Dec.] BAY AND TOWN OF PAYTA. 225 



down to Cape Nero, where we commenced taking fur-seal. Between 

 this cape and the town of Sechura, the land is nothing but a barren 

 sandy desert, destitute of vegetation and fresh water. This desert or 

 waste of sand, is ninety miles in extent, of difficult and dangerous 

 passage. The rocks on the seashore, between Cape Nero and Point 

 Aguja, are nothing but one mass of lava produced by volcanoes. 



December 2d. — We continued hunting seals between these two 

 capes, with tolerably good success, until Friday, the 2d of December, 

 when we steered for the Lobos de Payta Islands, which lie about 

 eighteen leagues from Point Aguja, in the direction of north-half-west. 

 These two small islands are about a mile and a half from the main- 

 land, between which and them is a passage in which the least depth of 

 water is ten fathoms. This part of the coast may be easily known 

 by a remarkable saddle-hill called Silla de Payta, to the northward of 

 which are the harbour and village or town of Payta. 



In running along this coast, a ship may pass within half a mile of 

 the west side of these islands of Lobos de L Payta, or half-way be- 

 tween them and the main with perfect safety. There is likewise good 

 anchorage on the east side of the islands, in from eight to four fathoms 

 of water, sandy bottom, about a quarter of a mile from the islands, 

 which are merely barren lava rocks produced by some former volcano. 



December \2tft. — On Monday, the 12th, we anchored in the harbour 

 of Payta, on the south-south-west side of the bay, about half a mile 

 off-shore, in five fathoms of water, mud and sandy bottom. The west 

 point, that forms this harbour, lies in latitude 5° 1' S., long. 80° 57' 

 W. In many respects, this is justly esteemed the best port on the 

 coast. In entering it, there are no dangers in the way, giving the 

 shore a quarter of a mile's berth ; and when once at anchor, we are 

 in a snug harbour, which is perfectly safe, and sheltered from all winds, 

 excepting from north-west to north-north-east, which never blow here 

 but in very light breezes. 



The town of Payta, or Paita, or St. Michel de Payta, was founded 

 by Don Francisco Pizarro, in the year 1531. It is a mere village as 

 to size, though formerly it was a place of considerable trade. The 

 houses are constructed of split canes and mud, covered with leaves, 

 and are generally two stories high. The only exception to this style 

 of building is the residence of the governor, whose habitation is built 

 of stone. This town can boast a parish church and chapel, dedicated 

 to our Lady of Mercy. It is surrounded by a sandy barren soil, and 

 depends for water and provisions on the village of Colan, which is 

 twelve miles north of it on the same bay, and near which flows the 

 river Chera. The Indians of Colan are obliged to send daily to Paita, 

 one or two balsas loaded with water, which is distributed in stated 

 proportions among the inhabitants. 



Previous to the revolution which secured to Peru her glorious independ- 

 ence, Paita was the general stopping-place of passengers from Mexico, 

 Panama, and Colombia ; and from hence they would proceed by land 

 to Lima, in order to avoid the numerous piratical adventurers who then 

 hovered on the coast, as well as the head-winds, currents, &c. which 

 rendered a sea-voyage to Callao tedious, unpleasant, and oftentimes 



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