ARICA, a seaport town in the province of Los Char cas, in Peru, and capital of a jurisdiction in the diocese of Arequipa. Arica was formerly a strong and popu lous town ; but it received great injury from an earth quake on the 26th November, 1605. It carried on a considerable trade till the year 1759, when it was plun dered by sir Francis Drake. On this occasion the Eng lish carried off a great deal of silver, obtained from the mines of Potosi, that had been shipped in this port for Lima ; but the Spaniards have, since that time, convey ed this precious mineral by land carriage. For this purpose, they make use of a small animal called Pecos, and sometimes Peru sheep, which is much less than the ponies of this country. These animals lie down upon their knees till the load is placed upon their backs; but, if they think themselves overloaded, they will rather be killed on the spot than rise from the ground with their load. The pecos go in flocks like sheep, so that a single Indian can manage an hundred of them. The articles
of merchandise brought to Arica for Potosi, are Euro pean draps and serges ; and, from Quito, they bring to this port silk and cotton stuffs. Corn, maize, and other articles of food, are imported into Arica.
On the banks of the sea, in a valley about a league in length, there are a number of farm-houses for the cul ture of pimento, or Guinea pepper. A prodigious quan tity of this plant, amounting annually to the value of 80,000 crowns, is obtained by the assistance of the dung of birds called gam.. This manure is the greatest source of the revenue of Arica, and is carried to Lima and other parts of the coast, to fertilize the land. The houses of Arica, which are built of reeds, have only mats for their roofs, from the small quantity of rain which falls. Great quantities of rock-salt are dug out of the adjacent mountains, and shipped for different ports. The harbour of Arica is very bad. West Long. 71° South Lat. 18° (7r)