chiefly used 

 in the manufacture of the well-known '' Pisco," a sort of 

 ^' Aguardiente " (burning water, sc. brandy), the consumption 

 of which is extraordinarily great. There were also fruits in 

 most diverse profusion, chirimoyas (a species of anona), bana- 

 nas, aguacales, mangoes, pine -apples, lemons, oranges, peaches, 

 apples, pears, &c., which are grown here of the most delicate 

 description for the market of Lima. 



Pisco is the first jooint along the entire barren coast at 

 which the traveller, since leaving Valparaiso, sees the shores 

 covered once more with vegetation. With inexpressible re- 

 lief the eye rests upon the green carpet which, on all sides, 

 gleams forth, even between and among the houses. The place 

 has about 3000 inhabitants, and possesses numerous churches, 

 whose lofty belfries impart to it quite the appearance of a 

 large town. About 45 miles inland, in a lovely and fertile 

 valley, lies the large city of lea, with which there is consider- 

 able traffic, and the chief product of which is also the grape- 

 vine. Ten English miles N. of Pisco, and, in fact, opposite 

 the town, are the renowned Chincha or Guano Islands, and 

 towards these our course was now directed. These are three 

 small islands rising close to each other out of the bosom of the 



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