Cíi. VIÍI. SOUTH AMERICA. 97 



tanoe from Lima being; not above twenty-five or 

 thirty leagues, thev are broright thither, and by this 

 means the city is constantly supplied with fruits, ex- 

 cept a few, as grapes, melons and water-melons, 

 which requiring a hot climate, do not come to per- 

 fection in the mountains. 



The grapes are of various kinds ; and anioiigthem, 

 one called the Italian, very large and delicious. The 

 vines extend themselves on the surface of the ground, 

 which is very Vvcll adapted to support them, being 

 either stony or full of sand. These vines are pruned 

 and watered at proper times, and thrive remarkably 

 without any other care. 



No other culture is bestowed on those designed for 

 wine, for both at lea, Pisco, Nasca, and all other 

 parts where they grow, they are formed into es]}aliers. 

 None of the grapes near Lhna are used in making 

 wine, the demand for them in other respects being 

 too large. 



The soil is stony and sandy, that is, consisting of 

 smooth flints or pebbles, which are so numerous that 

 as other soils are entirely sand, rock, or earth, this is 

 wholly of the above stones ; and in some parts proye 

 very inconvenient to travellers, whether in a carriage 

 or on horseback. The arable lands have a stratum 

 of about a foot or two of earth, but below that the 

 whole consists entirely of stones. From this circum- 

 stance, the similarity of ail the neighbouring coasts, 

 and the bottom of the sea, this whale space may be 

 concluded to have been formerly covered by the oceao^ 

 to the distance of 3 or 4 leagues, or even ñirther^ 

 beyond its present limits. This is particularly ob- 

 servable in a bay about five leagues north of Callao, 

 called Marques, where in all appearance, not many 

 years since, the sea covered above half a league of 

 wliat is now Terra Firma, and the extent of a league 

 and a half along the coast. 



Vol, II, H The 



