ADDENDUM. 



397 



ADDENDUM. 



Since I had the honor of submitting the foregoing report, events 

 concerning the political and social condition of the countries drained by 

 the Amazon and its tributaries h^ve occurred, which make it highly 

 expedient and proper, for the better information of the government and 

 people of this country, that I should make this addendum. 



My report, which sets forth the extreme fertility of the Amazonian 

 regions, their varied and rich natural productions, and the salubrity of 

 the climate, joined to the report of discoveries of gold in the sands of 

 the Santiago and Napo, and in the vallies of Carabaya, has excited 

 great attention; and a crowd of emigrants is already flocking into 

 those parts. My friend and companion Ijurra, in company with a 

 German named Shiitz, has carried out, under the auspices, and at the 

 expense, of the Peruvian government, a colony of about two hundred 

 Germans and Peruvians. Another company nearly as large, consisting 

 of Peruvians and North Americans, has followed, under the guidance of 

 a Peruvian named Montesa ; and lately a ship has arrived from Australia, 

 bringing out a hundred emigants, bound to the gold regions. This ship, 

 the "Lancaster," reports that great excitement exists in Australia re- 

 garding the Peruvian mines ; that her passenger list was filled in less 

 than twenty-four hours after being advertised ; and that there will be 

 an immense emigration to Peru from Australia within the next three or 

 four months. A slip from the Lima "Foreign News" of March 25, 

 1854, says : 



"The stories of 2 5 -pound lumps found on the Amazon have had" a 

 similar effect in Australia to th'e Inst news received in the United States 

 of the discovery of gold in Califo? nia. It is difficult to judge correctly, 

 from so many different reports, the probable number that will soon 

 arrive here. Some say 5,000 ; others 30,000 ; but we imagine the 

 former to be nearer the mark. Many of them no doubt will Be greatly 

 disappointed. They will arrive here expecting* at leass to find a good 

 road opened to the reported mines ; but in place of that they will learn — 

 so little interest is here taken in the matter — that not a single river has 

 been bridged, nor a single mountain-trail been improved. Since writing 

 the above, we have learned that a party of natives have, for some time 

 past, been working on the trail beyond Moyob&roba. As we understand 

 there is a good mule-road from the coast to- that plac$, parties will 

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