The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-15
Curious Customs Which Obtain in This
Little Known Country Described by a
Washington Man Who Was Re-
Gently There as Consul.

There is a refuse or dripping mixed with
/ earth. leaves, or other foreign matter.
that is called sernamby. pronounced
''surnann-bee'' accent on bee). which is
third grade of rubber There is a
sernamby of both rubber and caucho.
| Crude caucho is formed in slabs resem-
bling in appearance thick black hides
! from which the fur has been taken.
Sernamby is usually in the shape Of
strippings formed by the cutters or
channels carrying the milk from the
tree 10 the pools.
The Peruvian government. which is
paternal in its character. claiming to
| exercise authority over the individual
/ in all relations of life, has been sin
guiarly remiss in its want OF care end
foresight in permitting the destruction
| of caacho. which was one source of
| future wealth. by these armies of half
eeds, who go into the forests. leaving
! their old men and women at home .
cultivate a poison to destroy another
great source of wealth in the supply Of
fish foods
In a romantic vein. 1 would say TO
any inquiring friend as TO the oppor-
tunities for immigration or the inausli-
ration of business enterprises. that in
extensive travel all over South Amer
! lea l have not seen a more inviting
field than is afforded in the delightful
valleys of the upper Amazon. provided
always that the emigraat makes up his
mind to be content with practical isoia-
ton from the world. Being hemmed in
the interior by three ranges of the
Andes on one side and 5000 miles Cf
Amazonian forests on the other. is
worse than being isolated on an island
of the Pacific.
Chance for Young Men.
A party of young farmers and me-
chanics might follow the route of this
narrative, and if well provided with i'm
Elements and energy. take up large
tracts of land. which may be had for
the asking. upon which they could lisc
comfortably in a glorious climate while
awaiting the development of the land OF
tomorrow. which must come.
1 might add parentheticaily. that
American boys-blondes preferred-lf
possessed of blue eyes and a vigorous
constitution. will have no difficulty in
finding helpmates from among tho
been left alone in that paradise by
iatIon to the rubber forests.
There are senoritas ana senoritas,
even i'm that out of the way region. and
the American accustomed TO good so
ciety at home might be surprised TO
find some families IN this remote land
VINO are quite exclusive and arlstocratie
IN bearing and as exacting in their in
teTcourse as are some of our own pep
pie. who probably have not as much 70
stand on.
The settler need not be a pioneer
woodsman compelled TO fell trees; he
will find miles upon miles of the richest
pampa or prairie soil in the valleys,
waiting for the agricultural machinery,
to replace the ridicuiously crude nipple
ments of the natives. which have been
used for the centuries to good advan-
tage. but the increase would be doubled
By modern appliance with the expendI-
ture OF less labor.
The Land of Promise.
There are no frosts. no droughts. no
grasshopper and other insect plaques.
at that altitude. and no uncertainty as
TO returns, because there are two and
sometimes three crops in a year. The
settler will grow his own corn and pota-
toes, and while resting from his daily
toll. he may. literally. smoke in his pipe
of peace mis- own tobacco and sip de-
licious coffee made fresh from the Der
ries grown on the plants in his own
yards; or. If he prefers, his dark-eyed
senorita will serve her lord with cup
OF the richest cocoa grown on his own
land, and sweetened with the sugar
crystallized from the cane which grows
so wildly abundant that it is not Guilt
waited or gathered except for the manu-
facture of the pure rum of the country.
Milk. which does not seem 10 be used
much in those lands, may be obtained
from the herds OF goats. or cows could
be bred for milk. as with us.
There are disadvantages. aside from
isolation, that are in way as great
obstacles TO American colonization ana
as difficult TO overcome as are the noun
| tains themselves.
The Peruvian government Is most lib
eral in it's concessions or grants Of land
and homes to actual settlers from all
countries. Americans being especially