There was very little water, and that little saline: the whole country, from the coast to the Cordillera, is an uninhabited desert.

I saw traces only of one living animal in abundance, namely, the shells of a Bulimus, which were collected together in extraordinary numbers on the driest spots.

In the spring one humble little plant sends out a few leaves, and on these the snails feed.

As they are seen only very early in the morning, when the ground is slightly damp with dew, the Guasos believe that they are bred from it.

I have observed in other places that extremely dry and sterile districts, where the soil is calcareous, are extraordinarily favourable to land-shells.
At Carizal there were a few cottages, some brackish water, and a trace of cultivation: but it was with difficulty that we purchased a little corn and straw for our horses.
JUNE 4, 1835.
Carizal to Sauce.