On the 24th of August, we anchored in the roads of Huanchaco, and communicated with several vessels that were lying there. Huanchaco is an Indian village, and the seaport of the city of Bolivia, the ancient name of which was Truxillo. It is exposed to the sea, and at times the surf breaks so violently on the shore, as to prevent all intercourse with the vessels at anchor. The Indians are provided with a float they call Balsa, and on which they pass through this surf, in cases of great emergency, when no boat could live in it. It is composed merely of two bundles of long reeds, bound compactly together, tapering a little at one end, and the two bundles secured to each other, the small ends coming to a point, somewhat resembling in appearance the bow of a boat. In the middle it is hollowed sufficiently for a man to seat himself securely. It is usually about fifteen feet long, and from two to three feet wide. It is calculated for one man only, who directs it with his paddle. I one day witnessed their wonderful skill in the management of the balsa. The surf was breaking so furiously, that the men, accustomed to work in it, advised me not to go on board of my ship. Whilst I was standing on the shore, with several of them around me, a boat appeared just without the heavy rollers that were setting in, filled with people, who it was evident were strangers to the danger they were about to encounter, as they were dashing on fearlessly into the surf. The Indians near me made motions, and called to them not to advance further, but they neither saw nor heard the warning. Observing this, six or eight of them launched their balsas, and in a few minutes were in the midst of the breakers. They were just in time, for the boat in a moment afterwards darted forward with great velocity, and suddenly disappeared. The wave had broken, and was foaming over her, and another must have terminated the existence of every person on board; but, before the next swell, that came rolling on in quick succession had reached them, each man was upon a balsa, and the skilful and intrepid Indians bore them safely to the shore. We remained but a few hours at Huanchaco, when we continued on to the north, and on the 25th of August, came up with the Lobos Islands, in latitude six degrees south, and distant about a hundred miles from the coast. They are barren rocks, rising in some places several hundred feet, and no where have any appearance of vegetation. With the aid of our glasses, we saw at a distance a number of people upon these inhospitable rocks, and supposing they might be some unfortunate seamen, whose vessel had been cast away, we hove to, with a view of affording them relief. Upon examination, however, they proved to be Indians from the coast, who had come here on a catamaran, upon a fishing enterprise, it being the season when great quantities of fish, resembling mackerel, are taken on the shores of these Islands.