NOTICES OF BOLIVIA. 



CHAPTER I. 



Bay of Mexillones — Cobija — Soil — T.^anding' — Balsa — Town — Old trees — 

 Scarcity of water — Commerce — Visit to the copper mines — Cati'ca. 



We sailed on the 5th of September from Coquimbo, with a 

 northerly breeze, which lasted about twenty-four hours, when 

 the usual trade commenced, but it was so light that we did not 

 reach the bay of Mexillones till late in the evening of the 

 ninth. This is a beautiful, extensive, and deep bay ; the an- 

 chorage is close in to the shore, and so smooth that it offers 

 some advantages to ships of war to careen and paint, as their 

 crews may be put on shore without any danger from desertion. 

 The nearest town or habitation is the port of Cobija, more than 

 half a degree to the north. The bay opens to the northward, 

 and is surrounded by high land, as barren as can well be ima- 

 gined. There is not a blade of grass, nor even a cactus to be 

 seen on it. Nor is there a drop of fresh water to be found 

 within many leagues. The bay has been frequently examined, 

 with a view of making it the port of Bolivia, but the idea has 

 been as frequently abandoned, from the want of water. There 

 is a small stream about twenty leagues from it, which, it is 

 said, might be brought here. At present, the only inhabitants 

 are the varieties of sea birds, pelicans, gulls, cormorants, and 

 condors, and the only regular visiters are whales. Occasionally 



