364 NIMEOD OP THE SEA; OB, 



every thing, life included, is held on an uncertain tenure. A 

 horrible story is told of the last capture of Callao. The 

 -garrison had been marched by tens near to the barial-pits 

 just south of the fort, and then fusiladed by the savage con- 

 querors. The dead bodies were left to the dogs, hogs, and 

 vultures. We were invited to visit the horrid scene, where 

 evidences of the butchery still existed, but we declined. 



That such a disgusting exhibition should be tolerated is 

 less surprising when we consider the usual method of dis- 

 posing of the dead of this brutal people. Commodore Wilkes, 

 who visited the burial-ground, thus describes it: 



" Outside the walls of the fortress are several large vaults, 

 filled with the dead, in all stages of decay, and on which the 

 vultui'es were gorging themselves. This was a revolting 

 spectacle. Many were thrown in naked, and covered with 

 a few inches of sand. Great numbers of skeletons ai'e still 

 seen with pieces of clothing hanging to them. Dogs and 

 vultures in great numbers were everywhere feeding upon 

 the dead, or standing aloof fairly gorged with their disgust- 

 ing repast." 



Is it a wonder that, after three weeks' sojourn in such a 

 community, we hailed with joy the order to weigh anchor 

 and put to sea? Death in a whale-boat, and a clean fuiieral 

 in the sea was more to our American taste than association 

 with these miserable Peruvians. 



Cruising leisurely up the coast of Peru, now standing well 

 out to sea, now running in, and seeing the magnificent sun 

 rise over the jagged wall of the Cordilleras, we spent our 

 third Fourth of July as best we might. Our lafgest hog 

 patriotically stepped into a crusty pie, to help us through the 

 day, and such of the dried-apples as the worms had left us, 

 combined with pumpkins, salt beef, and chopped figs, made 

 a mince-pie. Posey wanted to add onions for a flavor, but 

 he was overruled. These luxuries, with the national bever- 



