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PERU. 



house, near the landing-place, where we were 

 hospitably received by a party of ladies assem- 

 bled near the wharf, as we surmised, to have a 

 better view of the strangers as they embarked ; at 

 least they seemed very well pleased with our visit. 



Being nearly choked with dust, I began the 

 conversation by begging a glass of water ; upon 

 which one of the matrons pulled a key from her 

 pocket, and gave it to a young lady, who carried 

 it to the corner of the room, where a large jar was 

 placed, and unlocking the metal lid, measured out 

 a small tumbler full of water for me ; after which 

 she secured the jar, and returned the key to her 

 mother. This extraordinary economy of water 

 arose, as they told us, from there not being a 

 drop to be got nearer than three or four leagues 

 off ; and as the supply, even at this distance, was 

 precarious, water at Payta was not only a neces- 

 sary of life, but as in a ship on a long voyage, 

 was considered a luxury. This incident furnish- 

 ed a copious topic, and on speaking of the coun- 

 try, we rejoiced to learn, that we had at length 

 very nearly reached the northern limit of that 

 mighty desert, along which we had been coasting 



