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  development. ­
  The  land  from  the  coast  to  the  foothills ­
  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  exceedingly ­
  tropical.  On  the  eastern  slopes  of
the  Andes,  as  they  stretch  toward  Brazil  and
Bolivia,  there  is  a  wealth  of  verdure,  vegetation ­
  and  virgin  forests,  due  to  the  heavy  rains
and  the  tropical  sun’s  action.  This  comprises
three-fourths  of  Peru’s  territory.  The  tablelands ­
  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,  ignorant ­
  Indians,  lacking  in  ambition,  requiring
few  necessities  and  living  most  primitively.