PERU. 231 



On receiving the reports of the commanders of the different vessels, 

 active operations were at once begun to refit, replenish our stores, and 

 complete our duties. The necessary changes in officers and men were 

 made, in consequence of my determination to send the Relief home. 

 This I resolved to do on several accounts. I have stated that from 

 the first I found her ill-adapted to the service ; her sailing I saw would 

 retard all my operations, and be a constant source of anxiety to me ; 

 and I felt that I already had objects enough without her to occupy 

 and engross my attention. The expense was another consideration, 

 which I conceived myself unauthorized to subject the government to, 

 particularly as I found on calculation, that for one-tenth of the sum it 

 would cost to keep her, I could send our stores and provisions to any 

 part of the Pacific. 



We found it necessary to have the Relief smoked, in order to destroy 

 the rats with which she was infested, to save our stores from further 

 damage. During this time the repairs of the Porpoise had been 

 completed, and the usual observations for rating our chronometers, and 

 with the magnetic instruments, were made on shore ; and such officers 

 as could be spared allowed to visit Lima. The naturalists were also 

 busy in their several departments. We remained at San Lorenzo ten 

 days, during which time its three highest points were measured with 

 barometers at the same time. The result gave eight hundred and 

 ninety-six feet for the southern, nine hundred and twenty for the 

 middle, and twelve hundred and eighty-four for the northern summit. 

 LTpon the latter the clouds generally rest, and it is the only place on 

 the island where vegetation is enabled to exist. The others are all 

 barren sandy hills. It is said that the only plant which has been 

 cultivated is the potato, and that only on the north peak. This becomes 

 possible there from the moisture of the clouds, and their shielding it 

 from the hot sun. 



The geological structure of the island is principally composed of 

 limestone, clay, and slate. It presents a beautiful stratification. Gyp- 

 sum is found in some places between the strata, and crystals of selenite 

 are met with in one or two localities. Quantities of shell-fish are 

 found on the shore, and the waters abound with excellent fish. 



The burying-ground is the only object of interest here. The graves 

 are covered with white shells, and a white board, on which is inscribed 

 the name, &c. They appear to be mostly of Englishmen and Ameri- 

 cans, and it would seem that the mortality had been great. But when 

 one comes to consider the large number of men-of-war which have 

 been lying in the bay, and the period of time elapsed, the number of 

 interments do not seem large. 



