xv FROM MANAOS TO TARAPOTO 



three months' wages and the passage from the 

 Barra and back in all 140 milreis and on the 

 whole I am some 20 out of pocket by the 

 speculation. 1 



Many of the gold- seekers marked their way 

 through Peru by violence, and some of them came 

 to violent ends : an Englishman was killed in 

 Chasuta by the Indians, an American was drowned 

 in a stream which enters the Huallaga within 

 sight of Yurimaguas, and many others perished 

 miserably in one way or another. All were known 

 to the natives under the generic name of " Ingleses," 

 who are consequently by no means in good odour. 



You will perhaps not be surprised to hear, after 

 what I have above stated, that I am inclined to 

 repent having come on this expedition, which is 

 proper only for a person enjoying the best bodily 

 health and strength. I have still considerable 

 expense and risk before me to get to Tarapoto 

 will cost me fifty dollars, though it is so near in a 

 straight line that I can nearly see it from a little 

 way down the river. But the delays always annoy 

 me more than the expense, especially when I can- 

 not work. The great bulk of my baggage is paper, 

 which it is of the first necessity to bring, as I 

 understand I could not procure any from nearer 

 than Lima, where I have no funds and no corre- 



1 In a letter written shortly before he quitted Tarapoto, Spruce gh 

 termination of this man's career as follo\\, : 



" In my letter from Vui iin;i^uas I spoke of an Kn 

 with me from the Barra, and whom 1 \\:is obliged to 

 conduct. He has lately been cruelly mui< 



his canoe a little below th.- uih of the I .lyali, much in the 



Count D' Osery was, some disl -er. Though 



confession to me, I have no doubt th -asurc 



him as he had meted to others, I am nol il K 'hat! 



been set at liberty without punishment." 



VOL. II 



