Observers' Field Reports 213 



was it unusual after such an experience for the observer to have to swim after the raft, 

 trying to get aboard before the next "white water" should be reached. 



At the end of the second day we came to Ancayaco, the first human habitation on 

 our voyage, where we procured without delay the services of another guide and a large 

 dugout canoe to replace our balsa, already considerably the worse for wear. In addition, 

 our new guide took for his return trip a very small canoe and his 1 1-year old son to assist 

 in poling it up stream, as the large canoe was to be left at Putante. This guide was not 

 as expert a boatman as we had reason to expect, and on the second day the large canoe, 

 striking on a partly submerged snag, capsized and spilled its contents in the river. After 

 recovering everything possible, we found that we had lost all of our time pieces with the 

 exception of my own personal watch, our kodak and films, a considerable sum of money, 

 and many items of smaller value. After spending all the following day in fruitless efforts 

 for the recovery of the lost articles, we proceeded to Putante, the port for the town of 

 Uchiza. 



As we had now remaining only the one watch, it was decided best to abandon our 

 intention of continuing down the Huallaga to Yurimaguas, and instead to return to 

 Lima by the quickest possible route. After several consultations with the people of 

 Putante, it was decided to go via Huacrachuco to Chimbote, the nearest seaport, and 

 therefore our attention was turned to securing carriers to transport our equipment. 

 Observations were made, Indians secured, and June 20 saw us begin on foot the first stage 

 of our journey to the coast, with a caravan of 6 carriers. For the first few days the trail 

 led through the thick tropical growth of the Montana, following closely up the winding 

 course of the river Chontayaco. Observations were made at the edge of the Montana, 

 where the jungle gradually gives way to the barren mountain slopes and the grades 

 rapidly increase until the trail crosses the divide close to the only snow-cap in sight east 

 of the Marafion. Huacrachuco was reached on July 10, although it was not until July 14 

 that we were able to obtain mules with which to continue our trip. Proceeding from 

 Huacrachuco, we climbed for half a day, then dipped at once into the canon of the Mar- 

 afion. It took us 2 days to cross this gorge, for although the airline distance was prob- 

 ably no more than 10 miles, the vertical distance traversed was more than one-third 

 of this. Our guides proved to be not very conversant with the route we were attempting 

 and consequently we lost several days trying to find a way to get to the pass over the 

 snow-covered, forbidding looking mountain range before which we were zig-zagging back 

 and forth. After passing several very uncomfortable nights because of the cold, we 

 finally passed the summit of the western range on July 20, and dropped in a couple of 

 days from there down to the end of the railroad at La Limena. 



The last stage of this journey was over a very rough road cut in the sides of the 

 rock canon of the Santos River. At places along the road, tunneling had been resorted 

 to, and at the first of these tunnels which we encountered we found our dexterity as 

 mule-handlers put to a severe test. We could not ride through. Pulling the mules 

 was equally unsuccessful. Blindfolding proved useless. Even Kechua profanity did 

 not help us. A candle as a head-light solved the problem, and all the succeeding tunnels 

 were passed in that manner without difficulty or loss of time. 



Our guide and mules having been sent back, we made observations before proceeding 

 by rail to Chimbote, where the 1912 station was reoccupied, and arrangements were 

 made to proceed to Lima via the port of Salaverry. We arrived in Lima on July 30, 

 and received supplementary cabled instructions calling for Mr. Jones's return to Buenos 

 Aires and my return to Washington. I returned via New Orleans, arriving in Washington 

 on September 1, 1917. 



The total time consumed in the above work was 124 days. Deducting the time 

 spent in preparation in Lima and in returning to the Office, in all 46 days, there remain 



