Oct. 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



PRODUCTS OF THE MONTANA OF PERU. 119 



tation, the abundance of its navigable rivers communicating with the 

 Atlantic, the singularity and copiousness of the animal, vegetable, and 

 mineral kingdoms, are all worthy of attention, particularly its orni- 

 thology, the most abundant and curious in the world. Its immense 

 extent, its majestic aspect, the great volume of water of its rivers, the 

 colossal size aud peculiar character of its trees, its balsamic and medi- 

 cinal products, its fruits and substances, exotic to all other countries, are 

 sources of inexhaustible wealth. 



It extends from the eastern slope of the Eastern Cordillera to the 

 frontiers of Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador, comprehending the Pampas of 

 Sacramento, between the rivers Pachitea and Huallaga. These pampas 

 comprise the greater part of the territory which lies between the rivers 

 Huallaga, Ucayali, Amazonas, and Pachitea, and are unrivalled in point 

 of fertility. 



From north to south it extends about 300 miles, and its breadth is 

 from 40 to 100. Many rivers have their origin in the centre of the 

 district, and uniting themselves with the Huallaga enter the Ucayali. 

 The greater part of these rivers are navigable for small boats : the 

 Aiguaitia, Cuxiabatai, and Santa Catalina are the most considerable, and 

 fall into the Ucayali. In the northern part there are many canals 

 between the Huallaga and Maranon. The soil is covered with trees of 

 prodigious size, and herbs and plants of such a height that a man is lost 

 in them. So fertile is the soil, that it is a wonder it has not been 

 populated in proportion to the advantages it offers. The whole of it, or 

 nearly so, is virgin land, and capable of maintaining millions of head of 

 cattle, and domestic animals of all kinds. 



Department of Amazonas. — The Department of Amazonas is bounded 

 on the north by Ecuador, on the south by the department of Junin, 

 on the east by the province of Loreto, and on the west by the depart- 

 ments of Cajamarca and Libertad, which are separated from it by the 

 river Amazon. It contains two provinces, Chachapoyas and Luya. 

 The capital of the department is Chachapoyas. 



The three large rivers, Amazonas, Ucayali, and Huallaga, flow 

 through this vast and fertile department, which receives, besides, a 

 multitude of tributaries. Two Cordilleras run through it, one on the 

 east of Chachapoyas, and the other on the west. 



With respect to the plants and vegetables of this department which 

 may be made available for commerce, they are many. I will mention a 

 few that appear to be among the most important. 



Nunu-huactana, or sour-cane, similar to maize, properly prepared, 

 cures the intermittent fever ; quinaqulna, sarsaparilla, tamarind, linseed, 

 ginger, cascarilla, ipecacuanha, &c. 



The soil produces all kinds of vegetable aliments, among others — 

 coffee, equal to that of Caraccas, which is perhaps the best in the world ; 

 cacao ; yuccas ; camotes, or sweet potatoes ; common potato, various 

 kinds ; carrots ; rice ; French beans ; lentils ; chick pea, of various 



