262 APPENDIX. 



The town lies west from the anchorage, about two miles distant ; 

 and the mouth of the river is a mUe and a half along the beach. 

 This is the largest and most rapid river on the coast of Peru : from 

 Santa Head it is seen to wind its way down the valley, with several 

 islets interrupting its course ; but at its termination it branches off 

 and becomes shallow, with only sufficient strength to make a narrow 

 outlet for itself, through the sandy beach that forms the coast line : 

 a heavy and dangerous surf lies off it ; so that no boat could approach 

 vdth any degree of safety. 



This part of the coast may be known by the wide spreading valley 

 down which the river runs, bounded on each side by ranges of sharp- 

 topped hiUs ; and as you approach, Santa Island will be plainly seen ; 

 with the Head of the same name ; there is also a small but remark- 

 able white island, called Corcovado, to the N.W. of the harbour. 

 There is no danger in entering ; the soundings are regular for some 

 distance outside ; and you may anchor any where between the islands 

 in a moderate depth of water, but of course exposed to the swell. 



N. 39° W., five leagues from Santa, lie the Chao Islands, one mile 

 and three quarters off the point and hill of that name. The largest 

 is a mUe in circumference, about one hundred and twenty feet high, 

 and, like most of these islands, quite white ; there are regular sound- 

 ings from ten to twenty fathoms, at the distance of a mile off shore. 



Between Santa and Chao the coast is a low sandy beach, which 

 continues and forms a shallow bay, as far as the hill of Guanape, 

 with moderately high land a few miles in-shore. 



The hill of Guanape is about three hundred feet high ; rather 

 sharp at its summit, and when seen from the southward, appears like 

 an island ; on the north side of it is a small cove, with tolerable 

 landing just inside the rock that hes off the point. 



S. 8° W. from this point, between six and seven miles from the 

 coast, lie the Guanape Islands, with a safe passage between them 

 and the shore ; they may be said to be two, with some islets and 

 rocks lying about them ; the southern is the highest and most con- 

 spicuous. 



From the hiU of Guanape the coast continues a sandy beach, with 

 regular soundings ; and ranges of high sharp-topped hills, about 

 two leagues from the sea, until you near the little hiU of Carretas, 

 which is on the beach, and has Morro Garita de Mocha overlooking 

 it. Here commences the valley of Chimu, about the middle of which 



