A P P E N D I X .
To tKe northward of Chaiieral Bay the coast is low, and projects
to the N.W. for about ten miles. The extreme west point, Point
Pajaros, has a small rocky islet off it, about two cables iirom the
shore: the land m-shore rises gradually to a low ridge, about half
a mile from the coast, the high range is about three miles in-shore.
To the northward of Point Pajai'os the coast runs to theEast, forming
a small bay, open to northerly, hut well sheltered from southerly
winds; there is anchorage in from eight to twelve fathoms, about
one-third of a mile from the shore, but the landing is bad.
About four miles N.E. of Point Pajaros is another point, with a high
rock off it, to the northward of which is the Bay of SASCO, in
which there is also shelter fi-om southerly winds. A deep gully runs
inland from the S.E., comer of the bay, at the mouth of which is a
sandy beach, with anchorage about one-third of a mile ofif, in from
eight to twelve fathoms, but the landing is not good. There are
two or three small huts close to it. To the northward of Sarco the
high land runs close to the coast, the sides of the hiUs are covered
with yeUow sand, the summits are rocky, and the whole coast has a
miserably barren appearance. To the northward of the deep gully
about four miles, there is a projecting rocky point, at the foot of a
high range of hiUs, with a very remarkable. black sharp peak near
its extreme, the coast to the northward of this runs nearly north
and south, and is very rocky for about eight miles, when it turns to
the westward, forming a deep bay, in the N.E. corner of which is a
small beach called Tongoy. To the northward of the bay a high
range runs out towards Point Alcalde, the extreme point of the bay,
which is nearly seven miles to the southward of Huasco ; the point is
very rocky with small detached rocks close to i t : in-shore it rises a
little, and there are several small rocky lumps, running out of the
sand, one of which, from the southward, shows very distinctly : it
is higher than the rest, and forms a sharp peak; a little in-shore of
which the land rises suddenly to the extreme of the high range.
About seven miles to the northward of Point Alcalde, is the point
forming the Port of HTIASCO, it is a low rugged point, with several
islands off it, one of which only is of any size, it is separated from
the main by a very narrow channel, and appears from sea-ward to be
the point of the main; it is covered with low rugged rocks, one of
which on its north side is much higher than the rest, and shows
distinctly coming from the southward, but from the northward it is
A P P E N D I X .
mixed with, the other rocks behind it; to the south-west of tins
island there are several other small rocky islets, which appear as
two small islands when seen from a distance. A little m-shore of
the extreme point there is a short raaige of low hiUs. forming four
rugo-ed peaks, which show very cUstinctly from the southward and
westward: the land falls again Inside them for a short distance
more, and then rises suddenly to a high range runnmg east ^ d
west, which is directly to the southward of the anchorage, ihe
top of the range forms three round summits, the easternmost of
which is a Uttle higher, and the middle a Uttle lower than the other.
Nearly three müesto the N.E. of the anchorage, there is another
range of hills about 1,400 feet high: on the south slope of which
there is a sharp peak, from which it slopes to the valley that the
river runs through. The river is small, and a heavy surf breaks
outside it, the water however is excellent; there is another lagoon
smaU river in the valley, nearer the port, hut the water is very
brackish. The anchorage is very much exposed to northerly wmds,
and a heavy sea then roUs in, but a heavy norther does not occur
more than once in two or three years. The village consists of about
a dozen smaU houses, scattered among the rooks on the pomt
dividing the old and new ports. The country round presents a
more barren and miserable appearance than any part even of this
desolate coast: the ground is. composed of a mass of small stones
mixed with sand, out of which project masses of rugged, craggy
rocks. A Htüe in-shore the stony ground is changed for a loose
yellow sand, which covers the sides and bases of nearly all the hiUs
round : the summits are stony without any appearance of vegetation
• but in the low grounds a few stunted bushes grow among the
stones, and after rain (a rare blessing) they look much fresher than
might be expected in such soü. and then the valley through which
the river runs also appears green, forming a striking contrast to
the country around.
Point Lobo, about ten mües to the northward of Huasco, is
rugged, with several small hummocks on it; to the southward of
this there are several small sandy beaches with rocky points between
them, but a tremendous surf breaks on them, aUowing no shelter
even for a boat. A little in-shore of the point, there are two low
hüls, and within them the land rises suddenly to a range about
1,000 feet high. In the hay to the northward of Point Lobo, there
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