CALLAO, ka-lyii/6 (Sp. eala, creek, bay, from Celt. cola, harbor). The principal seaport of Peru and capital of the small province of the same name, situated on Callao Bay, seven miles west of Lima, with which it is connected by rail (Slap: Peru, B 6). The modern city. a short distance to the north of the original town. which was destroyed in 1746, is divided into two sections, the older occupying the centre and hay ing, to a great extent, narrow and crooked streets, while the surrounding portion is well laid out with broad avenues crossing at right. angles. The buildings of the city are not par ticularly notable from an architectural stand point. Callao enjoys a healthful, temperate cli mate. The harbor, though an open roadstead, is safe and spacious, being protected by the natural breakwater afforded by the island of San Lorenzo. It is fortified, and possesses splendid docking and ship-repairing facilities, which include a floating dock, 300 feet in length. Railway lines approach the docks. Callao has manufactures of refined sugar. lumber, and iron; but is more important as a commercial centre, its exports comprising minerals, sugar, hides, wool, bone, cotton, cocoa, etc.. and the chief imports, manufactured articles.
coal. and beer. The commerce has shown a con siderable decrease since the decline of the guano trade. In 1900 nearly 1000 vessels (of over 50 tons), aggregating 1.315,000 tons, entered and cleared at the port of Callao. Population, in 1896. 48,11S.
Callao figures in history from the times of the early Spanish conquest. It was considered a fair prize by the pirates who infested the western coast of America in the Sixteenth Cen tury and later, and by them was attacked sev eral times. By 1671 it had become of sufficient importance to merit the dignity of a city. An earthquake of 16S7 was followed by the more disastrous commotion of 1746, which, with the accompanying tidal wave, destroyed the city and occasioned great loss of life. About the middle of the Eighteenth Century Callao was strongly fortified. San Felipe Castle playing a prominent part in subsequent wars. In 1826 the Spanish were driven from the city. their last foothold in continental America. Callao was bombarded by a Spanish fleet in 1866, and in 1880 by the Chil eans. into whose power it fell the next year. after the battle of Sliraflores. The treaty of 1883 restored it to Peru.