Valley of the Makanon. 581 



distances, from fifty to one hundred and thirty miles, np 

 to the foot of the eastern cordillera of the Andes, and it 

 is known generally as the Pamjpa del Sacramento, the 

 name being given by the old Franciscan friars in their 

 voyage through this wild region, some two hundred and 

 forty years ago. This pampa is a low, wooded country, 

 extending some five hundred miles from north to south. 

 To the east the basin of the Ucayali extends for hundreds 

 of miles, forming, with the basins of other lesser tributa- 

 ries of the Amazons, what is known in Peru as the tnon- 

 tana, or " wooded country," which is but a continuation of 

 the great Amazons valley of Brazil to the east. The basin 

 of the Maranon extends on the north side of the river 

 some one hundred or two hundred miles, variably, into the 

 mountainous region of Ecuador. "West, as before said, the 

 mountain passes begin at Borja, and to the south the Ma- 

 ranon basin may also be considered as that of the Ucayali. 

 The Maranon has a general east and west direction, and is 

 included between lat. S. 3° and 5° ; and the low country 

 of its valley may be included between Ion. W, 70° and 

 76°. The Ucayali is included between lat. S. 4° 30' and 

 9° 40', and its lowlands between Ion. W. 74° to 76°, on 

 the west, and indefinitely to the east, where continues the 

 Amazons basin. Over this immense tract of over one 

 hundred thousand square miles Nature runs riot, in her 

 wanton luxuriance ; and where man appears he is an ex- 

 otic, though he may be " to the manner born." It is one 

 rank waste of woods and water which, located mostly 

 within the " zone of constant precipitation," enjoys all the 

 glorious privileges of growth and deluge. 



In this district the year is divided, with sufficient dis- 

 tinctness, into two parts, as regards seasons — one, the rainy 

 season (inviemo), extending from November to April ; and 

 the dry season (verano), reaching from May to October, 



