Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-04

stream Of silver from its western course to the Pacific
and conduct it, with steamers down the Amazon to the
United States there to balance the stream Of gold with
which we are likely to be flooded from California and
Australia?
"Questions which could not answer, and reflections
which could not keep back, crowded upon OPP
before me, turned slowly and sadly away, secretly
lamenting my want Of ability for this great under
taking and sincerely regrettng that the duty before
had not been assigned to abler and better hands"
The Amazon, in Peru is called the Maranon- 1t takes
its rise in about ii deg. south, and flows NN.W for
about five hundred miles thence turning east and
stituting, according to the maps (but the maps
wrong the boundary line between Peru and Ecuador for
about eight hundred miles by its windngs Crossing in
Peru the head-waters Of the main stream Lieut. Hern
don reached the banks of the Huaaga noble tributary
and embarked upon it at lingo Maria. He descended it
to its junction with the main stream and thence to the
mouth Of the latter by river navigation Of not less than
three thousand five hundred miles.
At Tarapnto he. fell in with clever New England
Blacksmith, who had been in that country for many
years. and from whose valuable concerning the
mercia Of the places visited by him derive
the following:
Tarapoto, situated the left bank of the Hualaga
six leagues above Chasuta the head of uninterrupted
vgaton from the sea- hundred and thirty leagues
from the city of Huanuco, and twenty -four from Moya
bamba Climate very healthy, and free from all annoy
ing insects.
1t is situated beautiful plain of from twenty to
twenty-five leagues in circumference which is nersected
by many rivules The soil fertile producing great
abundance cotton, Coffee sugar. indigo and Cocoa as well
every thing else to which the climate adapted Here
the paintan continues without any other than that
required to the noxious weeds produce in full
vgor from fifty sixty years Cotton gives crop in six
months from the seed; rice in five months and indigo
grows wild Neat cattle and sheep thrive here and null
tipy most rapidly Population Of the town and its two
ports in 1848, $3.50: annual births about 235; Deaths
40 Principal branch of industry cotton cloth, of which
they manufacture between thry6ye and forty thousand
yards 1t made by hand, and yard of our
coarse cotton is worth there two of that.
The currency is white and this coarse cotton stuff
of the country which in Chachapoyas is worth twelve
cents the yard.
One pound of white is worth four yards Of cotton
good-sized bull, one hundred yards well-grown fat
hog, sixty yards big sheep, twelve yards twenty-five
pounds of coffee, six yards twenty-five pounds Of rum,
twelve yards; laying hen, four ounces Of wax; a
chicken, two ounces twenty-five pounds of rice in the
husk, half pound of twenty-five pounds of corn,
two ounces; twenty-five pounds beans four ounces;
basket of yucas weighing from fifty to sixty pounds, two
ounces twenty-five pounds seed cotton, eight
three needles Storax, cinnamon, milk of trees gums,
and other products of the forests have fixed value
but they may be had in quantity from the Indians at
merely nominal prices.
The land transportation from Tarapoo to Moyabamba,
with its population of 000 is done the backs Of In
dians Seventyfve pounds make load, and the freight
is six yards Of cotton valued at three yards Of
mon "f'penny bit' stuff.
i The pay of laborer is four Of wax pei
day and found, " with ehica at discretion"
i This is the most important town in the province o.
Manas, account Of its proximity navgable waters
and its connexion with such large extent of territory
that is not liable to overflow.
From Tarapoto to Chasuta you pass the villages OF
Quan Guerra and Shapaa Chasuta is the head of
interrupted navigation the Huallaga. Lieutenant
Herndon, coming down at low water between this
place and the mouth of the Amazon with nowhere less
than FIVE feet of water The hgh-water mark is forty
feet above the stage in which the river was when he was
there. From Chasuta to the mouth Of the Amazon the
distance by water is upwards Of 5000 miles and for half
the year the Pennsylvania seventy four would find water
enough to reach that village from the sea.
Population Of Chasuta ,031 distance Tarapoto by
land six leagues cost Of transportation pound
the Indian load pound of being equivalent
to four yards Of cotton Cows, sheep horses and hogs
thrive well. Productions those Of Tarapoto
Yunmaguas twenty -four leagues below Chasuta popu-
laton 319 country fertile good road can be cut from
this place almost straight line to Moyamama, distance
thirty leagues.
Santa Cruz is thirtyfve leagues below Chasuta Here
white wax is worth and third yards cotton, and
five pounds sold for one whitehandled knife
Population 300.
| Chamicuros, thirty leagues below Chasuta with
population Of 331 Valuable resins and gums abound in
the woods
Laguna, fortyfour leagues below Chasuta, and four
above the mouth Of the Huallaga, has population of
742, and fertile soil.
Urarnas, the Amazon FIVE leagues below the mouth
OF the Hualaga-populaton forty-hree This is an i'm
portant place account Of the immense quantities in its
vicinity Of the tree which produces the gum-copal
Passing by the villages Of Parinari and San Regis we
Nauta the capital Of the district 1t is situated
the right bank Of the Amazon forty leagues below
the mouth Of the Hualaga, and ninety below the
head Of uninterrupted navigation on that river.
1t is to this place that Brazil by treaty with Peru, has
Just contracted for line Of steamers under the Brazilian
Hag from Para at the mouth Of the Amazon This line
is to have monopoly Of steamboat navigation the
Amazon for thirty years with bonus Of 300 per
annum for the first fifteen.
It therefore becomes place Of Importance and
this steamboat ne under the Brazilian Rag will here
take more notice Of it.
Nauta is also only half league above the mouth Of the
Ucaya another tributary Of the Amazon and larger than
the Hualaga--populaton S10