ENTRANCES INTO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORIES OF PERU. 463 



In the year 1784, the missionaries of Ocopa penetrated, by the low grounds of 

 Tamboconga and Sana, to the plain of St. Augustine. They found, on the banks 

 of the river Apurimac, several Indians who received them with tokens of pleasure ; 

 and in consequence, in the year 1785, a convent and chapel were built, at the 

 distance of half a league from that river, with the title of the Assumption of Sima- 

 riba. This spot was resorted to by the savages, who came thither, some v/ith a 

 Tiew to their instruction in the christian doftrine, and others to procure working 

 tools. In the year 1788, I set out on a visit to this mission, and perceiving that 

 not any progress had been made, in consequence of the inconsiderable numbers of 

 the Indians, and of their residing on the opposite bank of the river, I proceeded to 

 the spot where their huts were erefted, and built in its vicinity a house and chapel, 

 on which I bestowed the name of St. Antonio of Intate. This establishment no 

 longer subsists, in consequence of the greater number of the infidels having passed 

 over to the side of SImariba. At the same time I gave instruftlons to three of the 

 fathers converters, to ascend and descend the Apurimac in balsas, and to register 

 the Indians who dwelt on Its banks. From their excursion, and the journal of 

 observations they kept. It resulted, that six small settlements, each provided with 

 its chapel, might be made at proportionate distances, from the junftion of the river 

 of Pampas with the Apurimac, to that of the Jauxa, or Mantaro, with the same 

 river. To carry this projeft into efFeft, friar Mateo Mendez, with the help 

 of the succours graciously afforded him by the intendant of Huamanga, as- 

 cended in the year 1789, by the Apurimac, a distance of five leagues, and suc- 

 ceeded In the conversion of a considerable number of Indians, whom he established 

 in a town denominated by him St. Louis of Maniroato, on a site so named by the 

 barbarians. A house and chapel were there erected, by the converted Indians, and 

 others belonging to the frontier. In the course of the following year, 1790, a 

 new conversion, distant, in descending the river, four leagues from SImariba, was 

 founded, with the title of San Buenaventura of Ouiempiric ; and at the same time, 

 the house and chapel of SImariba were rebuilt. All these proceedings, with the 

 requisite documents and journals, I have communicated to the supreme authorities 

 of Lima, and to the sovereign. SImariba Is distant from Huarta twenty-eight 

 leagues, which may be performed with ease by mules in five days, proceeding by 

 Tambo, Pulperia, Tamboconga, and Sana. 



ENTRANCE 



