By Mr. Theodore Hartweg. 



147 



orders to proceed, in consequence of the little traffic carried on 

 between the two countries, I eventually sailed from the port of 

 Realejo, and after what might be considered a fine passage of 

 36 days, I landed at Callao on the coast of Peru. Having 

 stopped here for a few days, I made an excursion from Lima 

 towards Acobamba. This is situated in the Cordillera, which 

 rises behind the capital and which attains its highest point at the 

 Toldo de nieve, (tent of snow), being a broad sheet of perpetual 

 snow visible from Callao. The lower part of this Cordillera, 

 and indeed the whole coast of Peru, from the total absence of rain, 

 presents a most desolate appearance, and the eye in vain searches 

 for a green spot for relief. Entering the ravines, I observed a few 

 plants of Cereus senilis and another tall growing species ; the for- 

 mer however seldom attains more than 10 feet in height, nor has it 

 the long white hairs with which that species is covered in Mexico. 

 Near the solitary bluff rock, called Paucacha, which is barely within 

 the influence of the periodical rains, I found a beautiful bright 

 orange-flowered Tacsonia, also Oxalis rubrocincta, Berberis deal- 

 bata, Colletia horrida, and a Hesperomeles with long thorns. 



Returning to Lima, and finding that the vessel in which I had 

 engaged a passage was to sail shortly, I repaired to Callao, and 

 after a passage of nine days with a favourable breeze and current, 

 we entered the river Guayas, on the right bank of which the town of 

 Guayaquil is situated. The country hereabouts is flat and well 

 wooded, particularly along the river ; but the myriads of mosquitoes 

 which inhabit the thickets, make the examination of their flora 

 anything but agreeable. The thermometer ranges here from 80° to 

 85° throughout the year, with little variation during night ; this 

 temperature, which is considerably less than that of the east coast 

 m a similar latitude, is no doubt owing to the high Cordillera in 

 the interior, and also to numerous snow clad mountains, of which, 

 Chimborazo is visible from the coast. These no doubt contri- 

 bute in lowering the temperature. 



