RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO 91 



in September 1856, and in November of the same 

 year. 1 



After the first month he began the more difficult 

 excursions to the pongo of the Shillicaio, to the 

 river Aguashiyacu, and to Mount Guayrapurima. 

 This latter mountain he visited twice afterwards- 

 in January and in June 1856, staying some days, 

 or perhaps even weeks, each time. Of the second 

 of these excursions there are a few notes. 



This mountain, whose highest summits lie about 

 12 to 15 miles due east of Tarapoto, sends out spurs 

 to the Huallaga, while to the north-west it extends 

 till it mingles with the more prominent mountains 

 north of the town. It consists of many steep 

 ridges, which from some aspects give it a serrated 

 appearance, while from Tarapoto it has a pyramidal 

 outline with much-broken sides. It is penetrated 

 by deep and almost impassable ravines and valleys. 



The meaning of the name is " Where the wind 

 blows," and Spruce says that on the high ridges 

 (over one of which the road to Chasuta passes) 

 the wind seems to be almost constant, and 

 strong as in precipitous parts of the track to be 

 dangerous. They blow always from the north, and 

 where Spruce slept, a few hundred feet below the 



1 [Among the miscellaneous " notes " on Un- 

 interesting remark : "doing out of Tarapoto in different direc 

 the soil may be the same, there is much difference in the 

 accounts for the large amount of time he devoted to this pampa 

 instructive as showing that differences of conditions quiU 

 determine the presence or ab^-ncx- of certain species at 

 no doubt in some cases their absolute extinction or preservr 

 the same phenomenon occurs everywhere around us, as 

 but they sometimes forget what a striking proof such 

 of the struggle for existence, even undei what appear t 

 favourable conditions, and the rigidity of the 

 mines the result. Ki>. 1 



