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xv FROM MANAOS TO TARAPOTO
three months' wages and the passage from the
Barra and back in all 140 milreis and on the
whole I am some 20 out of pocket by the
speculation. 1
Many of the gold- seekers marked their way
through Peru by violence, and some of them came
to violent ends : an Englishman was killed in
Chasuta by the Indians, an American was drowned
in a stream which enters the
Huallaga within
sight of Yurimaguas, and many others perished
miserably in one way or another. All were known
to the natives under the generic name of "
Ingleses,"
who are consequently by no means in good odour.
You will perhaps not be surprised to hear, after
what I have above stated, that I am inclined to
repent having come on this expedition,
which is
proper only for a person enjoying the best bodily
health and strength. I have still considerable
expense and risk before me to get to will cost me fifty dollars, it is though so
Tarapoto
near in a
straight line that I can nearly see it from a little
way down the river. But the delays always annoy
me more than the expense, especially when I can-
not work. The great bulk of my baggage is paper,
which it is of the first necessity to bring, as I
understand I could not procure any from nearer
than Lima, where I have no funds and no corre-
1
In a letter written shortly before he quitted Tarapoto, Spruce gh
termination of this man's career as follo\\, :
"
In my letter from Vui I iin;i^uas spoke of an Kn
with me from the Barra, and whom 1 \\:is obliged to
conduct. He has lately been cruelly mui<
his canoe a little below th.- uih of the I
.lyali, much in the
Count D' Osery was, some disl -er. Though
confession to me,
him as he had meted to others,
been set at liberty without punishment."
VOL. II
I have no doubt th -asurc
I am nol il K 'hat!