9 
t - 
seem to be much better preserved). 
I I ■ ■ I m 
0 
Macchu picchu. The Sierra of Souhtern Peru has received unusually 
heavy ‘rainfall this year. It rained daily in Macchu Picchu when I was ther.e 
in early December last year. According to missionary friends of mine who 
live near Cusco, the rains still have not abated but have actually increased 
in the Cusco region. There is no place to stay at Macchu Picchu except the 
very expensive Tourista Hotel, and the Urubaraba Valley at that point now is 
in terrific political £bjhk2I±x turmoil; the army is there in force. Local 
Communists daily roll rocks down upon the railroad Cusco to Macchu 
Picchi^INhe only route to the place). I doubt if Digloss a c arbonaria is 
still breeding there, though it was in December (they began breeding in 
October at Chihuata, east of Arequipa). This species is of course a very 
common bird in many places, including places near Lima that Maria knows 
extremely well. 
Maraynioc. The Tempe rate and Humid Temp, of this place are idbacsnarx:® 
famous (it is East of Tarma in Junin) and it is the place I most wish to return 
x±xx± to ^complete my own work. But you can't get to it now, and to get to 
it at all you must either have a vehicle or pack animals. I was there only 
a few weeks ago, in my Volkswagon. The road to it is very steep, a one- 
way road but I think quite good; xszh its rules of traffic are: up in the 
morning, down in the afternoon. As I say, you can't get to Maraynioc now, 
for the road must be really in bad shape at present, owing to the recent 
rains in the Central Sierra, the heaviest of the year . I am hoping that 
by ±hK raid- April the situation will improve. (No busses run to Maraynioc; 
it is simply a hacienda located among touring meadows) 
I have yet to encounter Pi gl ossa lafresnayii . so I can't help you at all 
there. If you're interested in Tenodacnis , I can help you; also with 
Oreomanes fraseri. The relationships of these species can not help being 
of interest to anyone interested in Diglossa , verdad? 
Perhaps you will still be in Lima or nearby when I return. What I 
have written so far is totally inadequate, and is gloomy; too gloomy perhaps. 
The fact is, however, that the upper regions of the Sierra will generate 
serious problems for your enterprise even in the dry times, and for the 
next few’weeks uo in those regions you must be prepared to cope with almost 
continuous heavy rain. It is a good thing to know this, and not to under- 
estimate it. I think it is imperative that you travel to a place where 
vou can have a roof over your head. At any rate, my best wishes to you. 
I am much interested in your studies and know from our mutual friend 
Gene Eisenmann that you are doing excellent work. 
Sincerely yours, 
Bill George 
