PERU. 279 



Pachacamac is one of the most interesting spots on this part of the 

 coast, although it is said it will not compare with many others in 

 various parts of the country, especially at Cusco. 



They left Callao on the afternoon of the 28th of June, and were at 

 anchor about midnight abreast of the place. At daylight the surf was 

 found so heavy as to render it dangerous to land in the whale-boat. 

 By the perseverance of the officers, a raft was formed of the India- 

 rubber mattrasses and oars; two balsas were also provided. Lieu- 

 tenant Underwood made the first attempt, and paddled himself into the 

 rollers, the first one of which threw him and the balsas end over end. 

 Shortly after, the raft was seen bottom up, the oar broken, and the 

 fragments sticking up in various directions ; but he was missing. He 

 soon, however, made his appearance at some distance, and just as he 

 reached the raft, a second sea broke over him, and he again dis- 

 appeared, apparently much exhausted. When the third roller broke 

 over him, he was considered for a few moments as lost ; and it was 

 no small relief to see him crawling from the water up on the beach, a 

 short time afterwards. The raft was now pulled back to the tender 

 by the line. In consequence of the ill success of this experiment, it 

 was determined to make a trial in the whale-boat, which succeeded 

 without accident. Dr. Pickering and Lieutenant Underwood now 

 proceeded to the temple. At the base of the hills, they found a few 

 cabins of Indians, who stated that they had not chosen the proper 

 place for landing. 



The Temple of Pachacamac, or Castle, as it is called by the 

 Indians, is on the summit of a hill, with three terraces ; the view of 

 it from the north is somewhat like that of the Pyramid of Cholula, 

 given by Humboldt, except that the flanks were perpendicular. 



The whole height of the hill is two hundred and fifty feet, that of 

 the mason-work, eighty ; the form is rectangular, the base being five 

 hundred by four hundred feet. At the southeastern extremity, the 

 three distinct terraces are not so perceptible, and the declivity is more 

 gentle. The walls, where great strength was required to support the 

 earth, were built of unhewn square blocks of rock ; these were cased 

 with sun-dried brick (adobes), which were covered with a coating ol 

 clay or plaster, and stained or painted of a reddish colour. 



TEMPLE OK PACHACAMAC. 



