226 



PORT OF ST. PEDRO. 



[1825. 



dangerous. By this means, they not only shortened their route to 

 Lima, but often saved much valuable property from the grasp of nauti- 

 cal freebooters, and from the effects of nautical disasters. This is the 

 only place where vessels from Acapulco, Sonsonate, Panama, &e. can 

 touch in their passage to Callao ; and to this place they are often 

 driven back by adverse winds and shifting currents. Consequently, 

 the town of Paita owes its whole support to the harbour, where cargoes 

 of goods sent from Panama are landed, together with those coming 

 from Callao, to the jurisdiction of Piura and Loja. 



The inhabitants of Paita are principally Spaniards, mulattoes, and 

 mestizoes, who derive a subsistence from the finny treasures of the 

 deep, and from the passengers to and from Callao and Lima. In the 

 bay of Paita, like that of Sechura, there is an ample fishery, in which 

 the Indians of Colan, Sechura, and the small hamlets near the coast, 

 are constantly employed. The whole defence of the town consists of 

 a small fort, encircled by a brick wall, and mounted with eight or ten 

 pieces of cannon; without ditch or outworks of any kind. It has 

 been often taken and pillaged, particularly by the squadron of Anson, in 

 1741, when it was plundered and burnt. 



Under such circumstances as are here merely hinted at, it must be 

 evident to every reader that this is no place for ships to procure refresh- 

 ments of any description. Water cannot be had ; wood is procured 

 with great difficulty ; while vegetables and beef are scarce, and com- 

 mand a high price. All their supplies are furnished by the inhabitants 

 of Colan, who cultivate grain and breed cattle, with which they supply 

 Paita and other towns. 



About six leagues distant from Paita, in the direction of north-north- 

 west-half-west, is Point Parina, between which and Paita the land is 

 hollowed out into a deep open bay, in which, is the village of Colan, and 

 another one called Colave. This bay should be avoided as much as 

 possible, particularly in the night, it being very subject to calms. 



December 3\st. — After touching at Point Nero, and also at Lobos 

 de Terre, we arrived at St. Pedro, on Saturday, the 31st, and anchored 

 in six fathoms of water, sandy bottom, in an open roadstead, about 

 three-quarters of a mile off-shore. The town of St. Pedro stands on 

 the south bank of a river of the same name, about half a mile inland. 

 Here we filled our water-casks, and took on board a supply of fruit 

 and vegetables. 



There is no danger in lying at anchor in this roadstead, as the wind 

 never blows very fresh from the seaboard, and it is generally calm at 

 night. The landing at this place, however, is always bad, and not un- 

 attended with danger, if attempted by unskilful or inexperienced hands ; 

 as the boats must be managed with peculiar address and tact, to pre- 

 vent their being capsized by the immense billows which are commonly 

 rolling in to the shore. It is therefore advisable, in all cases, to em- 

 ploy shore-boats, which are built expressly for this hazardous service, 

 and are managed by men who have been brought up to the business 

 from their childhood. Of course these natives are as well acquainted 

 with the nature of the landing, and are as familiar with the character 

 of the surf on this part of the coast, as it is possible for men to be. 



