Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/508

450 Although the Cordillera of the Andes presents, on the side of Tarma, difficult roads by which to penetrate into the mountainous territory, still two passages have been effected as far as the mountain of salt. On the first of these occasions, the route which was followed was from the town of Paucartambo by that of Huancabamba; and in this enterprise six days were employed. The second expedition was directed from Tarma, by the rugged grounds of Palca and Chanchamayo, and reached the mountain of salt within the same space of time. The above-mentioned mountain is frequented by many uncivilized Indians, who proceed thither from the remotest parts of the elevated territory, in quest of the salt for their consumption and commerce. The vein of salt runs from the summit of the mountain, to the south-west, over a space of more than three leagues, and follows an equal distance towards the north-east, with a surface of thirty yards in breadth. It is of the kind denominated rock salt, blended with a certain portion of clay.

The first Franciscan monk who penetrated into the mountainous territory on this side, was friar Geronimo Ximenes, who, in the year 1635, set out from the town of Huancabamba, and reached the above-mentioned mountain, on which he built a chapel, with the denomination of San Francisco de las Salinas. He proceeded thence to Quimiri, where he laid the foundations of a town which he entitled San Buenaventura: and, being anxious to propagate the doctrines of Christianity among other barbarous nations, embarked, and descended by the river Perene, in company with friar Cristoval Larios, and twenty-eight Spaniards, all of whom perished by the hands of the barbarous Campas, in the year 1637. They were succeeded, in the spiritual conquest of the barbarians dwelling on the mountain of salt, and on the banks of the river Perene, by the apostolical missionaries, friars Joseph de Santa Maria, and Cristoval Mesa, whose efforts were so successful, that in the year 1640, seven chapels were founded for the benefit of the converts belonging to the nations of Omages and Campas.

In the year 1641, the venerable father, friar Matias de Yllescas, and the lay brothers, Pedro de la Cruz, and Francisco Pena, propelled by their ardent zeal for the conversion of souls, braving all perils, and confiding solely in the Divine Providence,