Correspondence of Mr. Bates. 3143 



rest, in search of fish and turtle for our daily subsistance, and I was 

 always regretting not to have means to preserve the many curious lit- 

 tle fishes that turned up. The Lepidosiren never appeared. I know 

 the shape of the animal well, from being interested in it in England, 

 and have made inquiries after it from Para to here, but found no one 

 who could give me auy information about it. 



"With respect to remaining longer in this country, I was for some 

 time undecided, but on the receipt of letters from home yesterday, I 

 have well weighed the arguments of my father, and have resolved to 

 return to England. Whether I shall be able to settle down to quiet 

 life or not, I am still doubtful, at any rate, if I choose I can come out 

 again, and with better arrangements for making a voyage of the kind 

 interesting. Ega, I know, is an excellent station : from here there 

 are opportunities to explore many interesting regions. By taking 

 half the expenses of the voyage, I could arrange with any trader for 

 the Japura, and could ascend to the frontiers of Nova Granada, a voy- 

 age there and back — working on the way — of nine or twelve months. 

 I could do the same with the river Jurua, on the south bank of the 

 Amazons. A voyage which had greater charms for me was to Peru, 

 to the cities of Moyabamba and Chachapoyas ; in the mountains be- 

 tween there and here there is sometimes communication. Two civil 

 young Peruvians were here from those cities a few days ago, and 

 would willingly have taken me with them, sharing the expenses. I 

 made every inquiry as to the voyage &c; they informed me that with 

 eight or ten good Indians, a small canoe takes three months and a 

 half to work up against the stream to Balsa Puerta, on the river 

 Huallaga. From Balsa Puerta to Moyabamba is five days by land, 

 climbing up the steep sides of mountains, &c. The whole country to 

 there is very healthful. Moyabamba is a populous but poor district, 

 with plenty of Indians, more active and desirous to gain than the idle 

 scoundrels at Ega ; living is poor but cheap, and the people peace- 

 able and trustworthy. Chachapoyas is eight or ten days further than 

 Moyabamba by land, and surrounded by mountains capped with snow; 

 the society is refined and living expensive. This voyage is practica- 

 ble, as you see, but excessively tedious ; three months and a half con- 

 stantly tormented by mosquitoes, Tabani, &c, with no society but 

 dull Indians, speaking the Inca language, or Lerjoa Gual of the Ama- 

 zons, is scarcely to be borne, except in the company of a sympathetic 

 companion, both very enthusiastic and with resources to amuse &c. 

 I am not only without companions, but without books or maps, and 

 rather wearied with three years' constant entomologizing. The other 



