Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-31


structions from the Navy Department, and to place
them at its disposal.
have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
wA., LEWIS HERNDoN,
Lieutenant United States Nary.
Hon. WILL. A. GRAHAM, Secretary Of he Nary.
Silver ores from the mines of Parac These mines
situated down the western slope of the Cordlera,
about three days journey from Lima. They partly
the property of an American and from their proximity
market facility Of obtaining supplies and the yield
of the ore Judge them be least valuable any
mines in Peru.
Silver and copper ores from the mines of Morococha,
situated small lakes the summit of the pass
Of the Andes between Lima and Tarma Before, and at
the time of my visit the copper mines principally
worked but think it had not been profitable business,
and the turning their attention to the silver
the which very rich There is also specimen
of the coal, which is good and abundant.
Silver and coal from the mines of Cerro Pasco:
This is the largest and richest mineral district of Peru,
yielding nearly of the whole product of the
try. It's basin surrounded by high hills situated be-
tween the east and west ranges Of the Andes The hills
around look like rabbit warrens; the town itself is
trey undermined and large cracks the surface give
warning of terrible future disasters The rich which
lie the surface nearly exhausted but great
hopes entertained from the results of plan Of free
ing the mines from by of steam machinery
lately erected by Engishman and which had Just
Eenced operations The great mass Of the ores OF Cerro
Pasco however, of small yield and cannot be worked
20 much profit of the high price of quicksil
YER During the time of my visit there were great
ocngs newspaper account of the discovery of rich
quicksilver mines in California, which would reduce the
price Of that article one-ha and at make profitable
the working up of millions of the now neglected common
White chuno One of the various preparations of the
potato used food in the Andes The potato is soaked
in spring for fifteen twenty days, the moisture is
then pressed out and it is frozen There is abundance
Of land in the valleys of the Andes for yearly supply Of
the finest potatoes have and several varieties
of them but probably, account of the mines there
hands enough to cultivate them and thus the
people reduced deysng of preserving them,
which principally by drying and freezing 1t requires
education of the palate to these preparations,
for they generally fetid
Nashua and maca varieties Of the potato The latter
when boiled has somewhat the taste of turnp. These
specimens decayed
There are also in the Andes other varieties of the po
tato called and ullucas The is very pleasant
vegetable the ulucs glunous and not pleasant
20 the taste.
Leaf of plant used as a sudorifc, Andes.
Herb used purge, Andes: was told that the ope
ration of this medicine controlled by water that ii
would continue its effect till glass of water taken,
when it would cease its operation Immediately.
Quinua: Seed Of plant which is boiled and eaten rs
rice, very pleasant and wholesome.
Rhatany root, Tarma.
Coca leaves: The coca is a bush cultivated principally
in the valleys which descend from the eastern slope Of
the Andes The dried leaves, mixed with little lime,
chewed by all the aborers of Peru Its effects
somewhat similar to those of tobacco 1t is said that
lborer using this will work several days without food
Its is and general that the Indians will
frequently designate time and space by IT. and when ask
ed hw far it is from place to another viii reply that
Il o mauy cocendas." chews of
Coca seed
Coca leaves toasted pulverized and mixed with little
lime and farnha US il is used in Brazil.
Burr containing seed of the achote or urucd of which
annato Il made The bush, which resembles the chin
quepn buh of Virginia is more plentiful IN Peru than in
Brazil but it is only used by the whites 70 color soups
and stews and by the Indians to stain their earthenWare
and paint their bodies
Potato Of Tocache River Huaaga.
Tobacco Of the Huaaga The best is cultivated in the
province Of Jaen de Bracamoros on the upper arahon
quality as smoked but fear that worms have bred
in it destroyed it. Though put up IN masses and
wrapped closely with soga or small creeping vine
the woods till il hard log of wood, it does not
seem keep WE'LL but either gets worms in II or dries up
This is probably ewing to ignorance in curing It,
Specimens Of from various parts Of the valley Of
the Amazon: This cotton grows trees about the size
Of small apple or peach trees, which will give fruit in
eight months after planting and for two years after when
dries mp There is always cotton the tree but IT IS
net good in the rainy Though almost entirely
uncuyated AMI uncared for the cotton is Of very good
quality There also specimens Of the Nankincoored
cotton Of the country.
Specimens Of the grass fbres Of palm leaf Of which
the fine Gusyaqui straw hats made These hats
the principal articles Of manufacture and export % me
large town Of Moybamba the capital Of the proSnce q
Mainas The Brazikans the Amazsn ana Luna, WIN
most Of the ports o. the Pacific, supplied from TINS
country. I,
are generally gde ofthis 80
snecmen ogfnnera salt: There hills Of this salt
almost worth, the Of mountains in several places
the banks ohe Huaaga Their appearance is very sinA
GUAR tb/ heavy rains wash away the loose earth and
leave tn salt standing in Of different heights,
To resemble pictures have Of the bottom Of yoca
noes The Of salt Of mixed mot mingled or
beded red snd white color The Indians Of the Ucaya
and Maranor, far down the confines of Peru make
annual wage TO these places for their supply Of salt
and ryenturer have taken mp the Napo Quito
and madea profitable voyage. surprised that it is
not Hoatd down the Amazon the Brazilian settlements
where soorers are fed almost exclusively salt FISH,
and Were St. Ubes salt sells for from one to dollars
the 100 lbs.
Ioaiyo root The indigo grows Wild over all this couu-
Try The vasherWonen the leaves az We use the ure-
pared cake. II Is not manufactured here
Root OF guaco This delicate vine growing All over
the woods; stepped in spirits is used as remedy for
the bite Of a snake.
:, a9St Of sarnahgo forest tree detection Of the bark
is very common among the Indians. -
Root Of barbasco, bush: Mashed pulp and thrown
into the water it kills all the fish within considerable
10 poison the water and kills in that way unlike the
cochlicus indicus which is taken by the fish, and only
stuns and Supplies for few minutes.
Frut Of the hutoc: This Is round fruit the size Of
large peach, the juice Of which stains dark blue Tn,
Indians paint their bodies in ncifu devices with