Amador ledger., 1908-08-07

two blocks back from the water front
is the inevitable plaza; but in justice
to it | will say that it is very pretty
nicely paved with tiles all around,
lots of pretty flowers, and in the cen
ters a little band stand. On one side
of the plaza are the ruins of a once
handsome old church, destroyed few
months ago by lire. The town is built
among some little hills, and the left
hand side being built around the side
of rather large hill. They have a
few small street cars, drawn by don
keys. Each car is operated by man
and his wife. The man is the motor
man(P) and the woman the conductor.
1t appeared rather ludicrous to us to
have a woman collect the fares.
About nine miles from Talcahuano
is the city of Conception. 1t is very
pretty little city of about 10000 in
habitants, and is the capital of the
province Of Conception. lt is reached
by steam cars from ralcahuano.
took a trip up on February l8h, and
spent the evening. The cars and roll
ing stock are all of English build.
There IS a very nice depot both att al
cahuano and Conception. There are
several other little cities around the
shores of the bay, but hardly of
enough consequence to mention. The
Chilean government has navy yard
here lat Talcahuano) and very good
dry dock. There are three very good
looking Chilean men-of war at anchor
in the harbor at present.
Left Talcahuano to-day, Feb 25th,
bound for Callao, Peru. When we
got outside the bay we found it pretty
rough, and a stern sea running which
kept up until the day before we reach
ed Callao. We dropped land about
4. 30 p. M, and sighted no more land
until about =. 30 a. m. March 1st, when
we arrived off the entrance to Callao
hart bor. Day before yesterday, Feb.
2Sth. all the bright work (polished
brass) about the ship began to turn a
very peculiar blue and purple, much
to the CONSERVATION and distress of
the men detailed to keep it bright.
This was caused by the "Peruvian
painter. There are numerous salt
peter mines all along the coast of
Peru, and as saltpeter has the above
mentioned effect upon brass, as soon
as we came within twenty or thirty
miles of the coast all the bright work
began to turn, aud rub and polish as
much as you would, 1T would not
come off.
Callao is situated on the northeast
side of the harbor. The harbor is a
very nice one, about four miles wide
by three long, but is not all pretty
or picturesque. 70 the south are
very barren mountains of sand, about
500 feet high, while to the north and
east the foothills OF .the lofty Andes
rise. Lima, the capital, situated on
the north side, is visible from the
harbor on clear day. Just to the
south of the entrance of the harbor
are several small mountainous is
lands, almost totally covered by salt
peter, and on first sight, it appears to
be snow. However, on the day we ar
rived old Sol was doing his duty 80
we'll that all ideas of it's being snow
were quickly dispelIed. There we're
thousands of seals just outside the
harbor, and we also saw several inside,
bnt they are of very inferior breed,
and are of no commercial value.
There are several hundred mer-
chant vessels of all nations in the
barbor, and several Peruvian men-of
war. We anchored just off the marine
landing about 2.30 p. m., March lst.
The battleships left yesterday, Feb.
29th, and all the papers are full of
articles about them and entertain
ments rendered them.
Callao doesn't present a very pre-.
possessing appearance from our an
chorage, and | can't say that it i'm
proves very much on gong ashore.
The streets are very narrow and dirty,
and are very roughly paved, especial
ly near the water front. Most of the
buildings are very old, of bad design,
and rather ugly. There are several
pretty little plazas around that re-
lieve the general bad appearance of
the place, however.
About nine miles from Callao,
among the foothills of the Andes. at
an altitude Of about 500 feet, is Lima,
the capital. 1t is very nice place