190 



SOUTH ( OAST OF PERU. 



these openings we were udmitted to a view of re- 

 gions, which, being beyond the limits of the cloud, 

 and therefore exposed to the full blaze of the sun, 

 formed a brilliant contrast to the darkness and 

 gloom in which we were involved. As we sailed 

 past, and looked through these mysterious breaks, 

 it seemed as if the eye penetrated into another 

 world ; and had the darkness around us been more 

 complete, the light beyond would have been equal- 

 ly resplendent with that of the full moon, to which 

 every one was disposed to compare this most cu- 

 rious and surprising appearance. 



As the sun'^s rays were not, in this case, reflect- 

 ed from a bright snowy surface, but from a dark- 

 coloured sand, we are furnished, by analogy, with 

 an answer to the difficulties sometimes started, 

 with respect to the probable dark nature of the 

 soil composing the moon^s surface. 



^th of June, — We anchored off* Arica about 

 mid-day, and on landing found the town almost 

 completely deserted, and exhibiting in every part 

 marks of having been recently the scene of mili- 

 tary operations. The houses had been broken 

 opeu and pillaged, the doors were mostly unhing- 



11 



