: fon, it is perfection. There are, likewise, flaws in Stephens's nomenclature for instance, the Sylvia cinerea is properly called White-throated Warbler, but his Silvia Silviella (Ficedula garrula, of the foregoing list) he calls Lesser White-throat, thus changing the generic nanie. The genus Rotch (Mergulus) he has called Sea Dove, and the genus Daption (Daption) he has called Sea Pintado. I must now conclude these remarks, entreating my readers to give the subject the consideration which I conceive it so justly merits. S. D. W. THE SINNER'S AGONY. "A wounded spirit who can bear.”—PSALMS. WHY should I fear to die? Its sickening pleasures and dull load of care, That I should grieve to part From such as these?-Ah! no, it is not there,- Why should I fear to die? Bright forms affection's golden chain uniteth; Beneath whose hallowed dome Is centred all in which my soul delighteth? Why do I fear to die? Shrinks back my soul with dread From that cold narrow bed, Man's long last home,-where silence ever broodeth, Extends her gloomy pall, And but the worm its slimy form intrudeth? Must I not fear to die? Evil and few have been My days, in this world's scene, In pleasure's flowery path my steps have trod; This life was all it seemed, And in the pride of youth forgot my God: He leaves me now,--he will not hear my prayer,— He leaves me to despair. M. 36 REMARKS ON THE PRACTICABILITY OF NAVIGATING THE RIVER HUALLAGA, WITH NOTES ON THE PRODUCTIONS, AND OF PART OF MAYNAS, PERU, ON leaving Lima, it was my intention to make some stay at each of the Pueblost on the banks of the river Huallaga; but was prevented, in consequence of having been detained in the Quebrada‡ of Chinchao longer than I expected: nevertheless, I saw sufficient during my journey from the point from which I started, or embarked, (Juana del Rio) to the port of Shipaja, to recommend this part of Peru to the especial notice and care of the Supreme Govern ment. The true character of the River Huallaga is, as yet, but imperfectly known; and it is generally supposed, in Lima, that it might be navigated by steam vessels with facility. Though this is the general opinion, it has been formed without a true knowledge of the difficulties which a steam vessel would have to encounter, especially in the ascent. From Juana del Rio to Uchiza there are but two malpasoss of any importance: when the river is full they may be passed with ease; but when the river is at its lowest, the angle or bend, in which the deep part is situated, is so sharp, and the current comes with so much force against the precipice of rocks, which are partly undermined, that a small vessel would have great difficulty in steming the current. From thence to a short distance below Tocache, the river is broad, the current less strong, with many large islands; * The Editor is indebted to J. C. Loudon, Esq., for the following interesting communication. + Small villages. Deep vallies, formed by the streams or torrents descending from the Cordilleras of the Andes, are all termed Quebradas. It is a better term than any we have; our term, ravine, does not convey a sufficient idea of the size of these places. § Bad passes, or rapids. and though in most parts of sufficient depth of water for any sized vessel, the course of the river is constantly changing, where the banks are low, from the great number of large trees that are continually falling on its banks, and shifting their position when an increase of the waters takes place. From below Tocache to Sion are a succession of malpasos, not less than eight, many of which, from the rapid descent of the river and its numerous and sudden turns, are dangerous: but it is below the Port of Valle that the principal impediment is situated, at a pass called Savaliyacu. The hills are here high on both sides, forming rocky precipices, and narrowing the river to about fifty yards. Several yards from the east bank of the river is a half-sunken large rock, against which the whole force of the river is precipitated, and from which it passes in an oblique direction to the opposite side. The fall is so great that it is evident to the naked eye. A vessel ascending this point, in the act of manoeuvering to escape the rocks on either side, would be liable to be brought broadside to the stream, and consequently exposed to instant destruction. From this to Lupuna and Shipaja, the river is wide and of easy navigation. The soil on the banks of the river is fertile, and the climate favourable. Uchiza, Tocache, Sion, Valle, and Lupuna are delightfully situated; but it is to be regretted that the present population is much less than that given by the Rev. P. F. Manuel Sobreviela, in the Mer. Per., 9th October, for the year 1791. Having been now some time without the guidance or care of either missionary or curate, the natives are in a state of disorder and idleness; spending the greater part of their time in preparing masata and in drunkenness. On landing at Shipaja I made direct for Tarapoto, by way of Juan Guerra, a distance of six to eight leagues of one level plain, covered with immense trees. During a stay of four weeks in Tarapoto, I had an opportunity of observing most of the productions and capabilities of the situation. From the P. F. Eusebio Arias* I *This gentleman kindly presented me with a manuscript grammar and vocabulary of the language of Maynas; and a vocabulary of the Panes or Setivos, a nation or tribe of the river Neayali: these cannot fail of being both interesting and useful. received the greatest kindness and hospitality, and also much valuable information, which a residence of twenty-eight years had enabled him to acquire. Tarapoto and Cumbasa are situated in a large plain, with the river Mayo (or, as it is generally called, Mayobamba) on the south, and a range of high hills on the north, extending from the Huallaga to the westward of Lamas, where they form the north bank of the above river, and thus continue their course, with some slight variation, to the source of the river in the Cordilleras of Chachapoyas. In the immediate neighbourhood of Tarapoto and Cumbasa, the soil is sandy and partially covered with shrubs and small trees, with abundance of good pasture throughout the year. At short distances commence the montâna real,* in which are situated the chacrast and labranzas,† which with little labour produce rich crops. The principal productions are plantains, maize, yuccas, aracachas, rice, sugar, tobacco, cotton, frigoles, and mane; the fruits, pinâs sapote, caimeto, oranges, lemons, limes, paltas, granadillas,|| tumbo, and cashew. The manufactures are cotton-thread, tucuyos, lonas, and hats. The natural productions of the woods are bees'wax, myrtle-wax, balsam of copaiva, vanilla, acerte-de-Maria, caranâ, or leche caspi,§ copal, estorach, and sarsaparilla, besides various medicinal plants, which require only to be proved by experienced and practical men to become valuable additions to our Materia Medica; and also many plants whose leaves or roots yield valuable and rich dyes of various colours, and some of them permanent even without chemical aid. Besides the above, the woods abound in red-deer, huanganas or javali,** rabbits, pangis,++ pavos,‡‡ managaracas,|||| &c., not mentioning the numerous small species of the feathered tribe of the most beautiful colours; and the rivers abound with innumerable kinds of fish. The forests. + Cultivated grounds. The Alligator Pear, Laurus Persia. Two species of Pasiflora. § Caragna Leche caspi, Milk of the tree. The word caspi signifies tree or wood, in the language of the Incas. **A species of Pecary. ++ A fine bird, nearly as large as a turkey, related to the Curasa. A small species of turkey. About the size of the English Pheasant, but not so handsome. The average height of the thermometer seldom exceeds (in the shade) 86°, and rarely lower than 80°; and the climate is generally healthy, and free from those universal plagues of tropical climates, the sanchudas and musquitos. # The city of Lamas, which is distant nearly six leagues from Tarapoto, is situated on an irregular hill, and scattered over a large surface. The thermometer indicates a lower temperature than that at Tarapoto. The continual light breezes which are felt, render it far more pleasant, and cattle thrive much better than in Tarapoto; being less subject to the ravages of the fly, (a species of œestres) and tabanus, called by the natives subyacuros, which deposit their eggs beneath the skin and cause considerable wounds, from the effects of which the animal becomes lean and sickly. The chacras are situated, for the most part, at some distance from the city, and on the sides of the quabradas, and produce the same as at Tarapoto. On the tops and sides of the hills are large pajonales,† which produce abundance of pasture during the whole year. There is also a vein of quicksilver here, and several kinds of earth, which, with but little labour in preparing them, are used to paint the interior of the houses. From Lamas to Mayobamba the road is a continued succession of ascent and descent, with considerable windings. On leaving Lamas, the descent is continued to the river at San Miguel, and from thence the ascent continues to Tabalosa. From Tabalosa the road winds some distance along the sides of the hills, and then ascends a high range which runs N. W. From the summit of one of these hills is a fine view, embracing the whole of the valley to the borders of the Huallaga, and the course of the Mayo: at a short distance farther on is the Patrero and Campana, the summits of the range, containing some leagues of open pajonales of excellent pasture, with Montâna at their base. From these heights there is also an extensive view of the valley towards Sapo-Soa; at their base runs the source of the River Sisa, which joins the Huallaga, but not as represented in the Map of the Pampa Sacramente, published by M. Chaumette-Des-Fosses, where it has been placed on the opposite |