HUACHO. 



267 



found ourselves once more in a sea of sand. On 

 another occasion, we came to a road filled two feet 

 deep with running water, and upon afterwards 

 observing the others more attentively, we disco- 

 vered that our supposed roads or lanes were only 

 so many water-courses, and as each field requir- 

 ed one, the cause of their numbers was explain- 

 ed. The hedges appear to be planted merely to 

 give stability to the embankments ; although 

 their shade must also have the beneficial efifect of 

 preventing evaporation. Wherever a river, or 

 even the smallest stream occurs, the inhabitants 

 gladly profit by it ; and nothing can exceed the 

 fertility of the soil which this irrigation produces : 

 but it is the misfortune of the western side of 

 America to have very few rivers at that part of 

 the coast which is never visited by rain. 



At Huacho, we found the Governor at dinner 

 with two or three friends. He was of the abori- 

 ginal race of the country, spoke a little Spanish, 

 and was probably a discreet and clever fellow ; 

 otherwise he would not have been left in a com- 

 mand by San Martin. The dinner was placed 

 on a low table in the middle of the floor, and the 



