grination, has returned, by his order, to the above-mentioned towns of Sarayacu and Manoa, with two other priests, and two lay brothers, one of them by profession a carpenter, and the other a blacksmith. These are to be joined by twenty inhabitants of Tarapoto and Cumbasa. It is his intention to establish, by the means of couriers, a correspondence which, by giving timely notice of all that may occur, may enable him to provide against and direct the consequences.
In the peregrination of father Sobreviela it was observed, that from Lima to the lake of Gran Cocama twenty-three days are employed; between the lake and San Regis, or Omaguas, three are consumed; thence the ascent by the Ucayali to Sarayacu requires eighteen days; making in the whole forty-four. In returning, the descent from Sarayacu to Omaguas is performed in seven; but from Omaguas to Lima, many days are necessarily occupied, because, according to the usual computation, the ascent of the rivers requires three days, to make the progress which is accomplished in one day in descending them. In proportion as the Ucayali shall be frequented, the time which is now consumed will be lessened, for this reason, that there are, beyond a doubt, several arms, or inlets, which follow a direct course,[1] without any of the windings of the bed of the river, generally attempted by those who are little versed in the navigation. The one half of the time, on the most moderate calculation, will be saved, whenever the track of the Mayro shall be rendered practicable; since, in descending by the Pachitea and Ucayali to Manoa,[2] a circuitous route of upwards of three hundred leagues will be avoided. The new conversions having, with the help of the Mayro and Omaguas, been secured, will serve as a central point, whence the beneficent light of the gospel will shed and expand its rays, not only over the nations which people the interior of
- ↑ This was proved by what frequently occurred to the commissary of the missions, friar Manuel Gil, on his proceeding to the succour of Manoa. The barbarians sallied forth in their canoes, to obstruct his progress; but by the dint of persuasions, caresses, and presents, suffered him to pass. He then ordered his boatmen to make every possible exertion with their oars, by day and by night, in order to shun these Indians; and when he was persuaded that they were left several leagues behind, they returned, and again presented themselves in front of his canoes. This was certainly because the friar navigated by the great windings which the beds of the rivers take; while the more experienced Indians followed the direction of the right arms.
- ↑ The ancient entrances of the monks belonging to the provincial Order of the Twelve Apostles, and the modern ones of the fathers of Ocopa, demonstrate the celerity of the navigation by the Mayro and Pachitea, to the Ucayali.
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