390 The Andes and the Amazons. 



apart, may be separated by an impassable gnlf. I visited 

 two mineral springs in the vicinity. One is a hot sprino'. 

 slightly ferruginous, the temperature of which I found to 

 be 106°, that of the air being 75°. On the slope of the 

 Cerro, about three miles from the city, is a copious sul- 

 phur spring, forming a little lake thirty feet in diameter, 

 with a temperature of 84°. Were this brought down to 

 the city, and respectable roads made to Huallaga and to 

 the coast, Moyobamba would become the Saratoga of the 

 South. At present, the city is poorly supplied with water, 

 all coming from a few feeble springs at the foot of the 

 plateau. It is a novel sight to see the long procession of 

 women, who are the water-carriers of the city, descending 

 and ascending the deep barrancas at even-tide, with pitch- 

 ers on their heads, while the young Lotharios lie in wait to 

 make love to their Rebeccas. 



Transportation to and from the city is difficult beyond 

 description. Nearly all exports and imports come from 

 or go to the east ; and every thing must be carried on the 

 backs of Indians over the horrible Balsa Puerto road, and 

 in canoes on the Parana-pnra. The Indians do not care 

 for money ; so that when a traveler or merchant wishes 

 peons, he notifies the governor, through the sub-prefect, 

 who orders the police to seize such as they can find, and 

 compel them to bear the burdens. The route to the coast 

 via Chachapoyas and Cajamarca is traveled by mules, but 

 these are difficult to hire. There are no duties on foreign 

 goods entering Peru by the Amazons ; but the freight is 

 enormous, the loss on liquors being 200 per cent., and on 

 other goods 25. A box of flour from the United States 

 weighing 80 pounds sells for 22 soles, or 30 cents a 

 pound; while a roll 'of bread weighing 3 ounces costs 10 

 cents. English butter is worth $1 a pound ; Colgate's 

 soap, of which 6000 pounds are used annually, brings 50 



