THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Oct. 1, 1864. 



118 



PRODUCTS OF THE MONTANA OF PERU. 



BY MR. CONSUL COCKS. 



It has appeared to me that this great eastern Peruvian territory, 

 the Montaiia or region of the woods, has been much overlooked, and 

 that it deserves a more attentive consideration from our merchants than 

 it has hitherto received. Two portions of it — namely, the Department of 

 the Amazonas and the littoral province of Loreto — are among the richest 

 in Peru, possessing, as they do, unlimited resources for commerce and 

 science, and of which it is no exaggeration to say that, in their peculiar 

 character, they have no equal in any country. 



The Amazonian basin possesses the most magnificent water com- 

 munication in the world, and it offers facilities and means for commerce 

 between the above-mentioned provinces, Peru generally, and Europe, 

 which are unrivalled. 



It is true the great Amazon river is at present, by the policy of 

 the Brazilian Government, in a measure, shut to commerce, the duties 

 imposed at their port at the mouth of the Amazon amounting to this ; 

 but there is little doubt but that this state of things will be changed, 

 and that the Amazou river, at no distant period, will be made free and 

 open to all nations, as it ought to be for the purposes of trade. So soon 

 as this desirable event shall happen, it is more than probable that the 

 greater part of the goods from Europe will be introduced by this 

 admirable channel. 



What the ulterior views of the present railroad company on the 

 west coast may be, I am not prepared to say, but there appears to be 

 little doubt but that they will extend their line of rail eventually to 

 Cuzco. It is clear that Arequipa cannot be the terminus ; the line must 

 be continued further : and as Cuzco is an important town already, and 

 the centre of Peru,* it may not seem premature to affirm that this town 

 will again play an important part in the future progress of the Republic. 

 Cuzco then will probably be the terminus, or rather the main trunk, 

 whence will branch out in all directions other railroads, and probably 

 the first direction taken will lead towards the provinces of Amazonas and 

 Loreto above-mentioned. 



With the railroad on the west coast, and the free navigation of the 

 Amazon river on the east coast, the rich products of the interior of 

 Peru may have a chance of egress to Europe, whilst, at the same time, 

 the manufacturers of Europe will have an equal chance of ingress to 

 this country. 



The Montana. — The territory of the Montana is of the richest in the 

 gifts of Nature. It possesses accumulated treasures, which, it may be 

 said, are yet hidden in the greater part of it. The richness of its vege- 



* Cuzco in the Quichnan language signifies " Navel." 



