RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO 



pass some dangerous places on foot, but laden 

 beasts cannot traverse it. From Moyobamba to 

 Chachapoyas it is said to offer still greater natural 

 obstacles, but to be kept in better order, so that 

 mules can be used if carrying a single burden of five 

 arrobas (160 pounds). Thence to the coast there 

 is a good broad road on wKich mules can pass 

 carrying ten arrobas, divided into two equal 

 portions one on each side. 



From Tarapoto to Tabalosos two short days' 

 journey the road is good enough to allow mules to 

 pass, and the latter part of it (from Lamas to 

 Tabalosos) is especially well kept, which is due to 

 the Cura of Lamas having often to traverse it, and 

 as the people hold him in great respect they take 

 care that he shall find everything as smooth as 

 possible. All the brush is kept down and no 

 stumps are left sticking out. 



But from the first stream beyond Tabalosos the 

 road is in a deplorable state, and the natural obstruc- 

 tions are very great. To avoid a ravine on the 

 Cachi-yacu, a steep ridge (the Andarra) has to be 

 crossed, in many parts by climbing high natural 

 steps which are very dangerous on horsebacl 

 the other side of the Andarra the channel ot the 

 Cachi-yacu has been followed for about an hour, 

 sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, 

 here and there a cliff has to be scaled by the aid ol 

 roots spreading over it. The crossings ol tin- river 

 are the worst, for the water is always turbid, 

 runs rapidly .over and amongst slippery 

 that on stepping into the water one rarel 

 one is going to tread on. The water is 

 knee-deep, and sometimes more ; indeed, 



