368 



RESUME. 



by the beautiful and strange productions of the torrid. He sees for the 

 first time the symmetrical coffee-bush, rich with its dark-green leaves, 

 its pure white blossoms, and its gay, red fruit. The prolific plantain, 

 with its great waving fan-like leaf, and immense pendant branches of 

 golden-looking fruit, enchains his attention. The sugar-cane waves in 

 rank luxuriance before him, and if he be familiar with Southern planta- 

 tions his heart swells with emotion as the gay yellow blossom and white 

 boll of the cotton sets before his mind's eye the familiar scenes of home. 



Fruits, too, of the finest quality and most luscious flavor, grow here ; 

 oranges, lemons, bananas, pine-apples, melons, chirimoyas, granadillas, 

 and many others which, unpleasant to the taste at first, become with use 

 exceedingly grateful to the accustomed palate. The Indian gets here 

 his indispensable coca, and the forests at certain seasons are redolent 

 with the perfume of the vanilla. 



It is sad to recollect that in this beautiful country (I have before me 

 the valley of the Chanchamayo) men should have offered me title 

 deeds in gratuity to as much of this rich land as I wanted. Many of 

 the inhabitants of Tarma hold grants of land in the Chanchamayo 

 country from the government, but are so distrustful of its ability to 

 protect them in their labors from the encroachments of the savages, that 

 they do not cultivate them. 



About half a dozen persons only have cleared and are cultivating 

 haciendas. One of these, the brave old Catalan Zapatero, was building 

 himself a fire-proof house, mounting swivels at his gate, and swearing 

 in the jargon of his province that, protection or no protection, he would 

 bide the brunt of the savages, and not give up what had cost him so 

 much time and labor without a fight for it. It is a pity that there are 

 not more like him. The Peruvian government, however, should assure 

 the settlers of efficient protection. It should not only keep up the 

 stockade of San Ramon, but should open a road down the valley of the 

 Chanchamayo to some navigable point on that stream, or to the Ucayali 

 itself, establishing other stockades along the route for the protection 

 from the Indians of those whom liberal offers may attract to the settle- 

 ment and cultivation of that delightful country. I feel confident that 

 she will pierce the continent and open a communication with the 

 Atlantic with more facility and advantage by this route than by any 

 other. 



The climate of this country is pleasant and healthy; it is entirely 

 free from the annoyance of sand flies and musquitoes, which infest the 

 lower part of the tributaries, and nearly the whole course of the Amazon. 

 There is too much rain for agreeability from August to March ; but 



