RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO 87 
pass some dangerous places on foot, but laden 
beasts cannot traverse it. From Moyobamba to 
Chachapoyas it is said to offer still greater natural 
obstacles, but to be kept in better order, so that 
mules can be used if carrying a single burden of five 
arrobas (160 pounds). Thence to the coast there 
is a good broad road on which mules can pass 
carrying ten arrobas, divided into two equal 
portions one on each side. 
From Tarapoto to Tabalosos — two short days' 
journey — the road is good enough to allow mules to 
pass, and the latter part of it (from Lamas to 
Tabalosos) is especially well kept, which is due to 
the Cura of Lamas having often to traverse it, and 
as the people hold him in great respect they take 
care that he shall find everything as smooth as 
possible. All the brush is kept down and no 
stumps are left sticking out. 
But from the first stream beyond Tabalosos the 
road is in a deplorable state, and the natural obstruc- 
tions are very great. To avoid a ravine on the 
Cachi-yacu, a steep ridge (the Andarra) has to be 
crossed, in many parts by climbing high natural 
steps which are very dangerous on horseback. On 
the other side of the Andarra the channel of the 
Cachi-yacu has been followed for about an hour, 
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, and 
here and there a cliff has to be scaled by the aid of 
roots spreading over it. The crossings of the river 
are the worst, for the water is alw^ays turbid, and 
runs rapidly over and amongst slippery rocks, so 
that on stepping into the water one rarely sees what 
one is going to tread on. The water is always 
knee-deep, and sometimes more ; indeed, if the 
