Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/525

Rh rivulet, on reaching which he quits the Maranon); and in two, to the haven by the river Chuchunga. From the haven to the passage there are two days’ journies by land, which are performed on foot, partly by intricate forests, and partly across swampy grounds; and from the passage, which is so called because the Maranon is there crossed in a balsa to Pomara, the traveller reaches Tomependa in one day with the aid of a mule, and in two on foot.

Towards the close of the details relative to my peregrination by the river Huallaga, drawn up by the Academical Society, mention was made of the time required in descending, in canoes, which make a very rapid progress by day and by night, from the above-mentioned lake to Tefe. The information there given was communicated to me, at the town of Gran Cocama, by Don Juan Salinas Zenitayoga, commander of the fourth division of the limits of the Maranon, lieutenant-governor of the province of Majmas, &c. who is well versed in the navigation of the Maranon, which he has practised more than twelve years. To this information I have now to add the result of my own practical observations, namely, that if the navigation be performed in large barks laden with merchandizes, twenty days are occupied in the above-mentioned descent, instead of the eight employed by the canoes, on a supposition that the barks are not engaged, in the prosecution of the voyage, more than twelve hours each day. To ascend from Tefe to the lake requires nearly treble that time; since from the port of Tefe to that of Caysara, one day is spent; to Tontevoa, seven; to the port of Matura, eight; to San Pablo, three; to Yaguari, six; to the frontier of Tabatinga, one and a half (the places thus far recapitulated are Portuguese establishments); to that of Loretto, two (here commence the towns of the Maynas missions); to Camucheros, three; to Pevas, four; to Napeanos, five; to Omaguas, three; to San Regis, three and a half; to Urarinas, nine; and to the lake, three day ; amounting in the whole to fifty-nine days.

Doctor Mariano Salazar, rector of Yurimaguas, to whom I was indebted for the necessary supplies, in the descent from his town by the Huallaga, gave me the