556 



ULLOa's voyage to south AMERICA. 



the remainder of this journey, it is equally neceflary to confult the tide ; for the whole 

 country being fandy, the mules would, from their fmking fo deep in it, be tired the 

 firfl league or two. Accordingly travellers generally keep along the Ihore, which being 

 wafhed by the breaking of the waves, the fand is more coinpaft and firm, and confe- 

 quently much eafier to the beafts. During the winter, there runs through Mancora a 

 fmall rivulet of frefh water, to the great relief of the mules ; but in fummer the Httle 

 remaining in its courfe is fo brackifh, that nothing but abfolute neceffity can render it 

 tolerable. The banks of this rivulet are fo fertile by its water, that it produces fuch 

 numbers of large algarrobales, as to form a ihady foreft. 



From Mancora, the road for fourteen leagues runs between barren mountains, at 

 fome diftance from the coaft, with very troublefome afcents and declivities, as far as the 

 breach of Parinnas, where the fame cautions are to be obferved as at Mancora, and is 

 the fecond ftage ; from whence the road lies over a fandy plain ten leagues in length, 

 to the town of Amotape, and at fome diftance from the coaft. 



This town, which ftands in 4° 5i'43"fouth latitude, is an appendix to the parifli of 

 Tumbez, belonging to its lieutenancy, and in the jurifdi6tion of Piura. The houfes are 

 about thirty in number, and compofed of the fame materials with thofe of Tumbez ; 

 but the inhabitants are only Indians and Meftizos. A quarter of a league from it is a 

 river of the fame name, and whofe waters are of fuch prodigious ufe to the country, 

 that it is every where cultivated, and divided into fields, producing plenty of the feveral 

 grains, efculent vegetables, and fruits, natural to a hot climate ; but Hke Tumbez, is 

 infefted with mofchitos. This river in fummer may be forded j but in winter, when 

 the torrents defcend from the mountains, it muft be crofted in a balza, the rapidity of 

 its current being then confiderably increafed. There is a neceflity for palling it in 

 going to Piura, and after this for about four leagues the road lies through woods of 

 lofty algarrobales. Thefe woods terminate on a»f andy plain, where even the moft ex- 

 perienced drivers and Indians fometimes lofe their way, the wind levelling thofe hills of 

 fand which ferved as marks, and effacing all the tracks formerly made ; fo that in tra- 

 velling this country, the only direftion is the fun in the day-time, and the ftars in the 

 night ; and the Indians being little acquainted with the fituation of thefe objeds, are 

 often bewildered, and expofed to the greateft hardfhips before they can again find their 



way. ' 



From what has been faid, the difficulties of travelling this road may be conceived. 

 Befides, as far as Amotape, not only all kinds of provifions muft be carried, but even 

 water, and the requifites for kindling a fire, unlefs your provifion confifts of cold meat. 

 In this laft ftage is a mine of cope, a kind of mineral tar, great quantities of which are 

 carried to Callao, and other ports, being ufed in fliips inftead of naphtha, but has the 

 ill quality of burning the cordage 5 its cheapnefs, however, induces them to ufe it mixed 

 with naphtha. 



The citjr of Piura, which is at prefent the capital of its jurifdidion, was the firft Spanifti 

 fettlement in Peru. It was founded in the year 1531 by Don Francifco Pizarro, who 

 alfo built the firft church in it. This city was originally called San Miguel de Piura, and 

 ftood in the valley of Targafala, from whence, on account of the badnefs of the air, it 

 was removed to its prefent fituation, which is on a fandy plain. The latitude of it is 

 50 11' i" fouth, and the variation of the needle we obferved to be 8° 13' eafterly. The 

 houfes are either of bricks dried in the fun, or a kind of reeds called quinchas, and 

 few of' them have any ftory. Here the corregidor refides, whofe jurifdidion extends 

 on one fide along Valles, and on the other among the mountains. Here is an office for 

 the royal revenue, under an accountant or treafurer, who relieve each other every fix 



9 monthsj. 



