404 THE TABLAZO OF PERU. 



Upon these plains rain falls only at rare and un- 

 certain intervals, and the vegetation visible during 

 the continuance of dry weather, consists only of 

 a few herbs, which withstand these long periods 

 of drought, being kept alive by long tap roots, 

 which penetrate deeply into the subsoil the only 

 thing in the way of tree life which is able to main- 

 tain existence is the desert Algarrobo (Prosopsis 

 Horrida>j, a dwarf tree of lowly growth, and two 

 others, both mere shrubs. * The dry season generally 

 lasts from November to April. Some districts are 

 however refreshed by heavy dews, which serve to 

 promote the growth of a coarse herbage and prevent 

 the entire desiccation of the land. From June to Sep- 

 tember also, fogs proceeding from the Pacific, sometimes 

 accompanied by fine rain, create a short yet beautiful 

 period of growth and verdure, showing that here (as 

 in most so-called deserts) it is the want of water 

 alone which produces sterility. This mist and drizzling 

 rain is known by the natives as "La Garua," and as 

 soon as it sets in " a blooming vegetation of wild 

 flowers for a short time covers the barren hills, " where 

 in general "the deserts present no sign of a living 

 creature, or of vegetation." f 



Cultivation is as we have said, confined to the neigh- 

 bourhood of the rivers, whose courses are generally 

 indicated upon the landscape by lines of fine trees, 

 palms, willows, poplars, etc., and by means of irrigation 

 channels beautiful gardens and fields of crops occasionally 

 appear, like a verdant carpet spread forth upon the 

 thirsty soil. This dry coast region as it is called in 



* Encvd. Brit., gth Edition, p. 670. 



f Ibid., Vol. xviii, p. 670 (Article "Peru"). 



