TRAVELS OP THE MISSIONARIES. 



425 



At the mouth of the lake are to be seen several stone pyramids extremely well 

 wrought, a yard and a half square. They are stationed, at the distance of a yard from 

 each other, from one of the banks to the opposite one. They must be fragments of 

 some bridge raised in ancient times for the passage of the Ynca; since, at an inconsi- 

 derable distance from them, runs the royal road, which has been the admiration of 

 our historians. Several vestiges of that road, and even very extensive ones, still 

 exist there, without time, the quadrupeds, or man, having been able to annihi- 

 late these memorials, which have perchance been preserved to belie the ancient 

 and modern impostures of certain infatuated writers. Father Sobreviela reached 

 Tarma on the 17th ; and on the 23d, his peregrination having been prosperously 

 concluded, arrived at the college of Ocopa. 



The advantages by which it has been attended, and those that may be derived 

 from it, are manifest. The passage from Huanuco to Playa-Grande has been ex- 

 pedited ; the navigation of the Huallaga explored to the lake of Gran Cocama ; 

 the rocks and sand-banks noted, and the mode of steering clear of them pointed 

 out ; and, lastly, new establishments have been formed on the banks of the Hu- 

 allaga, to the end that the traveller may be enabled to repose daily after his fa- 

 tigues, and to find a supply of provisions. The communication between Lima and 

 Maynas has consequently been already facilitated. A mutual commerce in the 

 above-mentioned produftions, such as coffee, cottons of various colours, almonds, 

 cinnamon, reeds, frankincense, anil, &c. may be set on foot ; and the balance 

 will constantly be in favour of our conductors, as the traffic is carried on by barter, 

 and the effecls in those districts estimated at a very low rate. The prompt commu- 

 nication between Lima and Maynas, holds out another very great advantage, that 

 of being able, in case of necessity, to forward a dispatch to Madrid in the short 

 space of three months. This may be effedled in the following manner : from Lima 

 to Huanuco, a distance of sixty leagues, eight days ; thence to Playa-Grande, 

 the port of embarkation, distant thirty leagues, four days ; thence to the river 

 Moyobamba, distant a hundred and eleven leagues, seven days : from Moyo- 

 bamba to Yurimaguas, a distance of sixty-three leagues, three days ; from Yuri- 

 maguas to the lake is a distance of forty leagues, which may be navigated in 

 a day and night •, from the lake to Tefe, in the line which establishes the boun- 

 dary between the Spanish and Portuguese possessions, navigating in canoes, with 

 great celerity, night and day, eight days*; from Tefe to Gran Para, fifteen days. 



* When the navigation is undertaken in large barks, laden with merchandizes, a still longer time ii 

 required. 



3 I Total, 



