Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/519

Rh to the information which was left us by father Biedma and his companions, I came to the resolution, in the year 1789, to improve the road from Ocopa, by Monobamba, to the valley of Vitoc. With the permission of the supreme authority, I accelerated the execution of this plan; and re-established the town of Monobamba, which had been destroyed in the year 1744, through the insurrection of Santos Atahualpa. In concert with Don Juan Romero Calvo, sub-delegate, ad interim, of Jauxa, I engaged five hundred Indians belonging to the frontier, to perform the necessary labours, maintaining them, and supplying them with working tools, at the expence of my college. All the bad parts of the road leading from Yauri, distant one league from Jauxa, to Tambillo, where the ridge of the mountainous territory commences, a space of seven leagues by computation, were speedily mended; and six leagues were afterwards cleared to the old town and delightful valley of Monobamba. Five other leagues were next opened and levelled, to establish the communication between Monobamba and the valley and fort of Vitoc. Lastly, a church, a house for the reception of the ecclesiastics, quarters for the troops, and a convent, were built by me; and I left two missionaries in the spiritual charge of the new settlers.

In the year 1677, the venerable father Biedma, with a view to procure a better entrance to Sonomoro than the one by Andamarca, above pointed out, proceeded to the Andes of the town of Tambo, distant seven leagues from Huanta, and embarked on the river Pampas, or Cocharcas. After having navigated for the space of eight days, he was led to debark, in consequence of having ascertained that, in following this course, he should be obliged to deviate very considerably from his direct route. He next passed to the Andes of Huanta and Viscatan, entering afterwards by the rugged ground of Conchagara and Chiquia. On every side, and in every direction by which he attempted to penetrate, he found the entrance more and more difficult, and the Cordillera less accessible.

In the year 1738, friar Joseph Cavanes, having the same object in view,