Chap. V. THE TOWN OF ISLAY. 69 



CHAPTER V. 



ISLAY AND AREQUIPA. 



The port of Islay is the commercial outlet of the departments 

 of Arequipa, Ciizco, and Puno, in Southern Peru ; and thus 

 a small town, dciting from about 1830/ has risen up on the 

 rocky barren coast, surrounded by a sandy desert, and shut 

 in from the interior by a range of sterile mountains. The 

 coast consists of inaccessible cliffs, perforated with deep caves 

 by the incessant surge of the ocean, with several rocky islets 

 off the shore. The anchorage^ is formed by a slight inden- 

 tation of the coast, and the landing is effected at a small 

 iron jetty clamped to the rocks, under which the swell 

 breaks and chafes with a ceaseless roar. A very steep path 

 leads up the cliff to a custom-house, forming one side of 

 the little plaza, which is constantly filled with droves of 

 mules from the interior. A single street leading up from 

 the plaza, with a few lanes off it, forms the town of Islay ; 

 and a brief statement of the trade of this port will give 

 an idea of the importance of the country to which it forms 

 an outlet. 



The principal articles of export are alpaca and sheep's 

 wool, vicuna wool, copper, bark, and specie ; the total value 



^ WTien it was founded by General vessels in 10 or 12 fathoms ; but there 

 La Fuente, then Prefect of Arequipa. j is always a ratlier heavy swell, so that 

 — Castelnau, iii. p. 443. ] a hawser is necessary to keep a vessels 



2 There is anchorage for 20 or 25 i bow to it, even in fine weather. 



