Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-27


diamonds OF very fine water had besp found In the
brooks about Santo-Corazo
30 anxious is Bolivia for the introduction of the steam
boat upon her rivers that she has offered for it, in fee
simple, twenty thousand square miles Of her richest
| lands
To add to the interest the resources the charms and
wealth of this country there the hot springs Of
iuia with their wonderful properties. The ruins of Sa
maipata and Tiahuanaco, which, with their symbols and
their herogyphic records tell Of people anterior the
meas, and in the opinion of Castenau as superior to
them In civilization as the conquerors were.
The forests Of the Madeira valley the passage through
which, Notwithstanding all that he had seen on his way
from Rio through Brazil this point excited to rapures
the imagination Of this observant traveller The land
scape, says he was the most beautiful and the vege-
tauon which, changing every instant constantly
presented new objects to u.s.
The beautiful valleys of the Cordieras which produce
the coca plant to him objects great interest
This vegetable, sayshe, has properties so marvellous
that 1t enables the Indians without any other nourshment
the WHILE to perform forced marches five or six days"
Il is stimulant and by chewing it alone the Indians
will perform journeys Of three hundred miles without ap-
pearing in the least fatgued.#
In the province Of Chchos are MANY mines of silver and
vast herds Of cattle.
In the province of Lipaz, where the climate is cold
and the agricultural staple barley amas, vicunas al
pacas with deer and the beautiful chinchlas abound
Here Kind OF copperas called 'piedra paz is found
also amethyst and other precious stones and here
is a great plain eighteen by hundred and twenty
miles, covered with salt almost fit for table USE
The Paray, tributary of the Amazon through the
Madeira, is navgable to Cuatro Oos, which is thirty
only from Santa Cruz the capital the Republic
But Lpaz is far to the south 1t is of the Amazonan
that wish to speak Though the tribu-
tares Of he great branches of the Amazon and the La
Plata of the Madeira, the Topaos and the Paraguay SO
nterlap among themselves that it is difficult to find
the divide between the Madeira and the Paraguay as
it is to find itbetween the Madeira and the Topaos.
In 1772 Louis Pinto de Souza caused vessel of con-
siderable size to- be transported from the Of
the Madeira to th0se of the La Plata that he might thus
set the example OF inland navigation The portage
between the navigabe waters of the two was only two
miles and half.
1t is among the upper tributaries of the Madeira that
tradition of the country places the lost mines of Urucu
maguan with riches equal in value the fabulous wealth
Of the gded city of Manoa.f
On the banks of this stream are now found placers
which, using only gourds and calabashes for washers
viii give the miner his two three dollars per day.
Lakes, too found upon its tributaries which Weld
the most abundant supplies of salt The rivers abound
IN hsh, and the woods with game.
Lieut. Gibbon to Bolivia to explore the valley of
the Madeira, and he is his way down that river
The Bovians hailed him benefactor, and afforded
him every facility in their power.
While he in Cochabamba the attention of that Gov
eminent called to the subject of establishing on the
navgabe waters Of the Madeira ports entry foreign
commerce, and of contracting with company to put
steamers on her watercourses The President of the
Republic received the proposition in the most gracious
manner.
Hence the valley of the Madeira becomes an object of
special interest at this tme and may therefore be par
doned for lingering in it so long.
Much of that country is unknown and the stories that
told Of its riches and its productions so dazzling
that we of severe climate, accustomed as we are to
stngy SOIL from which its fruits have to be wrung by
long and patient labor, disposed to receive eyewt
nesses accounts of them with degree of allowance
at least.
SO far have made my statements with regard this
subject partly upon the authority of intelligent citizens
Of that and the neighboring country with whom have
conversed in Peru and partly upon the authority of NJ
Castelnau, of standing and of eruditon who was
sent out by the French Government especially to examine
that country, and with whom therefore, over-coloring
would be crime and, finally upon the authority of
officers whom also the Government of the United States
has sent there for the same purpose.
As being all Of piece with the reports which these
Lima last summer and which was before the publication
of Castelnaus travels Speaking of Bolivia and her en-
lghtened President, that friend says
Since last wrote to you have made the acquaint-
ance of Don -, native of Chill, and whom Gibbon
at Chochabamba, in Bolivia. This Don is undoubt
edly clever He says he has to Lima to make
some arrangement concerning the monopoly of Peruvian
bark. = However that may be, he pretends that
Bezu, the President Of Bolivia is favorably disposed
towards u.s. and would grant privileges to steam nav
CATION company, were application made to him in due
form. As know Of other individual in Bolivia with
whom can communicate the subject Of Amazonian
navigation did not hesitate to make Of him. for in
my opinion there is time to be lost, If the United
States intend to the interior trade Of South Amer
lea for its citizens.
"Don - declares that the Marnori is navipable for
steamers from point Cochabamba its confluence
with the Guapari Itenez and onward to the juno
ton Of the latter with the Ben forming together the Rio
Madeira that the Cachulas falls of the Madeira are
neither impossible formidable and may be easily as
cended by steamers there is plenty water and no
rocks To prove this he asserts that Brazilian schooner
assembled the Marmor 70 Trinidad and fred salute at
that place about two years ago. After passing the falls
the river is Of navgable to the Amazon Admit
ting this statement to be true and an inclined to be-
eve it. the Brazlians constantly ascend the Itenez
Matte Grasso there open navigation from Para with
in few leagues of Cochabamba at least 600 miles, and
this is not incredible when consider the length
the navigation the Missouri river The accessibility
OF the Bolivian rivers will however, be ascertaned with
greater certainty after Gbbon has passed through the
Cacheuos Of the Madeira it is to be hoped that he
will sound and otherwise minutely examine the different
rapids Of TINT river and the which
in the chart made by Paacos copy Of which sent
you by Mr.. 0Brien for Herndon.