PERU. 



247 



of the walls and floors. The last was reported as having been more 

 severe to the northward. At lea, an official statement reported that 

 about one thousand jars of pisco had been broken. They are usually 

 set up on end in contact with each other, and contain from seven to 

 ten gallons each. It is truly surprising how long the churches have 

 stood, with their lofty towers. Curious effects have been produced in 

 some places. Two conical adobe caps of the Franciscan convent 

 have been shifted from their places ; one as if by a rotary motion or 

 force apparently in a direction from left to right ; the other is turned 

 half round, and seems ready to fall. Another instance was noted 

 at the gateway of the naval school before spoken of. A large block 

 has been turned one-fourth round, while those under it remain in 

 place. 



These adobe blocks have generally a large iron rod running through 

 them. A representation of the latter is given in the annexed figure. 



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GATEWAY OF THE NAVAL SCHOOL. 



With the name of Peru the want of moisture is generally associated. 

 The general impression is that it never rains there. This, however, is 

 far from being strictly true, except in certain parts of it. Were it 

 not, however, for irrigation by the mountain streams, a great portion 

 of Peru would certainly become nearly a desert. Indeed, the upland 

 is so now, not yielding any herbage whatever until the pasture region 

 of the Cordilleras is reached. We are not to imagine, however, that 

 the atmosphere is very clear, or that sunshine always prevails. It is 

 extremely difficult to get a clear day. Father Feuillee has put upon 

 record, more than a century ago, that the heavens were generally 

 obscured. I can bear testimony to the truth of this remark, for 

 although a glimpse of the sun was usually had some time during the 

 day, yet it was almost as difficult to get equal altitudes at Callao 

 during our stay as it was at Terra del Fuego. 



