40 REMARKS ON THE PRACTICABILITY 



side of the Huallaga. It is a pity that this situation, so well 

 adapted for the establishment of a small pueblo for the breeding 

 and care of cattle, should be neglected. From thence to Mayo- 

 bamba the greater part of the road is unusually bad, and so soft 

 that the mud is generally knee-deep ; and but few tarabos or ran- 

 chos,* to shelter the traveller during the night from the heavy rains 

 so frequent in these parts. 



The city of Mayobamba possesses one of the finest temperatures 

 in Peru ; the thermometer indicates but little change, and is some- 

 what lower than that of Tarapoto. The city itself is situated on an 

 elevated plain, about a league long, and from a quarter to half a 

 league in width, of a dry, sandy, loamy soil : from whatever direction 

 you approach the city it is necessary to ascend. During the rainy 

 season the water from the adjoining hills settles on the surrounding 

 levels, and at times causes some slight tertianas, but they are not 

 common. The river, which is a few quadras from the town, comes 

 from the N. W. and W. N. W., and parallel with the range of 

 hills on the north. From about three leagues below the town it is 

 navigable for eight dayst towards its source, and on its banks are si- 

 tuated the chacras and labrancas. The produce and manufactures 

 here are the same as those of Tarapoto, with the exception of co- 

 paiva and wax, which are less abundant. On the borders of the 

 river is abundance of sarsaparilla, and the palm which is used in 

 the manufacture of hats. At a sliort distance there are mineral 

 springs so strongly impregnated with sulphur that the leaves and 

 branches of trees which fall on the margin, shortly become encrusted 

 with pure sulphur. There is, also, a rich vein of salt situated only 

 a few leagues from the city, in the range of hiUs which are on the 

 north bank of the river. This range is a continuance of the range 

 east of the river Huallaga, from Juana del Rio to the south of 

 Chasuta, where it thence turns westward, and is an almost uninter- 

 rupted lijie of mineral salt. The first mines or works are situated 

 between Uchiza and Tocache ; and the rivers known by the names 

 of Salinas fall from these hills, very much impregnated with salt. — 



• Small huts, built for the convenience of travellers. 

 + About three leagues is the general distance per day in ascending against 

 the current. 



