NOTICES OF PERU. 



391 



are secured together by ropes, and^ a mast is fixed near the 

 centre, on which a square sail is set. The balsa is managed by 

 six or eight Indians, and used for landing and embarking car- 

 goes for vessels, for fishing, and many sail as far north as Guaya- 

 quil, with cargoes of dry goods. Some are employed carrying 

 salt from Sechura to Paita, and sometimes go as far as thirty 

 and forty miles from the coast. They beat along by standing 

 off all day with the sea breeze, and laying on all night with 

 the land wind, which succeed each other very regularly. 

 Their progress is much more rapid than could be possibly 

 conjectured from a simple examination of their structure. At 

 this port they always land, sailing directly upon the beach^ 

 and if not required for immediate use, are at once taken apart^ 

 because the breakers very soon dash them to pieces. 



Wet as we were, we mounted our horses, and in a few mi- 

 nutes put spur for the town of Lambayeque. The road lies 

 over an irregular plain, winding amongst sand hills and abori- 

 ginal mounds ; the only vegetation upon it are a species of 

 thorn tree called aroma, and the everywhere pervading algar- 

 robo tree. About seven o'clock we entered the town, amidst 

 the noisy salutations of hosts of dogs, that were roused from 

 their slumbers at almost every step ; they seem to enjoy great 

 privileges, and to judge from the fact, that there is a strong 

 sympathy between poverty and dogs, it might be conjectured 

 that this town rejoices in a number of poor inhabitants. Bells 

 were ringing and dogs were barking as we passed through 

 the streets, while numerous little groups of slattern women and 

 children were assembled at the doors. We alighted at the 

 house of a gentleman of the country, who had travelled in Eu- 

 rope, and who speaks English very well, but we found that 

 he was absent in the Sierra, on a visit to some of the mines. 

 According to a previous agreement with him, we took posses- 

 sion of the house, and in a very few minutes put the servants 

 into requisition, to prepare our supper and beds. 



While at tea, several neighboring gentlemen, and two of our 

 countrymen, residing here, came in ; we passed all the evening 

 in the house, conversing with our guests, one of whom (a na- 

 tive) we found to be very intelligent in the history of the 



