The daily union., 1852-11-30
The Amazon and the Atlantic slopes OF south
Amorica-NO o.

The Amazon and the Atlantic slopes OF south
Amcrica.-No o.
The Amazon enters the Atlantic through delta. The
principal tributaries from the south which fall into this
river are. commencing at its mouth and going up. the
Tocantas, the Chingu. the Tapaios. the Madeira the
Purus the Tape. the Hyuuba the Hinay. the Tayary
the Ucayal, and the Huallaga-none OF them smaller
than the Ohio. and some larger than the Missouri
From the north come the Rio Negro and the Japura.
uwo mighty sireams.) the Pntomayo. the Napo. the Ii
gre Yacu. and the Pastaza.
have spoken OF the present commercial resources of
the Madeira and the Huallaga from information derived
from Lieutenanis Herndon and Gibbon. United States
navy, and from M. Caselnaa. As TO the present cond
on OF the trade and OF these other rivers
cept the Tocanns left very much in the dark
TO conjecture.
All Of them, we know have falls and rapids of more
less velocity, which offer distractions or less diff
fcul steamboat navigation. Therefore, to the ques
on Of how far these rivers may be ascended by steam
boats 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 American will be sent TO
make a 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
present and prospective.
In the present state OF information. can Judge
to the actual OF those several for
trade and traffic by comparing those TO which
in the dark with those which have been recently ex.
pored AS the type of the whole in this respect there
fore, take the Tocantns.
As you enter the southern mouth Of the Amazon, the
mouth OF the Tocanns is the first but that you pass
1t raverses parallels of latitude than Misss-
sppi does. But tis siraghter and therefore not SO
long river Il takes it's rise in the provinces OF Mao
Crosse and GoyaZ, and drains these provinces with
that OF Para This river lies wholly within Brazilian
territory and explored down TO port Barra by Cas-.
telnau in 1894 From him, therefore, l derive my
special information with regard to it,
drains gold and diamond country and an exceed
ingy rich agricultural Its principal tributary is the
Araguay, which is most noble stream. Speaking of
parts OF the valley of the Tocantns, in which he was
Casienau says, believe that this rich and valuable
country will be found OF the most healthy in the
world"
The city Of Goyaz, with population OF seven or eight
thousand and the capital of it's province is situated on the
Vermlho, celebrated for its golden sands This river is
about twenty steps wide opposite the city, and vessels
from Para come up and make fast to the bridge below
The distance thence in straight line the mouth OF the
Amazon is rather under Than over thousand miles
The population OF the whole province. more than two.
thirds OF which is in the valley OF the Tocanlins is
l25,ooO. of which 25 900 are slaves.
There isa number Of fourshng towns and villages on
the watershed of this river Among these is Salinas
which derives its from its salt works.
Near BY the salt lake of Salinas is The Lake OF Pearls
surrounded by beautiful vegetation. and numerousy in
habited by aquatic birds. Nothing, says Caselnau,
give one une fe de Ia bssutf de eene jolie piece
deau" Its waters fresh, and il abounds with she'll
fish which contains the pearl
II was here that the poyagews found such variety OF
rare and useful plants among them one the fruit of
which is used to make ink, and il is an excellent substi
tute Tor nut-gais; another kind of cane the roots
OF which make yellow die OF the most exquisite hue
They obtained, wild from the forests all the colors with
which they painted the Brazilian flag that hoisled
during the descent OF The Araguay the principal tributary
OF the Iocantlns, and far beautiful that the 6sAe
ripre oil The West They for tanning the bark OF a
tree with which The hide is converted into leather
in month. They have two varieties OF manioc of grea,
beauty which require little labor in cultivation
10 propagaed BY cuttings slips so also is the sugar
cane which sends from every joint dozen stalks and
gives crop in every eight months The black beam an
essential article OF food with the Braxans grows here
in great perfection yields four crops year. Two kinds
OF beautiful palms grow wild in the woods which also
furnish The natives with abundant supply of whole
some food.
There have been in this province many as one hun.
dred thousand slaves employed one time in collecting
gold alone.
But as rich in mines this province s, its soil with
IFS productions is much richer. Ii is well adapted 10 the
cultivation of cotton and coffee, sugar and tobacco OF
Indian corn rye. wheat, and oats, of rice indigo pulse
and poaioes manioc, nuts, ipecacuanha, sarsaparia
vanilla. anatio balsam, India rubber and great variety
OF gums, spices, ornamental woods, roofs drugs and
dye stufs
The margins OF the rivers afford pastuage and support
TO numerous herds Of cattle and horses. Their waters
abound in fish Casielnau dophins sporting ia them
Limestone and saltpelre caves, with salt lakes, add
beauties TO the country and variety 10 ts resources also
iron mines abound.
The mode OF cultivation is rude and ruinous. The
planters scratch the earth with pick SOW and at the
end OF few months. says Casienal, reap or two
hundred fold. less, according the fertility OF
the soil and the excellence of the season.
The ordinary prices for coffee % cents the pound
seed cotton cent the pound; white sugar, cents;
bacco, cents; beef cattle, 81 to 50 the head tanned
hides, 65 cents apiece; green ditto. 40 cents.
The exports consist OF these. besides calf kid otter
and ounce skins with other products OF the field the for
est. the river, and the mine.
The imports 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 abut FIVE
months. The upward freight is -four dollars the one hun
dred pounds; the downward, dollar-aud the first
steamer has yet to be upon this majestic stream
Here, then, river which enters the Amazon 90 near
the that the water a, its mouth is salt and Brazil
has not had the energy TO put the first steamboat upon IT,
How, then, possible for her 10 travel three thousand
miles up the mighty Amazon, and introduce the steam
boat upon the waters OF Peru she has endeavored
persuade the governmsn, OF Peru that she can
The Of OF those rude vessels that 20 polling IN
the Tocantns far Porto Imperial consists OF IRON
twenty TO thirty They take down, among other
hirh 6t,,.