620 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
[March i, 1894. 
distrust of the bona fides of the wretched Govern- 
ment in Lima. Already they have broken faith 
over and over again with the Corporation, who 
only three years ago saved the country from 
absolute bankruptcy, repudiating engagements 
deliberately entered upon and declining to give 
up securities legally mortgaged. There is in 
short, no security for property or life in such a 
country and, as the Incas long ago found out, but 
little inducement for industry where the Spaniard 
reigns supreme. The land may be more inex- 
haustible than anything we can point to in 
Ceylon,— the vegetation more luxuriant than on 
the richest deltas of India— and we may send over 
trained experts and introduce supplies of the 
most competent tropical labourers in the world ; 
but unUl something like righteousness rule over 
this long-benighted land, all agricultural enter- 
prises must prove futile. Nevertheless, the ex- 
periment is useful, and Mr. Robbs' Report very 
interesting, though the confirmation of previous 
reports as to the capabilities of the land, is nothing 
more than we would have expected. 
Doubtless, the day will yet come, when this, 
the largest reserve of tropical forest on the plobe 
will be seriously encroached upon; and, when pushed 
to it, the resources of civilization will be suflBcient 
to solve the difficulty; but meanwhile, the utmost 
we expect from the present effort, is only the 
production of a few encouraging samples, which 
may be necessary in order to convince the scep- 
tical investor, and prepare the way for future 
operations. Mr. Robbs' Report as follows, is ad- 
dressed to Mr. Mackenzie whom he has since 
gacceeded as chief of the new Colony: — 
OOIiONlZiTION DePAHTME.NT. 
The Peruvian Corporation, Limited, 27th July, 1938. 
Ji. F. Mackenzie, Esq., Peren^. 
Dear Sir,— I herewith beg to hand yon my Report 
on the Colonization, Lands, Prospects, etc., for the 
year ending 30th June. 
" OoLONizAxioN."— I very much regret to say that 
during the past year not so much progress has been 
made by the Colonists as we could have wished. 
Some have done fairly well, and have now got a 
good footing on their lands, with nice crops of 
maize, qucca, beans, vegetables, etc., and with a 
little ground cleared for planting coffee at the end 
of the year, and I think it ?but fair to especially 
mention the Colonists around Metraro and Denville, 
as being the most industrious. Others have not 
done well, and have been the cause of much trouble 
and expense. A few have abandoned their chacras 
and left this part of the country, and some who 
remain will, I am afraid, never be successful. The 
cause of this can without doubt be attributed to the 
most undesirable class of Colonists introduced, such 
as runawav sailors and adventurers of every des- 
cription, who arrived in the colony absolutely 
destitute, and without resonsibility of any kind. 
It cannot be expected that such men will ever make 
successful Colonists. Their wandering habits never 
allow them to remain long in a place, and work 
of any description is distasteful to them. A single 
man without means, let him be ever so good and 
anxious to do well, can never make any real pro- 
gress or be a successful Colonist. In the iirst place, 
he has to cook his food and attend to his house, 
which occupies a good part of his time, and, on the 
other hand, he cannot cultivate with any chance of 
success, more than about three acres of land, the 
produce of which would barely keep him alive, far 
fess enable him to repay his debts. 
If successful Colonists are to be established on 
the lands, they will have to be selected from a very 
different class than heretofore, and as a rule families 
only, with a little means of their own. With the kind 
asBiatance given by the Corporation they would, in 
a few years, form a home and reap the benefit of 
their labours. I am very sorry to say that French and 
Italian Colonists appear to lack that steady persever- 
ance shown by the more Northern races, and it is 
from the latter class I would recommend the trial of 
a few families. It would be far more satis- 
factory to have, say a. dozen good families witk 
means of doing well, than a host of greedy ava- 
ricious adventurers, whose whole aim is to get 
what they can out of the Corporation without 
doing anything in return. 
The injudicious selection of lands has been the 
cause of much trouble and Colonists leaving ; • and 
it is a matter of regret that more care was not 
taken by the representatives of the Corporation, 
who settled them. A number located at Paniaas, 
above San Luis, had no possible means of getting 
out their crops, and in consequence have lost heart 
and left. Others have be^n seUled on sand-beds 
swarming wi'h ants and other destructive insects, 
and cannot be expected to remain contented. These 
people have since been removed to better landf*. 
and no doubt they will now do well. It woald be 
to the interest of the Corporation to seriously con- 
sider the introduction of colonists with means, as 
they would not only be the backbone of the Colony, 
but would act as a stimulas to others. There are 
undoubtedly good men at home, who would be 
only too glad to know of this territory, and its 
capabilities, and with such Colonists, a very different 
result would be obtained. 
Lanes. — The lands around Peren6 are not of a 
desirable nature, and are unfit for anything further 
than light crops, such as maize, rice, etc.. but 
a few miles down the River I have found 
excellent landp, suitable for tropical cnltivstion of any 
kind. In mo't in'tsnces I found the lay of th*" hills 
BO steep that CDltivatinn w«s out of the question, 
but, on the other h<<n<i, I also found Ttllejs and 
elopes that wnnid be hard to snrptss in any part of 
the world, and it is in snch localities tbat vre can 
look for fuocesfl. There a great vsrietv of soil, 
»nd for the most part extremely rich. In many 
places I find a rich dark loam with a rocky, gravdiy 
bottom, and in other placet it inclines to a sardy 
clay. I would especially mention the valley of the 
Ynranaki, as an exceptionally gnod site, both as 
regards lay of land and suitability of soil, hot un- 
doubtedly there will be other parts equallv good when 
opened up. AloRg the banks of the River several 
valuable c'aims are to be found, extending for hundreds 
of acres, and for eugar-csne or rice culture would be 
very profitable. 
OuLTiTATiON'. — It has never been my lot to live in a 
country where the necessaries of life ctn be ro eisily 
grown, and a Colonist with a little fores'dht can 
soon furnish nearly all he requires for bis table from 
his own estate. Ma'ze, rice, vegetables, fruics, etc., 
all crow freel}' and with little or no trouble. Orargee, 
lemons, and citrons, also grow in abundance, anil with 
a little trouble orchards could be laid out and any 
quantity of fruit grown for canning pnrp ses, 
European fruits could in many places be planted and 
grown with success, and I hope the day is rot far off 
when I may be able to introduce tbem. Coffee, cocoa, 
coca and rice will, I believe, form the principal 
products of the Colony, and with judicious manaite- 
ment rich harvests should be reaped. The climate 
here is espscially adapted to the cultivation of C( ffte, 
which bears enormous crops without any trouble and 
very little expense. Tea would, I believe, grow luxuri- 
antly on the slopes, and is well worthy of a trial, 
although on account of the scarcity of labour it woold 
never tecome a general industry, as it requires too 
much manipulation. There are numerous other pro- 
ducts found wh'ch are of immense value in the 
European markets, and when things are a little 
advanced I shall have time to look into the matf^r and 
report to you more fnlly on thn subject. As in every 
country wo have pests, and hf re wuts are our gieatest. 
To certain crops tbey do co; siderable damage, but 
* This refers to a few Colonists settled by advice of 
Senor Delgado, the Peruvian Minister of Agriculture, 
