232 The Andes and the Amazon. 



ble fertility, and would yield ample returns to energy and 

 capital. The villages are open to foreign commerce, free 

 of duty; but at present the voice of civilized man is seldom 

 heard, save on the main fluvial highway between Moyabam- 

 ba and the Brazilian frontier. The Portuguese are the most 

 adventurous traders. The value of imports to Peru by the 

 Amazonian steamers during 1867 was $324,533 ; of exports, 

 1267,748. 



In two hours and a half we arrive at Maucallacta, or 

 " Old Town," an Indian village on the right bank of the 

 river. Here our passports were vised by the Peruvian 

 governor, and the steamer wooded up. One of the hands 

 on the " Morona" was Manuel Medina, a mameluco, who 

 was employed by Bates and Agassiz in their explorations. 

 We left at noon of the following day, and a,nchored for 

 the night off Caballococha, for the Peruvian steamers run 

 only in the daytime. Caballococha, or " Horse-lake," is a 

 Ticuna town, situated on a level tract of light loam, closely 

 surrounded by the dense forest, and beside a cano of clear 

 water leading to a pretty lake. Ecuador claims this town, 

 and likewise all the settlements on the Maranon ; but her 

 learned geographer, Villavicencio, with characteristic ig- 

 norance of the country, has located it on the north bank 

 of the river ! 



We passed in the afternoon the little tug " Napo," hav- 

 ing on board Admiral Tucker, who, with some associates, 

 is exploring the tributaries of the Upper Amazon for the 

 Peruvian government. They had just returned from a 

 voyage of two hundred and fifty miles up the Javari. 

 One of the party had a tame tiger-cat in his arms. We 

 arrived at Loreto early the next morning. This village 

 of twenty houses and a church is prettily situated on 

 the left bank, with a green slope in front. It is the most 

 eastei'ly town of Peru on the Amazon. Here resides Mr. 



