420 Voyage of the Novara. 



of foreign races. Such colonizations have ahnost invariably 

 been effected for political purposes, and were compulsory, 

 instead of being undertaken voluntarily. 



On 1 6th June we anchored in the beautiful and sheltered 

 harbour of Payta. The little town itself has about 4000 in- 

 habitants, who carry on a pretty brisk trade with the interior 

 and along the coast. The principal article of export is hides, 

 especially goat-skins, chinchilla fur [Criomys Chinchilla)^ cot- 

 ton, fruit, oil, herb-archel (Eoccella tinctoria — used occasion- 

 ally as a medicine, but more commonly as a dye, — the well- 

 known litmus, used for chemical test papers, being prepared 

 ft'om it), and straw hats. Forty-five miles distant from 

 Payta, in a beautiful and fertile neighbourhood, lies the town 

 of Piura with 10,000 inhabitants, which carries on an ex- 

 tensive trade in fruit and vegetables along the coast, and in- 

 deed supplies Lima with its excellent produce. 



Payta harbour is visited annually by from fifty to sixty 

 whalers, who take in fresh provisions here, do their repairs, and 

 give their crews a little repose after long and heavy labours. 

 The climate is very healthy and exceedingly dry. At the 

 same time there is no lack of good water, which the Indians 

 bring to the city from the river Chirar, 18 miles distant, in 

 casks on mule-back. This mode of transport is so cheap, that 

 the erection of a distilling apparatus in Payta would not 

 pay. The cargo of one mule, about 12 gallons, would sell 

 for about 2 reals (about Is. 5^d.). Ships take in tlieir sup- 

 plies of water at Tumbez, a little further north. 



