ENTRANCES INTO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORIES OP PERU. 455 



All our labours and exertions will, however, be of little avail, if we do not suc- 

 ceed in obtaining possession of the mountain of salt. In the case of accomplishing 

 this necessary aim, a fort should be construdled near the confluence of the river 

 Chanchamayo with the Marancocha, and another on the above mountain, con- 

 formably to the ordonnance contained in the royal schedule dated in the month of 

 March 1751. This very necessary project may be accomplished, at the present 

 time, at a small expence. Thanks to the Divine Providence, there is no longer 

 any dread, by the route leading to Vitoc, of a surprize on the part of the infidels, 

 whose hostility, in the entrance by Palca, was greatly exaggerated by those who 

 were determined to throw obstacles in the way of the enterprise. In the above- 

 mentioned valley we are already in possession of two towns, protedted by a fort, 

 which, in case of invasion, may receive prompt succours, not only from the inha- 

 bitants of the department of Tarma, but likewise from that of Jauga. To the 

 end that this might be the more readily accomplished, I caused to be opened, in 

 the year 1789, a route of communication from Monabamba to the valley of Vitoc. 

 It now only remains to lay open the five leagues of road from this valley to the 

 rivers Chanchamayo and Marancocha ; and that, at their confluence, which is at 

 this time the boundary line between the Chunchos Indians and those converted to 

 Christianity, a fort should be construdled, by those who are interested in the suc- 

 cess of the enterprise, with timbers hewn from the large trees with which their 

 banks are covered. 



This fort having been established, and a settlement made, on the site which has 

 been pointed out, of Indians inhabiting the frontiers, the troops may be removed 

 to a convenient station on the opposite bank of the river ; and the towns which 

 may be deemed necessary, may be founded at such a distance from each other, as 

 to enable them to afford a reciprocal aid, as well by land as by'water. In this way 

 we may enter without risk or danger by the valley of Quimiri and Nixandaris, 

 and may advance towards the mountain of salt, where the respeftable fortification 

 which has been ordered by our sovereign, ought to be construdled. We may fol- 

 low the redudlion and subjedtion of the nations of infidels and apostates who either 

 reside in the two small towns above cited, or have retired to the interior of the 

 mountainous territory. The new populations may be formed, not only of the 

 idolatrous Indians whom we shall be able to entice by the means of presents and 

 commerce, but likewise of those who will voluntarily seek an establishment in 

 those very fertile tracks of land, and of the many poor and lazy Indians on the 

 frontiers, who scarcely possess what is absolutely necessary to the maintenance of 

 their wretched families. But to the end that the latter may enter at a seasonable 



time. 



