THE NAPO. 



219 



looking black monkey, called Coata in Brazil,) and the tail of another, 

 called Yanacmachin. Some savage unknown, though I strongly suspect 

 my beautiful chiriclis, has bitten off the bill of the prettiest paroquet. 

 There was a desperate battle between the friar and the chiriclis, in which 

 one lost fur and the other feathers ; and symptoms of warfare between 

 a wild pig, called Huangana, and a Coati, or Mexican mongoose. The 

 latter, however, fierce as he generally is, could not stand the gnash of 

 the wild boar's teeth, and prudently " fled the fight." The life of the 

 fowls is a state of continued strife; and nothing has kept the peace 

 except an affectionate and delicate Pinshi monkey, (Humboldt's Midas 

 Leonina,) that sleeps upon my beard, and hunts game in my mous- 

 taches. 



We spoke two canoes that had come from near Quito by the Napo, 

 and were bound to Tarapoto. This party embarked upon the Napo 

 on the 3d of October. They told me that I could reach the mouth of 

 the river Coca, which empties into the Napo, in two and a half months 

 from the mouth; but could go no further in my boat for want of water. 

 There are very few christianized towns upon the Napo, and the rowers 

 of these boats were a more savage-looking set than I had seen. I have 

 met with a good many inhabitants of Quito in the Missions of the 

 Huallaga; and very many of the inhabitants are descendants of Quiteiios. 

 In fact, these Missions were formerly under the charge and direction of 

 the Bishopric of Quito, and most of the Jesuits who first attempted the 

 conversion of these Indians came from that quarter. There is a report 

 now current in these parts that thirty Jesuits recently banished from 

 New Grenada have gone to Ecuador; have been well received at Quito, 

 and have asked for the ancient Missions of the company, which has 

 been conceded to them as far as Ecuador has jurisdiction. This party 

 from the Napo also reported that the governor (Gefe Politico) of the 

 Ecuador territory of the Napo had left his place of residence and gone 

 up the river for the purpose of supplying with laborers a French mining 

 company, that had recently arrived and was about to commence opera- 

 tions. It is generally thought that much gold is mixed with the sands 

 of the Napo ; but I think that the Moyobambinos would have it if it 

 were there. They get a quill-full of gold dust, now and then, from the 

 Indians; but no regularly organized expedition for collecting it has 

 been successful. It is said that the Indians of the Napo formerly paid 

 their contributions to the government in gold dust, but now that they 

 are relieved (as are all the Missions by express exception) from the 

 burden of the contribution, there is no more gold collected. 



