NOTICES OF PERU. 



353 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Pisco, from the anchorage — Landing — Ancient Pisco — Town — A ride— Salinas 

 — Commerce — Captain of the Port. 



On the 29th of September 1832, we anchored opposite to 

 Pisco, about two miles from the shore, and in four fathoms of 

 water. Lat. 13° 46' S. Long. 76° 12' W. 



From the anchorage, the broad valley presents an undulat- 

 ing champaign country, extending several leagues in every di- 

 rection, and covered as far as the eye can reach with olive 

 groves, palmettos, and shrubbery. The white spires and fanes 

 of the town were seen in relief against the sides of the blue 

 Cordilleras, magnificent in their snow-crowned summits, and 

 rich in hidden treasures of gold and silver. They stand far 

 from the coast, but still oppose their blue cloud-like sides to 

 the view. Their outline was penciled against the vault of hea- 

 ven ; they looked the beneficent genii of South America, in- 

 viting the clouds, the vapors, the rain, and the snow ; and 

 receive their gloom, their torrents, their frost and cold, upon 

 their own devoted heads, and thus defending the thousand 

 valleys at their feet, pour down their streams to fertilize those 

 valleys, which are as their children. 



We found the landing easy, though it is occasionally diffi- 

 cult ; when the wind is fresh, several large rollers form them- 

 selves in lines, and tumble one after the other on the beach, 

 with so much force as to upset or fill the boats that attempt to 

 land. 



Some hundred and fifty years since, Pisco stood where the 

 sea now breaks ; and even now, the tide does not ebb beyond 

 the ruins of the ancient town. To the right of the landing is 

 an old fort and some ruined stores, that were destroyed by the 

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