450 



APPENDIX. 



ENTRANCES INTO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORY BY THE SIDE OF TARMA. 



Although the Cordillera of the Andes presents, on the side of Tarma, difficult 

 roads by which to penetrate into the mountainous territory, still two passages have 

 been efFefted as far as the mountain of salt. On the first of these occasions, the 

 route which was followed was from the town of Paucartambo by that of Huanca- 

 bamba •, and in this enterprise six days were employed. The second expedition 

 was directed from Tarma, by the rugged grounds of Palca and Chanchamayo, and 

 reached the mountain of salt within the same space of time. The above-mentioned 

 mountain is frequented by many uncivilized Indians, who proceed thither from 

 the remotest parts of the elevated territory, in quest of the salt for their consump- 

 tion and commerce. The vein of salt runs from the summit of the mountain, to 

 the south-west, over a space of more than three leagues, and follows an equal dis- 

 tance towards the north-east, with a surface of thirty yards in breadth. It is of 

 the kind denominated rock salt, blended with a certain portion of clay. 



The first Franciscan monk who penetrated into the mountainous territory on 

 this side, was friar Geronimo Ximenes*, who, in the year 1635, set out from the 

 town of Huancabamba, and reached the above-mentioned mountain, on which 

 he built a chapel, with the denomination of San Francisco de las Salinas. He 

 proceeded thence to Quimiri, where he laid the foundations of a town which he 

 entitled San Buenaventura : and, being anxious to propagate the do£l:rines 6{ 

 Christianity among other barbarous nations, embarked, and descended by the 

 river Perene, in company with friar Cristoval Larios, and twenty-eight Spaniards, 

 all of whom perished by the hands of the barbarous Campas, in the year 1 637. 

 They were succeeded, in the spiritual conquest of the barbarians dwelling on the 

 mountain of salt, and on the banks of the river Perene, by the apostolical missio- 

 naries, friars Joseph de Santa Maria, and Cristoval Mesa, whose efforts were so 

 successful, that in the year 1640, seven chapels were founded for the benefit of 

 the converts belonging to the nations of Omages and Campas. 



In the year 1641, the venerable father, friar Matias de YUescasf, and the lay 

 brothers, Pedro de la Cruz, and Francisco Pena, propelled by their ardent zeal 

 for the conversion of souls, braving all perilsj and confiding solely in the Divine 



* Cordova, lib. ii. p. 116. f Cordova, lib. ii. p. 125. 



I Providence, 



1 



