HISTORY AND GENERAL CONDITIONS 7 



Javary, Ucayali, Maranon, and many others ; to the 

 north the principal rivers are the Jary, Pary, Trom- 

 petas, Rio Negro, Rio Branco, Yapura, Napo, and 

 many less important streams too numerous to chronicle. 

 It "is on the banks of these rivers that the chief de- 

 velopment of the rubber industry has taken place during 

 the last quarter of a century, the annual output during 

 that period having increased from 10,000 to 43,000 . 

 tons. Throughout this enormous territory the only 

 established industry of real importance since 1880 has 

 been the collection and shipment of rubber. Minor 

 enterprises, such as the cultivation of cacao and the 

 collection of cinchona bark, were carried on to some 

 extent in certain districts, but of recent years these 

 declined to such small proportions that they ceased to 

 be a factor calling for any serious attention. 



Heavy forest growth is the characteristic feature of 

 the vegetation of the whole Amazon Valley. In a few dis- 

 tricts a comparatively limited area of savanas, or open 

 grasslands, are found; but these are confined princi- 

 pally to the country adjacent to the Rio Branco on the 

 north and the Rio Beni to the south-west, the latter 

 lying within the boundaries of Bolivia. These great 

 forests contain quantities of fine timber trees, some of 

 the most valuable being red cedar, sandalwood, lance- 

 wood, and many varieties of fine hard woods. In spite 

 of the abundance of the supply, no systematic effort 

 has been made as yet to tap this source of natural 

 wealth. Climatic conditions, difficulties and cost of 

 transport, and lack of energy on the part of the 

 population, have prevented these virgin forests being 

 exploited hitherto, but in future years they will become 



