Summary
On our road to Lima, we saw a monument placed to commemorate the spot where a Spanish vessel of war, a frigate, was deposited, at the time of the memorable earthquake of 1746, by the receding ocean. It is about a mile from the sea-shore. By the way, the present town of Callao is not built on the same spot that the old town stood on before its total destruction. It is more removed from the beach, probably to avoid, on any similar occasion, the terrific billows that swept away all of the ancient town which the frightful earthquake itself had spared. If I am correctly informed, Old Callao, indeed, was about two miles to the south of the new town.
There is a rather gentle inclination the whole way from Lima to the coast: a great many public carriages, as well as private ones, are constantly running on this road, and I think there is no doubt the railroad will answer here admirably; and I cannot but believe, those who think Callao will take the place of Lima in the future will be mistaken, as the railroad will so materially interfere with such a prospect.
The wealthy merchants will have their magnificent mansions in the city, and their houses of business at Callao : some, if not many, follow this plan now, and with the additional facilities afforded by the railroad, it will become the common custom.
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- Travels in the United States, etc. During 1849 and 1850 , pp. 113 - 133Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009