Sept.] RIVER AND TOWN OF TUMBEZ. 121 



with them in these catamarans, as there is none to be found on the 

 islands, which are covered with sand, rocks, and the dung of aquatic 

 birds : the latter sufficient to load thousands of ships, having been ac- 

 cumulating for untold ages. It is called guannar by the Spaniards, 

 and is probably the richest manure in the world. 



There are many different sorts of birds here ; but few of them are 

 of any value except for their eggs. The flesh of one kind, however, 

 is very palatable, and I have frequently found it a valuable acquisition 

 to the table. This is called the razor-bill, because the bill of the bird 

 bears a strong resemblance to the implement for shaving. It is about 

 the size of a small teal, perfectly black, shy of man, and very social, 

 being always found in flocks. All the large birds here form their 

 rookeries on the plains of level white sand ; and when viewed from our 

 anchorage, have the appearance of two armies within a short distance 

 of each other. One kind of these birds are called boobies, and they 

 always associate together in their rookeries : they have a very white 

 face, neck, and breast, but the back part of the head and back is black, 

 giving them, at a distance, somewhat of a military appearance. The 

 pelicans are another kind which associate in rookeries, and are very 

 large, moving about with their heads elevated, in martial order. The 

 latter are called the Russian army, while the former are called the army 

 of Bonaparte. 



September [5th. — We remained at the Lobos de Terra, constantly 

 employed in the incidental duties of a sealing voyage, until Sunday, 

 the 14th ; when, at seven, P. M., we again got under way, and steered 

 for the river Tumbez, with a light breeze from south-south-east, and 

 fair weather. On the following day, at eleven, A. M., we entered this 

 celebrated river, in lat. 3° 13' S., long. 80° 3' W; variation 8° 13' 

 easterly. I call it a celebrated river, because in the year 1 526 Pizarro 

 first landed on its banks with that mercenary army of Spaniards who 

 committed so many wanton depredations on the inoffensive natives of 

 Peru. The romance of history has derived some of its most brilliant 

 and interesting incidents from the details of that campaign ; and the 

 country lying between this river and the ancient city of Quito has been 

 rendered classic ground by the magic pens of Kotzebue, Sheridan, and 

 other dramatists. 



The river Tumbez rises near the Cordilleras of the Andes, and dis- 

 charges itself into the Bay of Guayaquil, nearly opposite the island 

 of St. Clara. Its banks are said to be well cultivated by the native 

 Indians, mestezoes, mulattoes, and some Spaniards, who here pursue 

 their rural occupations, watering their grounds from the river. The 

 heat is excessive, nor have they any rain for several months in succes- 

 sion ; but when it once begins to fall, it continues through the winter 

 season. This river forms the northern boundary of the Peruvian 

 coaet. There is a bar before its entrance, on which the surf generally 

 runs high, which makes it difficult watering here from the river, and 

 the water is brackish a mile and a half from the entrance. Barks, 

 boats, balzas, and canoes navigate this river ; but it is dangerous going 

 up in the winter season, as the natural impetuosity of its current is 

 then much increased by torrents from the mountains. 



