390 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



ed on the crest of the wave ; the oars were at rest, and the next 

 moment we lay safely upon the sand. 



At this season, many families are here from the town, for 

 the benefit and pleasure of sea bathing. More than a hundred 

 persons, men, women, and children, ran to the beach, spring- 

 ing over the balsa logs strewed in every direction, to see us 

 land. Some were impelled by curiosity to examine our boat, 

 never before having seen one, except at a distance, and others, 

 who had sympathized with us in peril, shouting for us to turn 

 back long before we were within ear-shot, now came to re- 

 prove us for our temerity. <^Que temeridad ! exponerse la 

 vida para nada !" — What temerity ! to expose life for nothing ! 

 said one. 



*<Unos Calaveras sin duda!" — Some rattlepates, doubtless! 

 cried another. 



Valgame Dios ! no lo hago yo por diez mil pesos !" — The 

 Lord preserve us ! I would not do it for ten thousand dollars ! 

 exclaimed a third ; but the young damsels spent their admira- 

 tion on the boat. <'Que buen bote! que bonito parecia, en 

 laola! que bien andaba !" — What an excellent boat ! How 

 beautiful she appeared on the wave ! How well she sailed ! 

 Indeed, many a boat has been lost here, and money cannot in- 

 duce these people either to embark or land in any thing but a 

 balsa. Seeing us dripping like river gods, several of the good 

 people came forward, thanking Heaven that we were safe, and 

 offered us a change of clothes; but our valise having escaped 

 being wet, we declined the offer, though we were fain to ac- 

 cept a potation of pisco to keep out the cold. 



Our boat was again launched, in spite of protestations, and 

 being very buoyant, was soon forced through the breakers, and 

 pulling away for the ship. 



There are a few huts and store houses built upon the shore, 

 which together form the town of San Jose. The town of Lam- 

 bayeque stands about six miles to the northward and west- 

 ward. 



The balsa used here, differs from that of Coquimbo, Cobija, 

 Arica, or Huanchaco ; it consists of a raft of large logs, of a 

 very light species of wood that grows near Guayaquil. They 



