266 



APPENDIX. 



about a month salting fish, which fetch a high price at Lambayeque. 

 There is no danger round these islands, at the distance of a mile ; 

 regular soundings will be found between them and the shore, from 

 fifty fathoms abreast of the islands. 



N. 26° W., ten leagues from Lobos de Afuera, lies the Island of 

 LoBos DE TiERRA, nearly two leagues in length, north and south, 

 and little more than two miles wide ; when seen from seaward it has 

 a similar appearance to the former islands, and many rocks arid 

 blind breakers lie round it, particularly on the west side. There is 

 tolerable anchorage on the N.E. side, in eleven or twelve fathoms, 

 sand and broken shells. A safe passage is said to exist between 

 this island and the main, which is distant ten miles, but as no advan- 

 tage could be gained by going between, it was not thoroughly exa- 

 mined by us. 



Point Aguja is long and level, terminating in a steep bluff 150 

 feet high, and has a finger rock a short distance off it, w^th several 

 detached rocks round the point. 



lliree miles and a half N.N.E. of this is Point Nonura, and five 

 miles farther in the same direction is Point Pisura, the south point 

 of the Bay of Sechura ; between Aguja aijd Point Pisura are two 

 small bays, where anchorage may be obtained, if required. The land 

 about this part is much higher, and has deeper water off it, than on 

 either side, and may be readily known by its regularity and table- 

 top. The bay of Sechura is twelve leagues in length, formed by the 

 little Lobos Island of Payta and Point Pisura, and is six leagues 

 deep ; on the S.E. side the coast shows low sand hills, but as you 

 go northward it becomes cliffy and considerably higher. 



Near the centre of the bay is the entrance to the River Piura, and 

 the town of Sechura situated on the banks of it. This town is inha- 

 bited chiefly by Indians, who carry on a considerable trade in salt, 

 which they take to Payta on their balsas, and sell to the shipping. 

 The river is small, but of sufficient size to admit the balsas when laden. 

 There is anchorage any where off the town, in from twelve to five 

 fathoms, coarse sand ; in the latter depth you will be better than a 

 mile from the shore. This place may easily be distinguished by the 

 church, which has two high steeples on it, and shows conspicuously 

 above the surrounding sand hills ; one of these steeples has a con- 

 siderable inclination to the northward, which at a distance gives it 

 more the appearance of a cocoa-nut tree than a stone building. 



