NOTICES OF PERU. 



343 



tradition, was in use during the dynasty of the Incas. There 

 are. various opinions respecting the nature of guano ; some sup- 

 pose that it is a mineral production, and others, that it is simply 

 an accumulation of the excrement of marine birds. The im- 

 mense quantities that are consumed, its weight, its reddish co- 

 lor, the length of time and immense number of birds required 

 to produce the great quantity that exists, are rather in favor of 

 the mineral origin. But on the other hand, its physical and 

 chemical properties incline us to look upon it as an animal prow 

 duction. The ammoniacal odor which it gives off, the presence 

 of uric, phosphoric, and oxalic acids, and potass,* its color 

 more or less reddish, according to its exposure to the atmo- 

 sphere, the identity of its composition with that of the " guano 

 bianco" (white guano,) daily produced, similar deposites not 

 being found in the interior, not being in strata or layers, as we 

 should expect to find a mineral product, having found in it, at 

 certain depths, the remains of birds, and cutting instruments^ 

 used by the ancient Indians, the fact that the guano bianco be- 

 comes red in the course of time, are sufficient evidence that the 

 guano de pajaros is an animal production. 



Of this substance there are three varieties ; the red, the dark 

 gray, and the white. The first and second are on the islands 

 of Chincha (near Pisco), Iquique, and the hill of Pabellon de 

 Pica. 



The island of Iquique is the place whence it was first ex- 

 tracted, and hence its name of ''guano de Iquique." It is 

 about four hundred yards from the port of that name ; it is 

 eight hundred yards long, and two hundred broad ; and was 

 worked for twenty-five years, in which time it was exhausted. 

 About thirty years since, the Piloto, Reyes, discovered the 

 guano of Pabellon de Pica, which is situated on the sea shore, 

 about thirty leagues from the village, and eighty from the port 

 of Mollendo. This hill is very high ; the sea laves its base, 

 which consists entirely of guano, and the opposite side is sand 

 and gravel ; formerly a mine was worked in the rock, said ta 

 be of silver, but no indication of guano was met with in the 



* According to an analysis made by MM. Fourcroy and Vauquelin.^ 



