64 CALLAO AND ' JMA. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CALLAO AND LIMA. 



ON the 1st of May we sailed for Callao, where we arrived 

 after a passage of twelve days. Nothing of interest occurred 

 during this period. The wind most of the time was favorable, 

 and the weather warm and pleasant. 



We found in port the United States ship " Lexington," 

 belonging to the Pacific squadron ; also the Chilian fleet, 

 amounting to ten sail, commanded by Admiral Blanco, an 

 English and a French frigate, and about fifty merchant ves- 

 sels, six of which were American. 



Callao, the seaport of Lima, is celebrated for its safety and 

 convenience. The island of St. Lorenzo shelters it from the 

 swell of the ocean to the west, and there is no danger from 

 any other direction. The Mole affords every facility for 

 landing goods from the boats. Water is conducted to the 

 Mole by an aqueduct, and a railway conveys the goods to the 

 far-famed fortress,* which is now converted into a depot. 

 There are a number of sentries stationed on the Mole night 

 and day for the double purpose of preserving order among the 

 boatmen, and to aid the custom-house in preventing smuggling, 

 which, notwithstanding, is carried on to an extent that is 



* It was here that the last stand of the royalist was made in New Spain ; and it was 

 in the same castle that "the brave Rodil, with a handful of devoted followers defended 

 themselves with heroic courage against the insurgents in 1826. Surrounded, but 

 not dismayed, they still kept their assailants at bay, until famine stalked before them, 

 and they were forced to yield. History tells us that horse-meat sold among the be- 

 sieged for a gold ounce the pound, and a chicken for its weight in the same pre- 

 cious metal ! 



