CiiAP. XII. GEOGRArillCAL FEATURES. 209 



those of Itiiata and Corani. The little village of Ayapata, 

 near the source of the river of the same name, comes next ; 

 and tliirty miles further in the interior, an intelligent and 

 enterprising Peruvian, named Don Agustin Aragon, has 

 established a sugar-cane estate called San Jose de Bella Vista. 

 It is situated at the junction of two rivers, and he is thus 

 protected from the attacks of the savage Chuncho Indians who 

 prowl about in the surrounding forests. He has made a road 

 practicable for mules from the village of Ayapata to his 

 estate ; and he finds the manufacture of spirits from the 

 sugar-cane far more profitable than digging for gold or hunt- 

 ing for chinchona-bark. He is a man full of energy and 

 resource. His attempt to establish a manufactory of india- 

 rubber only failed through the refusal of the Peruvian 

 government to give him a contract for supplying the army, 

 and thus assist his first efforts ; in 1860 he sent an expedition 

 into the forests to collect wild cacao-plants ; any scheme for 

 developing the resources of the country is sure to receive his 

 advocacy ; and he looks forward with confidence to the day 

 when a steamer shall ascend the Purus and Ynambari, and 

 return to the Atlantic with a cargo of the produce of Cara- 

 vaya. It would be well for Peru if she contained many such 

 men as Don Agustin Aragon. 



It is supposed that the old Spanish town of San Gavan was 

 situated near a river of the same name, about twenty miles 

 from Aragon's estate. The site is now overgrown with dense 

 forest, and it has never been visited since its destruction ; yet 

 it is believed that vast treasure lies concealed amongst the 

 tree-covered ruins, because the attack of the Chunchos was 

 sudden, and at once successful ; they care nothing for tlie 

 precious metals, and San Gavan contained a royal treasury, 

 and was a central deposit for the gold of Caravaya. The 

 Chunchos, in former times, were in friendly communication 

 with, and even took service under, the Spaniards ; but the 



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