HUACHO. 



263 



northward, to complete the stock of water in the 

 Conway, preparatory to proceeding to Valparaiso; 

 fbr during the siege, the watering-place at Callao 

 was inaccessible, and not a drop was to be found, 

 without going nearly sixty miles along shore for 



2d of August — As the wind on this coast blows 

 always from the south, it is easy to make a pas- 

 sage to the northward, and we reached Huacho 

 in a few hours. While the ship was taking in wa- 

 ter and fresh provisions, of which, owing to the 

 war, we had not been able to get any supply at 

 Lima, I rode, with one of my officers, to Huaura,a 

 town on the banks of the river of the same name. 

 This spot was interesting, from having been the 

 head-quarters of San Martin's army for nearly six 

 months. Our road lay through a highly cultivated 

 country ; a new and grateful sight to us, heartily 

 tired as we were of comfortless deserts and barren 

 cliffs. The pleasing distinction enjoyed by this 

 district is attributable to irrigation from the river 

 Huaura, the waters of which are distributed over 

 a considerable extent of country. The unvarying 

 heat of the climate, and the abundant supply of 



