Page 144
An.1684
Piura. Payta.
stant. It lieth, by report of our Spanish Prisoners; in a Valley, which is watered with a small River, that disembogues it self into the Bay of Chirapee, in about 7d. of North latitude. This Bay is nearer to Piura than Payta: yet all Goods imported by Sea for Piura are landed at Payta; for the Bay of Chirapee is full of dangerous shoals, and therefore not frequented by shipping. The Road of Payta is one of the best on the Coast of Peru. It is sheltered from the South- west by a point of Land, which makes a large Bay and smooth Water for Ships to ride in. There is room enough for a good Fleet of Ships, and good anchoring in any depth, from 6 fathom water to 20 fathom. Right against the Town, the nearer the Town the shallower the water, and the smoother the riding: it is clean Sand all over the Bay. Most Ships passing either to the North or the South touch at this place for water; for tho here is none at the Town, yet those Indian Fishermen of Colan will, and do supply all Ships very reasonably; and good wa- ter is much prized on all this Coast through the fear- city of it.
November the 3d, at 6 a clock in the morning, our Men landed, about 4 miles to the South of the Town, and took some Prisoners that were sent thi- ther to watch for fear of us; and these Prisoners said, that the Governor of Piura came with 100 armed Men to Payta the night before, purposely to oppose our landing there if we should attempt it.
Our Men marched directly to the Fort on the Hill, and took it without the loss of one Man. Here- upon the Governor of Piura with all his Men, and the Inhabitants of the Town, ran away as fast as they could. Then our Men entered the Town, and found it emptied both of Money and Goods; there was not so much as a Meal of Victuals left for them.
The Prisoners told us a Ship had been here a lit- tle before and burnt a great Ship in the Road, but did