PERUVIAN REGIONS. 



145 



Face of the country and climate. But for the snow and rain 

 falling on the Andes, and collecting in streams that on their way 

 across the Desert, afford the means of irrigation, Lower Peru would 

 be uninhabitable. 



Back of Callao and the sea-shore, the deceptive plain extends, so 

 often spoken of; where, at the end of six miles over a seeming level, 

 the traveller is perplexed by the ocean continuing in sight; the ba- 

 rometer however furnishes an explanation, in a change of level of not 

 less than five hundred feet. This evenly inclining plain is an ex- 

 ample on a large scale of all the valleys and ravines of Lower Peru ; 

 these, I found filled to the same level from side to side, the bottom 

 presenting an even surface regularly declining outwards; and the 

 absence of rains demonstrated by the absence of a midway channel. 

 (A point of difference from the Deserts of the Eastern Continent, 

 which I subsequently found furrowed with marks of occasional tor- 

 rents). 



In the absence of variable winds, and of simooms or dry wind- 

 storms, a strong, steady breeze comes perpetually from the South ; so 

 that in exposed situations, the surf is extremely heavy. In proof of 

 this constant direction, the harbor at Callao, regarded as "one of the 

 safest in the world," is not in the least indented in the coast ; but 

 owes its safety to the oblique position of two islets that intercept the 

 heavy ocean-swell coming from the South. The North African Desert 

 has been attributed to air returning towards the Equator, after having 

 parted with its moisture in cooler climates; the same explanation 

 seems applicable to the Peruvian Desert ; except only, that this ex- 

 tends more than ten degrees nearer to the Equator. 



Unexpectedly in a Desert climate, there is a constant feeling of 

 moisture in the atmosphere. The sky is so generally overcast, that 

 astronomical observations are nearly impracticable at Lima ; and so 

 imminent does the danger often seem of rain, that the stranger long 

 hesitates to lay aside his umbrella. During our stay, the sun was 

 invariably obscured in the mornings; but usually in the course of the 

 day, became visible for at least a few moments, A drizzle or heavy 

 mist, called the " almozo," was quite frequent, taking the place of 

 both dew and rain ; moistening the bare soil, to such a degree in one 

 instance, that I observed the commencement of flowing water; a con- 

 tingency so rare, that no provision against it is required in planning 

 streets and houses. According to Reynolds in the Cruise of the Po- 

 st 



