December; and after a passage of thirteen days, arrived at Callao on the fifteenth, where the sloop-of-war Falmouth, Master-commandant F. H. Gregory, just from Guayaquil and the intermediate ports, was awaiting our arrival. The Falmouth had sailed from the United States on the fifth of July, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, and arrived at Valparaiso on the twenty-ninth of October. This sloop, and the schooner Dolphin, Lieutenant-commandant Long, were the only vessels we had on the coast from that period to the arrival of the Potomac.

Long before we made the anchorage, the Dolphin got under way and stood out to meet us; and as the broad pennant was recognised by her and the Falmouth, each saluted the commodore, and was answered by the Potomac, as she rounded the Island of San Lorenzo, and stood slowly in to the anchorage.

The Island of San Lorenzo, four or five leagues in circumference, may be said to form the harbour on the west, while the shores of Boca Negra and Lancon are on the southeast; beyond, the high lands which form the ridges and mountains rise one above another, until lost to the sight. This bay is from fourteen to sixteen leagues in circuit, formed by the island into the shape of a . horseshoe, whose centre affords one of the safest anchorages in the world; and where, at any hour of the day or night, vessels may enter or depart without apprehension of danger of any kind. When vessels are once at anchor, they remain without being exposed to storms, or hurricanes, or winds to molest them, being under cover of the island; so that some have remained at anchor for five, or six, or more years, with weak cables. The north winds are felt sometimes in June and November, but without violence.

The most favourable circumstance of this port, perhaps unique in its kind, is that the sailing of vessels can be fixed for a certain day with the utmost certainty, as the wind regularly blows from the south; and it is very seldom that there is not a sufficient breeze for this purpose. So that when the day of sailing is announced, even the hour and minute can be stated, without the risk of disappointment. To this advantage is added, that vessels may enter the bay and leave it with the same wind, facilitated by the ample space afforded them for manoeuvring, and the safe dependance to be placed on the bottom.

From the observations and analysis made by Baron de Humboldt, the water of this bay was found to be two degrees colder than any other on the coast; and this is not only verified by the testimony of those who bathe in it, but also by its protecting vessels from the corroding effects of worms and marine insects, so destructive to them in almost every other port,

At the distance of a league to the east is the famous Rimac, the principal stream of the valley of Lima, by the side of which it runs, meandering and beautifying its banks. Next follow, in the view, the ports of Lancon and Chancay, on whose fertile shores were formerly the celebrated cane plantations, and where, since the revolution, they again begin to assume importance.

On the opposite side is presented a sandy, uninhabited coast, which goes off diminishing from the port of Callao, for half a league, to the point of the island called la Mar brava. The island is now some distance from the main; but according to the accounts of those who existed previous to the last inundation of Callao, the channel between them was so narrow as to admit of a verbal communication from one beach to the other. But since the inundation, from some cause or other, the water has been evidently gaining on the land.

For a long time after the destruction of Callao, no other buildings were erected in it except the castle and custom-house, Bellavista having been selected, and large bodegas, or store-houses, built for the deposite of the grains, liquors, fruits, and other effects of the trade with Chili and Guayaquil, Bellavista soon sprang up into a flourishing village, while Callao lay in its mouldering ruins, almost neglected. The famous stone mole, which had been erected at so much cost for the security and facility of commerce, had disappeared in the general ruin—the particulars of which we shall give hereafter.

Time and the revolution have produced another change. Bellavista has fallen into decay, and Callao is rapidly rebuilding, Foreign merchants, who have the entire control of the foreign commerce of the country, reside in Lima, but have their agencies established in the port.

Soon as the usual courtesies were interchanged between the Potomac and the authorities on shore, as well as the performance of many duties connected with the protection of our interests on

the coasts, the commodore and many of the officers took the occasion to visit Lima, distant two leagues. Of this city and Peru, our note-book is full; and in another place we shall again draw its contents.

upon

On entering the city of Lima, the stranger will for a while forget that he is in the "city of kings"-that here Pizarro founded an empire-that here has been the seat of wealthof the inquisition of luxury-of revolution and of war-in the single but novel contemplation of the Saya y Manto, or walking-dress of the Limaian ladies! The lower part of this dress, or the saya, is, in fact, an elastic silk petticoat, laid in vertical folds or plaits, sitting close to the figure, the contour of which it gracefully exhibits at every step and movement. The Manto is a kind of hood of black silk, reaching low enough to conceal the top of the saya, and is drawn up from behind over the head and shoulders, concealing the elbows and arms, and all the face except one eye, which just peeps out as a sample. The fold in front is held in its place by one hand, while the other is extended across the bust, holding a rosary or a pocket handkerchief. In this dress the ladies go to mass at early dawn, and a shopping in the forenoon; indeed, it is the common walking-dress through the day, but not worn by ladies at night.