94 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
Three mountain ranges run through this 
country between which are found extremely 
fertile and productive plateaus, the scene of 
much of the country’s agricultural develop 
ment. The land from the coast to the foot 
hills of the Andes is as a rule barren, and were 
it not for the Humboldt Current which runs 
close to the shore and cools it, would be ex 
ceedingly tropical. On the eastern slopes of 
the Andes, as they stretch toward Brazil and 
Bolivia, there is a wealth of verdure, vegeta 
tion and virgin forests, due to the heavy rains 
and the tropical sun’s action. This comprises 
three-fourths of Peru’s territory. The table 
lands are cool and enjoy a temperate climate. 
From June to November, the days are marked 
by a fine drizzling rain, particularly along the 
coast but for the rest of the year rain coats and 
umbrellas are not needed. 
Peru claims a population of 4,500,000 but I 
seriously doubt if it will reach 3,500,000. Of 
this number fully half are unlettered, igno 
rant Indians, lacking in ambition, requiring 
few necessities and living most primitively.