XIV 
DOWN THE RIO NEGRO 
501 
had they been so disposed, they might easily have 
embarked and left me to almost certain destruction. 
But on this last voyage I found it necessary to 
adopt an entirely different plan, and not desiring to 
be in such society a moment longer than I could 
help, I did not stop on the way for a few days at 
certain points, as I had previously intended doing. 
I propose therefore i^D. V.) to ascend by the next 
steamer from Para for Peru. One is now up at Nauta, 
and the next is not expected to start before the 
first of March ; in the latter I hope to be a passenger. 
My notion is to get to a place called Tarapoto,^ 
among the mountains on the left bank of the 
Huallaga. The steamer goes as far as Yurimaguas, 
which is 70 miles, or seven days' journey, below 
Chasuta. From Chasuta overland to Tarapoto is 
five hours' journey on foot or mule-back. It is the 
most easy of access of any place really in the moun- 
tains ; its population is considerable, and as a good 
many cows, sheep, and pigs are bred there, one 
may count on experiencing no lack of victuals. Its 
site is described as very picturesque — in a small 
plain among lofty mountains, from which trickle 
down several streams, abounding, it is said, in shells, 
which will be something new to me. If unfortu- 
nately the small steamers have ceased running, then 
it would take two months to reach Chasuta in 
an ordinary boat, and in my present weak state I 
do not feel myself competent for such a voyage, 
especially when the unceasing plague of mosquitoes 
by day and night is taken into account. . . , 
^ So called from the abundance of the Tarapoto palm [Iriartea ventricosa. 
Mart. ; Paxiuba bai rigitda, Braz. ). 
