Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-25


and humid climate covered almost through its whole
aud vast extent with dense forests which hsrbor nnu
merable tribes of wild animals and are thiny inhabited
by the natives who live by hunting and hshng But more
! Of this division and its productions by and by.
The great southern plain watered by the La Plata
and its tributaries descending from the eastern dec8vtes
of the Andes The greater portion Of this region is
pied by immense plains called pampas In some places
they barren and destitute of water but in they
covered with u1uriant growth OF weeds and tall
grass which support prodgous herds Of horses and cattle
and afford shelter to few animals of prey.
g. To the east and north of the La Plata and Parana
rivers is found the high country Of Brazil presenting al
ernae ridges and valleys hicky covered with wood
the side next to the Atlantic and opening into plaeaus of
broad table lands in the interior.
Of these FIVE divisions of the physical geography of
South America the northern coast Of Colombia stretching
along the Caribbean sea- is most acceptable to us in posi-
ton The valley of the Amazon is the next La point OF
resources and all the elements of rich and successful
commerce. the last named stands pre- eminent
Looking at the Amazon, il viii be found that 1t has
turned its mouth hundred and fifty one hundred
and eighty miles wide, Fright towards us, as Lieut.
Maury observes though it ready to pour Quits
abundance into commercial lap'the Caribbean Sea
and Gulf Of Mexico forming he says the magnificent
Mediterranean Sea Of America This river at the dis
lance of fifteen hundred miles from its mouth is found to
be thirty forty fahoms deep and by actual expera
ton ascertaned to be easily naygated to the cataracs
which forms in making its leaps from the terraces OF the
Andes On the south it receives the Araguay eighteen
hundred miles long penetrating to the very heart OF Bra
Ill and finding its sources in the mountains celebrated
for their gold and precious stones Then comes the Kin
ga twelve hundred miles in length and the Tapaos, OF
equal extent leading through fifteen degrees OF latitude
and by the difference OF altitude aordng climates adapt
ed productions of every kind from the luscious fruits
Of the tropics the arnaceous seeds of the temperate
that furnish to man the staff OF life Next to
these succeeds the Madeira giant IN It's ample pro-
portions pushing its head the eternal of the
Sorato and mani in Bolivia upwards OF 70 00o feet
high and LAYING with its pure waters the very base
of the frfamed hill of Potos After these seen the
Rin purn Inru he Iutu
Yucale besides many others less known to fame but any
of which is of dimensions ample enough to drain
kingdom of which many king Of historic note might be
proud All these rise up the decvites of the Andes,
and after permeatng the fertile wales of Bolivia and Peru
hasten pour their full tribute into the ample bosom
of the monarch Of streams the mighty Amazon On the
north rushes down from the icy SUBMITS of Chmborazo,
and the burning of Cotopax the Rio Napo; then
follow the Putumago the Japura and the Apapuris all
pouring their floods from the rich and teeming plateaus
Of Ecuador; and lastly, the Rio Negro dividing its wa
ters it would seem, between the Amazon and the Orno
co. though it would teach the lesson Of making
with his feowmen equal distribution of the blessings
Of Divine Providence. The basin drained by this vast
river with its tributaries embraces of
100000 square miles, ,497, 900 More
than third oft yet covered with prmeya forest
the sound Of the settlers has yet seldom broken
the silence of these deep sotudes have they been
often disturbed by the sharp report of the hardy hunters
rifle. But, sir, the waters congregate from the
snow-capped peaks of the Andes and offer to man. as
they have done for ages past the most glorious opporu
nifty of prong by the rich bouutes of nature spread
with lavish hand before him. the bosom of this mighty
river shall yet be ploughed by the magnificent steamer
freighted with the productions of land and laden
in return with the rich fruits of the Svas of the Mara
non with the precious imbedded in the noun
tains which skirt the nobest valley which the has
yet shone.
The natural products this region suitable for the pur
poses of trade abundant as avarice itself could
crave All the different varieties of wood usual in ropi
cal regions here to be met WITH from the bread fruit
to the milk or talow tree, supplying with conve
nient food, almost without labor. Here palms. ba-
nanas plantains yams, and potatoes the spontaneous
growth of the country. Pineapples grow wild in the
woods and travellers tell Of their being peed in their
lonely journeys by monkeys with oranges and
Here are produced the mahogany and logyood trees the
tamarnd hgnumylt9 and ebony, of much value in /
commerce. The quassia bitter and the tonga beam so
celebrated IN perfumng snuff, the rare and
valuable products in these regions while the lofty gran
deur OF the trees and the superb beauty Of the flowers
are unspeakably magnificent The medicinal plants are
numerous, rare and exceedingly valuable To mention
only two the famous clncona tree from which the Je
suits bark qunine, is obtained and manufactured
and the pecacuhana are here indigenous Among the
vegetable products adapted the soil and climate and
which have been less cultivated may mention
ed sugar, cotton coffee rice tobacco maize wheat
mandio, beans cassava root ginger oranges yams figs,
pomegranates and, in short, all the fruits and edible
vegetables in in the United States and 10 Europe here
attain according to the reports Of travellers their highest
perfection If sir half that is told be true, il is
than enough TO stimulate the enterprise and excite the
p:dity Of the universal Yankee nation"
If turn from the vegetable to the animal productions
Of this vast and eenng region there appears to be not
less cause for wonder and admiration, and
help wishing that its mi ht be developed in
der to add to knowledge Of natural history Among
the rapacious animals the tger-cat hyena
guar, sarau, very ferocious, and the also the
and the specialized bear The Wild hog and the tapr
common; the llama, the chincla with its admired
and beautiful fur and many species of the monkey tribe
The variety of birds and the richness of their nage
is amazing More than FIVE hundred species have been
discovered and yet the field Of observation has not yet
been fully explored its riches exhausted The insects
are equally numerous and Of the butterflies and
beetles are Of unryalled beauty and spendor The guam
uy Of FISH found in the Amazon and its tributaries are
according to report almost Incredible
Travellers tell looking down from the sleeps Of the
Andes eastwardy, there is spread out before the eye
scene Of magnificent grandeur and beauty stretching
away far beyond the reach Of the eve such where
else in world That the valley of the Amazon
Many Of the deep recesses q It's aged and tangled forests
have never been rOdden by the footsteps Of civilized
The Saxon has heard Of that goody land and al
ready the desire has been formed and the initiative 60
and possess it we wish to take this day
The question is, can We do it, Is the possession worth
the labor? Is the proposition a lawful one?
do not propose TO enter into the discussion Of these
topics My object has been to lay before this body some
statements which hope may lead to inquiry and ava
kened interest in this, il TO me and will add
appears to wiser men than myself important
subject
II will be remembered that the object at which these
resolutions aim is not to acquire territory. 1t is not
proposed to obtain settlement in the valley Of the ANA
zon either by treaty conquest. The report Of its
great fertility and Of its abundant and varied produc
TONS has not inspired the desire TO lead armies thther to
possess its rchesas Alexander Of Macedon was prompt
Ell TO subdue Persia and India; Aarc to rush upon Italy
Tamerane TO desoate the finest provinces Of the East