Chap. III. MANACAPUKU. 157 



vated ground from the Rio Negro to the Andes amount- 

 ing only to a few score acres. Man, indeed, in any 

 condition, from his small numbers, makes but au insig- 

 nificant figure in these vast solitudes. It may be men- 

 tioned that the Solimoens is 2130 miles in length, if we 

 reckon from the source of what is usually considered the 

 main stream (Lake Lauricocha, near Lima) ; but 2500 

 miles by the route of the Ucayali, the most considerable 

 and practicable fork of the upper part of the river. It 

 is navigable at all seasons by large steamers for 

 upwards of 1400 miles from the mouth of the Rio 

 Negro. 



On the 28th we passed the mouth of Ariauii, a narrow 

 inlet which communicates with the Rio Negro, emerg- 

 ing in front of Barra. Our vessel was nearly drawn into 

 this by the violent current which set from the Solimoens. 

 The towing-cable was lashed to a strong tree about thirty 

 yards ahead, and it took the whole strength of crew and 

 passengers to pull across. We passed the Guariba, a 

 second channel connecting the two rivers, on the 30th, 

 and on the 31st sailed past a straggling settlement 

 called Manacapurii, situated on a high, rocky bank. 

 Many citizens of Barra have sitios, or country-houses, in 

 this place, although it is eighty miles distant from the 

 town by the nearest road. They come here for a few 

 weeks in the fine season to economise, and pass the time 

 in planting on a small scale, fishing, and trading. The 

 custom of having two places of residence is very general 

 throughout the country, and exists amongst the abori- 

 gines, at least the more advanced tribes. Some of the 



