Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO
pass some dangerous places on foot, but laden
beasts cannot traverse it. From Moyobamba to
Chachapoyas it is said to offer still greater natural
obstacles, but to be kept in better order, so that
mules can be used if carrying a single burden of five
arrobas (160 pounds). Thence to the coast there
is a good broad road on wKich mules can pass
carrying ten arrobas, divided into two equal
portions one on each side.
From Tarapoto to Tabalosos two short days'
journey the road is good enough to allow mules to
pass, and the latter part of it (from Lamas to
Tabalosos) is especially well kept, which is due to
the Cura of Lamas having often to traverse it, and
as the people hold him in great respect they take
care that he shall find everything as smooth as
possible. All the brush is kept down and no
stumps are left sticking out.
But from the first stream beyond Tabalosos the
road is in a deplorable state, and the natural obstruc-
tions are very great. To avoid a ravine on the
Cachi-yacu, a steep ridge (the Andarra) has to be
crossed, in many parts by climbing high natural
steps which are very dangerous on horsebacl
the other side of the Andarra the channel ot the
Cachi-yacu has been followed for about an hour,
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other,
here and there a cliff has to be scaled by the aid ol
roots spreading over it. The ol
crossings
tin- river
are the worst, for the water is always turbid,
runs rapidly .over and amongst slippery
that on stepping into the water one rarel
one is going to tread on. The water is
knee-deep, and sometimes more ;
indeed,