186 



COMMERCE. 



The Missions send to Chachapoyas and Truxillo tobacco, salt fish, 

 straw-hats, coarse cotton cloths, wax, incense for the churches, balsam 

 copaiba, and vanilla; and receive, in return, cattle, horses, goods of 

 Europe, and a little money. The Brazilians bring up heavy articles — 

 such as I described as composing the cargo of the traders we met at 

 Laguna; and take back straw-hats, hammocks of the Indians, sarsapa- 

 rilla, and money. The value of the sarsaparilla of the Missions is esti- 

 mated at two thousand dollars at the place of production, and six thou- 

 sand at its place of sale in Brazil; the value of the wax at the same at 

 the place of production; and at four thousand dollars at place of sale. 

 The greatest profit, however, is made on the fish, of which thirty thou- 

 sand pieces are taken annually in the Ucayali and Amazon. It costs 

 there about three cents the piece; and is worth in Tarapoto, Lamas, 

 and other places of the province, about twelve and a half cents the 

 piece. 



Estimate of the expenses and returns of a canoe-load of salt fish from 

 JNauta to Balza Puerto. 



Dr. A canoe-load of eight hundred pieces may be bcught in 

 Nauta for one yard of English cotton cloth (valued at 

 twenty-five cents) for every eight pieces - - - $25 00 



Freight, or hire of canoe, for thirty-six days, from Nauta 



to Balza Puerto, at 3-J cents per day - - - 1 12-J 



Pay of seven peons, 12 yards of cotton cloth of Tara- 

 poto, valued at 12^- cents the yard - - - -1050 



Maintenance of the seven men for thirty-six days, at 3 



cents per day 756 



44 18% 



Cr. Eight hundred pieces in Balza Puerto, at 12-J cents - - 100 00 



Profit 55 81£ 



or about one hundred and twenty-six per cent, in thirty-six days. 



The return-cargo also yields a profit : so that my friend, the governor, 

 who by virtue of his office can get as many men to take fish for him 

 as he wants, will probably return to civilized parts in a few years with 

 a snug little sum in his pocket. Old Cauper is rich, and the priest 

 in comfortable circumstances. 



