The City of Moyobamba. 38') 



chiyacu and Mayo. It belongs to the range which conies 

 np from Cerro de Pasco, crosses the Huallaga, forming the 

 Pongo de Aguirre, then the Maranon, creating the well- 

 known Pongo de Manseriche, and joins the eastern Cordil- 

 .lera of Ecuador, near Macas. The road now enters an ex- 

 tensive pqjonal, where herds of cattle are grazing ; and 

 the traveler sleeps in a shed at tlie hacienda of "Jesus 

 del Monte." Thence over an excellent road, which at one 

 point gives a splendid view of Moyobamba, crossing the 

 Yanayacu by a bridge, and tlie Mayo by canoe, and wind- 

 ing through a fertile valley, which appeared like a large 

 sugar-cane grove, nineteen days from Yuri mag uas, we en- 

 tered the largest city on the Oriental side of the Andes. 



The situation of Moyobamba is surpassingly fine, built 

 on an isolated plateau that stands in the midst of a luxu- 

 riant plain, through which winds the turbid Mayo, and 

 around which rise picturesque mountains — the worthy be- 

 ginnings of the Andes. It reminds one of old Toledo, 

 seated on its seven hills, girdled by the lordly Tagus, and 

 encircled by sieiTas. But the architecture is any thing but 

 the massive style of the Moor. The adobe bears no re- 

 semblance to granite. With an altitude above the sea of 

 2700 feet, and a mean annual temperature of 77°, the cli- 

 mate is delightful. Natni-e is so prodigal that any body 

 can get a living — except physicians. Tlie oranges of 

 Moyobamba are equal to the best Guayaquilian ; while the 

 coffee and cacao are praised in Lima. The ordinary ills, 

 all due to imprudence, are intermittent fever, erysipelas, 

 and worms. The only case of drunkenness I witnessed 

 was that of a priest. The citizens are treated to slight 

 earthquakes, about six in a year, and to a shower nearly 

 every day. The rains have worn deep ravines, zanjas or 

 harrancas, with perpendicular sides, that radiate from the 

 brow of the hill in all directions. Houses, only a few rods 



