punctuality.

The Prefect of the Province of Loreto had shown me much civility, and had
telegraphed, by the wireless installation which had been established
between Iquitos and Lima, making every possible arrangement for me to
travel quickly. Thus, although in a terrible condition of health, I was
able to make a record journey between Iquitos and Lima, the capital of
Peru.

[Illustration: Oroya.]

[Illustration: Oroya, the Highest Railway Station in the World.]

Once started in the launch _Rimac_, we went through interesting channels,
outlets of the main stream being often noticeable on either bank, cutting
wide passages through the forest and forming one or more shallow
lakelets, with innumerable aquatic plants on the surface of the water.
As we went farther it became easy to understand how islands were
constantly forming in the river. Quantities of large and small logs of
wood were continually floating down the stream; the banks were gradually
being eaten away by the current. Whole trees fell down with their immense
branches and polypi-like roots, and formed a barrier arresting the
progress of the floating wood. Particles of earth deposited by wind and
by water saturated with impurities settled there. Soon grass would begin
to grow on those deposits, which quickly collected more deposits of
flying and floating particles. The soft bottom of the river, disturbed by
the deviated current, piled up mud against the submerged branches resting
on the river-bed. Quickly an island was then formed; more wood
accumulated, more grass, more mud; the base of the islands would increase
rapidly, and in the space of a few years islands several kilometres in
length rose above the water.

We had reached a point where the two great rivers Maranon and
Ucayalli--both descending from the Andes--joined and formed the river
Solimoes, which we had so far navigated. We followed the Ucayalli.

On December 31st we entered a small arm on the left side of the river and
we reached no less a place than New York--very dissimilar, I can assure
you, from its namesake of the United States of North America. Far from
seeing skyscrapers, brilliantly illuminated streets, and ferry-boats and
steamers galore, there were only half a dozen thatched huts with
_bona_-palm walls and floors. In the water floated two or three small
canoes; that was all. The place was chiefly remarkable for the number
and the fierceness of its mosquitoes--regular clouds of them.