i: II ' }
260 Al'PliNDIX.
N.W. and S.E. direction, and a mile and a half deep from the outer
piirt of the cheek, mth regular soundings from fifteen to ten, and
tliree fathoms near the beach.
Tlie best anchorage is with the inner part of the south cheek, bearing
about S.S.E. a quarter of a mile oflr shore,in seven fathoms water;
by not going farther in you escape, in a great measure, the sudden
gusts of wind that at times come down the valley with great violence.
Captain Ferguson, of H.M.S. Mersey, mentions a rock with
nine feet water on it, on the south side, half a mile from the shore,
that sometimes breaks : we saw nothing of it while we were there,
but doubtless it exists.
ITiis place seemed quite deserted ; the only things that mdicated
its ever having been visited, were a few stacks of wood pUed up on
the beach.
The best distinguishing mark for Casma, is the sandy beach m the
bay, with the sand hiUs in-shore of it contrasting strongly with the
hard dark rocks, of which the heads at the entrance are formed:
there is also a small black islet lying a Uttle to the westward of it.
From Casma the coast takes rather a more westerly direction, but
continues bold and rocky.
N. 44° W. , five leagues from Casma, is the Harbour of SAMANCO,
or H U AMB A C H O ; midway between them is a bay, almost hidden by
two islands that he across the entrance : this bay is four miles long
and two miles deep ; but as the Bay of Samanco is so near at hand,
it was not examined by us as to its capabilities.
The Bay of Samanco is the most extensive on the coast to the
northward of CaUao; it is two leagues in length, in a N.W. and
S E direction, and a league and a half wide : at its entrance it is
two miles wide, formed by Point Samanco on the south, and Seal
Island on the north, and has regular soundings all over it.
' At the S.E. corner, in a sandy bay, is a small riUage (the residence
of some fishermen), situated at the termination of the River
Nepena This river, like most on the coast, has not sufiicient
strength to force a passage for itself through the beach, but terminates
in a lagoon within a few yards of the sea.
The town of Huambacho is the nearest place to this bay; it lies
about a league distant, at the east extreme of the valley. Nepena,
which is the principal town, hes to the north-east about five leagues
off There is very little trade at this place ; small coasting vessels
APPES'DI^C.
2G1
Payta sometimes call here with a mixed.cargo, and they get in
exchange sugar and a httle neighbouring towns, but
Refreshment may be f ' r . ^ r is b r a cLh and unfit for use;
wholesome and , distinguish this bay, is Mount
When at a distance,the bestinarkto tot g ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Division, a hill - ' V r B Í ^ r F t o L T ^ is a l - ' a bell-shaped
tw-een Samanco and the Bay of ^^^^etly.
hiU on the south side of the bay that very ^^ ^^^
Mount Tortuga, a short s t a n c e Mount.
be seen: it is Hgher, and simdar - ^
The south entrance point is a -teep he a d i n g Bluflf mU be seen,
it to a cable's length; on opening the bay, L ad g ^^^^ ^^^^^
. large lump of rock on the s ^dy b ach a J e N^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^
like an island. In going m S'™ ^ ^ the weather shore,
you may then stand m as ^^^ sandy bottom :
^ d anchor off the vdlage - ^^ ,, spars •, for
when rounding the " ^ - r points, ^ t e ^ ^^ ^.^^able puffs. .
the wind comes off the BeUMount i^sudden ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^
N. 43= W. , three leagues from S — J ^ ^ from
Bay of Ferrol, nearly equal ni si.e to — • ¿ ^
it by a low sandy isthmus ; ^s an ^x P ^^ ^^^^^^
careen, being entirely free f i ^ „f Chimbóte, where,
S.S.W., and of a very white colour J ^^ ^
pointed rocks, tw^en^ ^et ^ f ^.^ch is the harbour
L island is S - t a .Head, on ^ ^ ^he best
of that name. This, ^he extreme of the head
r o T r a t e ' t l m s . ' U is'^so a tolerable place for watering.