The next day we crossed some mountains to Freyrina, in the valley of Guasco.
During each day's ride farther northward, the vegetation became more and more scanty; even the great chandelier-like cactus was here replaced by a different and much smaller species.

During the winter months, both in Northern Chile and in Peru, a uniform bank of clouds hangs, at no great height, over the Pacific.

From the mountains we had a very striking view of this white and brilliant aerial-field, which sent arms up the valleys, leaving islands and promontories in the same manner as the sea does in the Chonos archipelago and in Tierra del Fuego.
We stayed two days at Freyrina.

In the valley of Guasco there are four small towns.

At the mouth there is the port, a spot entirely desert, and without any water in the immediate neighbourhood.