208 PROVINCE OF CARAVAYA. Chap. Xll. 



But the largest and only important part of Caravaya con- 

 sists of the forest-covered valleys to the eastward of the 

 Andes. On the western side that mountain-chain rises 

 abruptly into peaks covered with snow, from an elevated 

 plateau 14,000 feet above the sea ; but on its eastern side 

 the descent is rapid into tropical valleys. Long spurs run off 

 tlie main chain to the northward, gradually decreasing in 

 elevation ; and it is sometimes a distance of sixty or eighty 

 miles before they finally subside into the boundless forest- 

 covered plains of the interior of South America. Numerous 

 rivers flow through the valleys between these spurs, to join 

 the Ynambari ; and in tliese valleys, near the foot of the 

 main chain of the eastern Andes, are the few villages and 

 coca and coffee plantations of Caravaya. In tliese long spurs 

 and deep valleys Caravaya differs in geographical character 

 from the more northern region of Paucartambo, Avhere the 

 Andes subside much more rapidly into the level plain. 



In the warm valleys are to be found all the wealth 

 and population of Caravaya. The population consists of 

 22,000 souls, almost all Indians ; and the wealth, besides the 

 flocks of sheep on the western table-land, is created by 

 the produce of coca, coffee, sugar-cane, and aji-pepper plan- 

 tations, fruit-gardens, and gold- washings. Correct statistical 

 returns are unknown in Peru ; but, as near as I could make 

 out, there is an annual yield of 20,000 lbs. of coffee and 

 360,000 lbs. of coca.^ I could obtain no reliable statements 

 respecting the yield of gold. 



The Caravayan valley which is furthest to the north and 

 west is that of OUachea, bordering on Marcapata, where 

 there is a small village at the foot of the Andes. Next come 



the Cura Cabrera, and his breed of The i^eople of Sandia toki me 45,000 



paco-vicuiias, by Don M. M. Basagoitia. cestos, or 900,000 lbs. ; and Lieut. 



Rivera's Antlq. Per. 112-13. j Gibbon, U. 8. N., in his work, says 



9 Aecordinjj; to Don Pablo Pimentel. ' 500,000 lbs. 



