Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO 39
descendants of two powerful tribes of Indians who
occupied the same site when the first whites came
from Lamas, about seventy years ago, to found Tara-
poto. Looking over the pueblo from my house, I
am reminded by the general aspect of an English
village in some agricultural district, though the
accessories are different. Here and there in the
forest (which is mostly low, though
there are a few
lofty relics of the old primeval
spots
woods) are verdant
whereon pasture various domestic animals :
horses, mules, cows, pigs, turkeys and
On their margins, or from amid the
other fowls.
forest, peep
out the straw roofs of cottages, often accompanied
by plantain gardens and by orange and other fruit
trees. Beyond the pueblo stretches a plain towards
the S.E. and S., while towards the E. and N.E.
the ground gently rises, to fall again into the deep
valley of the Aguashiyacu. The plain is bounded
by a low ridge of Lamas shales, whereon a red
loam predominates and gives to the ridge the
appellation
of Piica-lama. A broad red road is
seen winding over it which leads to the fields and
gardens of Aguashiyacu.
The track leading to Chasuta passes through
the village of Cumbasa in an easterly direction.
After crossing the Aguashiyacu it emerge?
very wide plain of loose sand, covered chiefly
coarse grasses and low scattered
1
trees.
pajonal (open campo) is not visible from Tarapoto,
but it extends nearly to Pura-yucu. Immediate
across this stream and a littl