The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-04

South AmerlCa.-NO. Dc
The Amazon enters the Atlantic through delta
The principal tributaries from the south which fall
into this river are. commencing at its mouth ana
going up, the Tocantins, the ChiDgu. the Taoslos,
the Madeira, the Purus, the Tape, the Hyusqos'
iaga-nons Of them smaller than the Ohio and
some larger than the Missouri.
From the north como the Rio Negro and the ia
pura, Owe mighty streams the Pntomayo, the
Napo, the Tigre Yacu, and the Pastaza.
/ have spoken of the present commercial re-
sources of the Madeira and the Hualaga from infor
nation derived from Leutenants Herndon and
Gibbon, United States Navy, and from Castelnau
As to the present condition of the trade and re-
sources of these other rivers, except the Tocantns
we are left very much in the dark to conjecture.
All Of them, we know, have falls and rapids of
or less velocity, which offer obstructions more
or less difficult to steamboat navigation. There
FORE as to the question how far these rivers may be
assembled by steamboats, at low water, and how far
at high that must be left for actual trial to decide
hope, therefore, the time is not distant when IN
American steamer will be sent to make complete
and thorough examination as to this point, and to
explore that rich and interesting region Of country
with view to its commercial resources, both pre-.
sent and prospective.
In the present state Of our inform alton, We can
judge as to the actual resources OF those several
streams for trade and traffic. by comparing those ~
to which we arc in tho dark with those which have
been recently explored. AS the type Of the whole
in this respect, therefore, take the Tocantins.
the mouth of the Tocantins il the rst but one that
you pass. II traverses moro parallels Of latitude
than our Mississippi does; but it is . straighter,
and, therefore, not SO long river 1t takes its rise
Trains those two provinces, with that of Para.
This river lies wholly within Brazilian territory,
and was explored down to Port Barre, by Castel-
nau, in lS43 IA. From him, therefore, derive my
1t drains gold and diamond country, and is an
exceedingly rich agricultural one. It's principal
tributary is the Araguay, which isa most noble
stream Speaking of parts OF the valley of the To-
leve that this rich and valuable country will be
found one of the most healthy in the world
The city Of Goyax, with population of seven or
eight thousand, and the capital of its province. is
sands. This river is about twenty steps wide OPP
posite the city, and vessels from Para up and
make fast to the bridge below The distance thence
in straight line to the mouth of the Amazon il
ulation Of the whole province, than two thirds
Of which is in the valley Of the Tosantins l25 000
Of which Is, 900 are slaves.
There is q number of aourishng towns and vii
lagos on the water shed Of this river Among these
is Salinas, which derives its name from its salt
works.
Near by the salt lake Of Salinas is the lake of
Pearls surrounded by beautiful vegetation, and
ing, says Castelnau, can give one "une idee de
Ia beante de cee JoLe piece dean." It's waters ar
fresh, and it abounds with shellsh which contain
the pearl.
ty Of rare and useful plants; among them one, the
fruit Of which is used to make ink, and it is m
oslent substitute for nut gals; another was kind
Of cane, the roots Of which makes yellow dye of
the forests, all the eolors with which they painted
the Brazilian flag that was hoisted during the des
cent of the Araguay, the prinspl tributary Of the
Tocsntins, and far more beautiful than tho belle RI
cere of the West. They for tanning the bark of
q tree, with which the raw hide is converted into
leather in month They have two varieties of
nanoc, Of great beauty, which require little no
labor in cultivation II is propagated by cuttings,
from every joint dozen stalks, and gives crop in
every eight months. The black bean, an essential
article Of food with the Brazilians, grows here in
great perfection; it yields four crops year. Two
kinds of beautiful palms grow wild in the woods,
which also furnish the natives with an abundant
supply of wholss ONE food.
There have been in this province rs many as one
hundred thousand slaves employed ut one time in
collecting gold alone.
But as rich in mines rs this province is, its soil,
with its productions, il much richer 1t is we'll
adapted to the cultivation of cotton and coffee,
sugar and tobacco, Of Indian corn, rye, wheat, and
oats OF rice indigo, pulse, and potatoes, manioc,
nuts, ipecacuanha sarsapArlla vanilla, anatto, bal
sam, India rubber, and n great variety OF gums,
spices, ornamental woods, roots, drugs, and dye.
SUITS
lhe margins OF the rivers aHOr1 IaElurlEe ana
support 10 numerous herds Of cattle and horses.
Their waters abound in fish. Castelar, saw dol
pbins sporting in them
Limestone and .altpetre caves, with salt lakes,
add beauties to the country, and variety to isre-
sources, al o iron mines abound
The mode of cultivation is rude and ruinous Tks
planters scratch the earth with pick, SOW, and at
the end Of few months, says Castelnau, reap ono
or two hundred fold more less, according to the
fertility of the soil, and the excellence Of tho
season.
The ordinary prices are: for coffee, 81 cents per
pound; seed cotton, cent per pound; white sugar,
cent?; tobacco, cents; beef cattle, 81 to $3 per
head; tanned hides, % cents piece; green do, 20
cents
Tbs experts consist of these, besides calf, kid,
otter, and ounce skins, with other products of the
field the forest, the river, aud the mine.
The imports are fabrics OF silk. wool. fax, and
cotton, hats salt, drugs, medicines, crockery wine,
brandes, farming implements &c.
The voyage up the river from Para OCCUPIES about
five months The upward freight ia four dollars the
one hundred pounds; the downward, one dollar
and the first steamer has yet to be seen upon this
majestic stream.
Here, then, is a river which enters the Amazon so
near the sea that the water at its mouth is salt,
and Brazil has not had the energy to put the FIRST
steamboat upon it, How then, is it possible for her
to travel three thousand miles up the mighty ANA
zon, and introduce the steamboat upon the waters
Of Peru, she has endeavored to persuade the gov
eminent Of Peru tba, she can!
The crew of one of those rude vessels that 60
polling up the Tocantins as far as Porto Imperial
consists OF from twenty to thirty men, They take
down, among other thing, hides, which at Goyaz
worth fifty cents, and at Para cell for dollar
and fifty cepts and SO Of other things
The banks Of this river said to be inhabited 10
parts by hostile Indians and this it is said,
is one Of the causes Of its rude navigation. But
the steamboat would certainly not have more to fear
than these unwieldly hulks of Brazil as they go
creeping along the coward shores.
There is a dozen other rivers emptying into the
Amazon that drain water sheds which are no doubt
rs rich and fertile as this
We are entitled to infer, not only by reference to
the Tacontins as type Of them, but by reference
to the quantity Of produce that goes to sea from the
Amazon that the valleys of its other tributaries are
not behind that of the Tacontins Produce epough
comes down the Amazon to Para to give that city
an annual trade of three millions of dollars
Bolivia sent last year. from her port of this great
water shed, two millions dollars worth Of Peruvian
bark alone. But that went over the mountains to
the Pacific. The steamboat would have brought it
down he Amazon to the Atlantic II would have
brought butiness to Para and added greatly to the
wealth of Brszi and the prosperity of her people.