APPENDIX. 269 



light brown colour and well wooded. There are seveial small bays 

 between it and Point Malpelo, which bears N. 41° E., seven and a 

 half leagues distant. 



Point Malpelo, the southern point of the entrance of Guayaquil 

 River, may be readily known by the marked diiference between it 

 and the coast to the southward : it is very low and covered wibh 

 bushes to its extreme ; a short distance in-shore, is a clump of bushes 

 higher and more conspicuous than the rest, which shews plainly on 

 approaching. At the extremity of the point is the River Tumbes 

 off which a reef extends, to the distance of a quarter of»a mile. 

 This place is much frequented by whalers, for fresh- water, which is 

 found about a mile from the entrance, where they fill their boats from 

 alongside ; great care is necessary in crossing the bar, as a heavy 

 and dangerous* surf beats on it, rendering it at all times difficult to 

 cross. 1 



The entrance to the river may be distinguished by a hut on the 

 port hand going in, which is perceived immediately you round the 

 point. About two leagues up the river stood the old town of 

 Tumbes, now scarcely more thah a few huts, barely sufficient to 

 supply the whalers with fruit and vegetables. This is the boundary 

 line, between Peru and the State of the Equator. You may anchor 

 any where off the point in six or seven fathoms. 



Winds. 



The prevailing winds on the coast of Peru blow from S.S.E. to 

 S.W. ; seldom stronger than a fresh breeze, and often in particular 

 parts scarcely sufficient to enable shipping to make their passages 

 from one port to another. This is especially the case on the south 

 and south-western coast, between Cobija and Callao. 



Sometimes during the summer, for three or four successive days, 

 there is not a breath of vdnd ; the sky is beautifully clear, with a 

 nearly vertical sun. 



On the days that the sea-breeze sets in, it generally commences 

 about ten in the morning ; then light and variable, but gradually 

 increasing till one or two in the afternoon. From that time, a steady 

 breeze prevails till near sunset, when it begins to die away ; and 

 soon after the sun is down there is a calm. About eight or nine 



