TRAVELS OF THE MISSIONAItlES. 



441 



grination, has returned, by his order, to the above-mentioned towns of Sara- 

 yacu and Manoa, with two other priests, and two by brothers, one of them 

 by profession a carpenter, and the other a blacksmith. These ai-e to be joined 

 by twenty inhabitants of Tarapoto and Cumbasa. It is his intention to esta- 

 bHsh, by the means of couriers, a correspondence which, by giving timely 

 notice of all that may occur, may enable him to provide against and direft the 

 consequences. 



In the peregrination of father Sobreviela it was observed, that from Lima to the 

 lake of Gran Cocama twenty-three days are employed ; between the lake and San 

 Regis, or Omaguas, three are consumed ; thence the ascent by the Ucayali to Sa- 

 rayacu requires eighteen days ; making in the whole forty-four. In returning, 

 the descent from Sarayacu to Omaguas is performed in seven but from Omaguas 

 to Lima, many days are necessarily occupied, because, according to the usual com- 

 putation, the ascent of the rivers requires three days, to make the progress which 

 is accomplished in one day in descending them. In proportion as the Ucayali shall 

 be frequented, the time which is now consumed will be lessened, for this reason, 

 that there are, beyond a doubt, several arms, or inlets, which follow a diredl 

 course*, without any of the windings of the bed of the river, generally attempted 

 by those who are little versed in the navigation. The one half of the time, on the 

 most moderate calculation, will be saved, whenever the track of the Mayro shall 

 be rendered prafticable ; since, in descending by the Pachitea and Ucayali to 

 Manoaf, a circuitous route of upwards of three hundred leagues will be avoided. 

 The new conversions having, with the help of the Mayro and Omaguas, been se- 

 cured, will serve as a central point, whence the beneficent light of the gospel will 

 shed and expand its rays, not only over the nations which people the interior of 



* This was proved by what frequently occurred to the commissary of the missions, friar Manuel Gil, 

 on his proceeding to the succour of Manoa. The barbarians sallied forth in their canoes, to obstrui5t his 

 progress; but by the dint of persuasions, caresses, and presents, suffered him to pass. He then ordered 

 his boatmen to make every possible exertion with their oars, by day and by night, in order to shun 

 these Indians ; and when he was persuaded that they were left several leagues behind, they returned, and 

 again presented themselves in front of his canoes. This was certainly because the friar navigated by the 

 great windings which the beds of the rivers take ; while the more experienced Indians followed the di- 

 redlion of the right arms. 



+ The ancient entrances of the monks belonging to the provincial Order of the Twelve Apostles, and 

 the modern ones of the fathers of Ocopa, demonstrate the celerity of the navigation by the Mayro and 

 Pachitea, to the Ucayali. 



3 L the 



