APPENDIX. ■ 253 



mixed together, called tosca ; and the heavy swell that sets round 

 the point causing almost a roller, brings a vessel up to her anchor 

 and throws her back again with a sudden jerk, each of which makes 

 her drag, or endangers snapping the cable. 



Vessels having to anchor here ought not to shut the southern point 

 the Morro in with the next point to the northward : by keeping this 

 mark open they will be in eight or nine fathoms, and not have so 

 much swell as there is further in. The landing is very bad ; canoes 

 built purposely and dexterously managed are the usual means of com- 

 munication : no doubt there are times when a ship's boat may land 

 without danger, but very seldom probably without the crew being 

 thoroughly drenched. From ChoriUos the coast runs in a steady 

 sweep with cliffs of less height, tiU it reaches the Point of CaUao, 

 which is a shingle spit, stretching out toward the Island of San 

 Lorenzo, and with it forms the extensive and commodious Bay of 

 CaUao. 



The Island of San Lorenzo, which is 1050 feet at its highest 

 part, is four miles and a half long, in a N.W. and S.E. direction, 

 and one mile broad. OiF its S.E. end lies a small but bold-looking 

 island, called Fronton, and to the S.W. are the Palominas rocks : 

 its northern end, or Cape San Lorenzo, is clear, and round it is the 

 usual passage to the anchorage at Callao. In rounding this Cape do 

 not close the land nearer than half a mile, for within that distance 

 there are Hght baffling airs caused by the eddy wind round the island ; 

 by getting among which you would be more delayed than if you 

 gave the island a good berth, and should have to make an additional 

 tack to fetch the anchorage. 



This is the usual route ; but there is another which, with common 

 precaution, may be used to great advantage, by vessels coming 

 from the southward. This is the Boqueron, formed by the Island of 

 San Lorenzo and CaUao Point. After making San Lorenzo and 

 Fronton, steer so as to keep the south extreme of the latter about a 

 point open on the bow port ; and keep on this course until Callao 

 Castle is seen, which has two marteUo towers on it, and is situated 

 on the inner part of the shingle spit, that forms the point : then steer 

 for it till Horadada Island (with a hole through it) comes on with 

 the middle of the southern sandy bay of the Morro Solar, and with 

 the inner declivity of the hill on Solar Point bearing S. 66° E. : with 

 these marks on, and steering N. 66° W., for the furthest point of 



