TOPOGRAPHY OF AMAZONIA, 



119 



merchants, especially the English, who have nearly monopolised the trade of the 

 Purus basin, and the French, Jews and Christians, who are chiefly interested in 

 the rubber industry of the E,io Jurua, 



Stations on the Lower Amazons. 



Itacoatlara, formerly Serpa, crowns a high bluff on the north side of the 

 Amazons a little below the Madeira confluence. Lower down on the south side 

 is seen the old station of Viila Bella (Villa Nova da Rainha or da Iinperatriz, 

 according to the political changes), now Parinfiiis, where begin the cacao planta- 



Fig. 41. — Itacoatiara and Madeira Confluence. 

 Scale 1 : 500,000. 



9 Miles. 



tiens which form the chief wealth of the country. These are continued along 

 the banks intermingled with other profitable cultures, such as tobacco, roucou, 

 guarana, bananas, and maize. On the opposite side stands the town of Faro, near 

 the point where Orellana met his pretended " Amazons." 



Obidos, the ancient Pauxis, occupies a somewhat important strategical position 

 on the left bank of the Amazons at the narrowest part of its course through 

 Amazonia. But its importance is more apparent than real, and the country has 

 benefited less from the garrison of the neighbouring fort than from the mocam- 

 hidas (deserters) who have taken refuge in the Trombetas valley. Here they 

 have laid out some coffee, cacao, and maize plantations, and have become almost 



