INTRODUCTORY. 



23 



resting routes presented themselves through this country: one from 

 Cochabamba, by the river Mamore, a sketch of which had been given 

 me by Mr. Bridges ; and the other by the Beni, (also a confluent of the 

 Madeira,) which seems nearly a " terra incognita." 



Palacios, an officer of the Bolivian government, who had made some 

 explorations in the country between the Mamore and Beni, and who 

 visited and navigated on the Lake Rogoaguado, (the existence of which 

 has been a subject of dispute among geographers,) describes the Beni, 

 between its sources and Los Reyes, (about half the course of the river,) 

 as being much obstructed by shoals, with very narrow channels, and 

 broken up into rapids, of which he enumerates twenty-two. He 

 thinks, however, that flat-bottomed iron boats would overcome many 

 of the difficulties, and navigate an immense distance up. He says 

 that in some parts of the course of the river are found veins of silver 

 and gold, salt springs, coal, lime, and (in Tequije) diamonds. I think 

 that his description of the Lake Rogoaguado would be a valuable 

 contribution to geography ; for though it is evident that his account is 

 not exact, or even correct, yet it settles the point that there is such a 

 lake, and that it does not give rise to many of the large rivers that 

 empty into the Amazon, as was long supposed, and as is so represented 

 in many maps. I give a translation : 



"The supreme government, being desirous of ascertaining if the 

 great Lake Rogoaguado had communication with the Beni or pro- 

 ceeded from it, directed me to explore it for the purpose of facilitating 

 communication between that river and the Mamore. For this purpose 

 I directed the construction of a boat and commenced my journey. 

 I set out from the town of Exaltacion, (a village on the Mamore, some 

 distance above its junction with the Madeira,) the nearest point, and 

 directed my course W. IS". W. 15 mLes, to the estate (estancia) of 

 Santa Cruz, passing (a mile and a half from this point) the river 

 Iruyani, which runs to the N. E., and appears navigable. Its sources 

 are unknown ; but it is supposed that it rises in some swamps situated 

 in the flat country about Reyes, or that it runs from the Beni. At this 

 estate of Santa Cruz there is a somewhat flat hill of 300 yards in 

 height, and composed of white 1 soroche,' the generator (criadero) of 

 gold. It is constantly covered with grass and trees, among which are 

 found those producing the India-rubber. 



" Hence I directed my march W. \ K, to the estate denominated 

 San Carlos, which is distant twenty-four miles from the first, and is 

 situated among morasses, with some eminences, the good pastures of 

 which maintain large flocks of cattle. The course from here was N. W., 



