The inhabitants became dreadfully enraged, and declaring that none but heretics would thus "eat God Almighty," proceeded to torture some Englishmen, with the intention of afterwards shooting them.

At last the authorities interfered, and peace was established.
JULY 13, 1835.
In the morning I started for the saltpetre-works, a distance of fourteen leagues.

Having ascended the steep coast-mountains by a zigzag sandy track, we soon came in view of the mines of Guantajaya and St.Rosa.These two small villages are placed at the very mouths of the mines; and being perched up on hills, they had a still more unnatural and desolate appearance than the town of Iquique.

We did not reach the saltpetre works till after sunset, having ridden all day across an undulating country, a complete and utter desert.

The road was strewed with the bones and dried skins of many beasts of burden which had perished on it from fatigue.
Excepting the Vultur aura, which preys on the carcasses, I saw neither bird, quadruped, reptile, nor insect.