CHAPTER XIV. 
GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE VICINITY 
OF LIMA, PERU. 
Far to the north and south of Callao, the sea-port near Lima, there 
stretches a broad plain, which extends to the foot of the mountains, six 
to ten miles from the coast. Thence it continues winding among the 
ridges, till the valleys begin to take their mountain character. ‘The city 
of Lima, situated about seven miles from Callao, lies just under a ridge, 
which is the first outlier of the mountains. This plain, though in 
appearance nearly level, has a gentle inclination towards the sea, and 
the city of Lima has been determined barometrically to be at least five 
hundred feet above the ocean’s level. North of Callao the sea-coast is 
low, and the land rises slowly from the water; while to the south, the 
sea-beach is backed by a cliff fifty feet in height, consisting of alter- 
nating beds of clays and sand. ‘This cliff, as appears in a view from 
the harbour of Callao, extends to Rocky Point, twelve miles to the 
southward. 
Beyond the plain, to the eastward, the ascent of the Andes com- 
mences by a very gradual rise. ‘These lofty mountains, about eighteen 
thousand feet in height, have a heavy massy character in the view 
from Callao; the outline is slightly undulating, without a peak to add 
boldness and effect to its sublimity. One single summit was seen 
rising a little above the general range, and this alone was covered 
with snow. The mountains elsewhere were wholly bare. Though 
loftier than the Chilian Andes, the view from the coast certainly falls 
short of the latter in effect; and I am informed by Dr. C. Pickering, 
who ascended from Lima to the summit, that he met with no scene 
which equalled in grandeur that of the Santiago heights. 
The plain which borders the sea, where not wholly a waste, is cover- 
ed with only a scanty growth of vegetation. Yet it is abundantly pro- 
ductive where supplied with moisture. It is well known that it never 
