The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-03
ffftfI prom The Richmond Examiner, July ~.
The valley OF the Amazon.

Tn, speeulation and interest which have been excited
in regard 10 this extensive have burst upon The
public mind almost like the revelation Of world
an a world new 10 human industry and enterprise
does indeed invite the merchant and the coonst ana
offers both the boundless treasures OF tropical exuber
Up 10 this time the thick clouds OF ignorance ana
indifference have yelled this vast and luxuriani county
from nearly all eyes Occasionally, II IS true, an aaseh
iurous traveller penetrated the dense and tangled forests
uaversed by the main current OF The mighty stream aud
sslonsbed the creduous aud the nereduons by me tales
OF wonder which he brought home with him on his re-
turn. But the great valley itself remained unpeoped
unused, and almost unknown from the time OF its
early exploration by Oreana, and The fabulous an
nouncemen that il was inhabited by race Of Amszons
Some rare beasts, few huge serpents and several bril-
liant ochidaceous plants constituted with the caouehouc
from the Serngas OF Para, nearly the only representa-
tvcs BY which It's productions were made known 10 the
civilized world. At length various concden Influences,
happily coneurIlng IN ae and effect are gradually at
capabilities OF the country. The visit OF an American
citizen to Para and the lower waters OF the Amazon diff
fused few years ago slight and agreeable acquaint
ance with some OF the OF the tract along
his hurried rou,e and the zeal and ingenious researches
Of Lieut. Maury have more recently concentrated regard
the eminent advantages 10 be anticipated by American
commerce from opening the Amazon TO the influx of
colonists and the trade Of the world. From the explo
rations of Lieut. Giss may hope for accurate, au
thenc, and extensive information IN respect TO the re-
and pecuarites The great equatorial paadse
and thus our knowledge OF the interior OF Brazil may no
rare works the travels OF Castenau and the expora
tons OF Won Spix and Marlius
Fortunately at this time, while attention is drawn to
icy lately nauguraed by some Of the Pacific republics
affords the hope OF and invites enterprise towards
the sources OF the great river neuiralzng IN some slight
degree, the torpid and exclusive satesmanshp OF the
Brazilian empire The reports OF untold and still unsunned
treasures Of gold, which strengthened by the conior
nation of the country, and by the known abundance OF
precious metals in the neighhong provinces, will smu
late adventure and may be- at no distant day. the means
OF breaking down the jealous barriers nteposed by Bra
I'll TO any extensive navigation OF the Amazon any
efectual settlement Of the immense and rich valley. AT
the time. we have noted with interest the dubious
statement OF the prospective occupation of the Galapagos
islands by Mormon colonists. who may form the adj
vanced guard aud earlier ouposts OF American cyilza-
ton in its onward movement towards the southern CONT
nent
4 We leave to the more competent hands of Lieutenant
Maury the development of the mercantile temptations of
Amaxonia and TO Lieutenant Gilliss the exact de
termination OF its other characteristics. and only invite
the curious and diigen regards of business men,
rowing citizens and curious nqurers. TO the field OF adj
venture and wealth which expands itself promsinsly
to their consideration We leave TO The learned and
travelled leisure OF the same gentlemen the detailed
communication OF the varied productions the natural re-
and the physical , features s Of this home OF per
cuarities OF the country which are known TO us by
early and long continued study OF the region The ex,
the immense valley fall within the appropriate province
OF Lieut. Maury, and confne ourselves to brief
tice of those points which may address themselves d.
recty to popular apprehension and thus elicit further In
terest and inquiry
The main OF the Amazon is from west to east,
running very nearly under the equator but its upper wa
erly direction. rom the great falls 10 the mouth. dis
lance Of 1000 miles. il is uninterrupted by either caia
Of hs BY BY o
eonnexion is made with the Ornoco and the Caribbean
which is available Tor large boats in the rainy
spn, at which time communication could probably be
.-c I'd with the Msgdaena and the Gulf OF Maracabo
thus besdes the internal communication. two outlets
are afforded TO the north and the northwest. On the
east the mouths OF the river open 10 the great ocean,
though the main chanRel OF the Amazon frequeniy
rendered perous by the rush of the tremendous tides
The of the Ucaya inlerock with those Of the
Paraguay. the Pcomsyo. and The feeders OF the Rio de
Ia Plata. and furnish escape TO the south; while
they are at great distance from the streams that de,
scend into the Pacific on the west; though separated
from them by the intervening cham Of the Andes, where
it 10 broken BY its hghest peaks II the country were
settled BY an industrious and enerprising people, would
not be difficult to open a regular and direct line Of com
municaton between the Atlantic and Pacific Shores and
between the Gulf OF Mexico and the Bay of La Plata,
while all parts OF the interior would be rendered access
Bile by the navgable suen's Of the Amazon.
In country watered by the longest and largest river
in the world. there is necessarily diversity OF climate,
SOIL and production; but the valley OF the Amazon, ~
ing mainly in the INTERIOR and the river running during
the principal part of its nearly under the equator
and falling with very slow and almost impercep,ble
descent for the last fifteen hundred miles OF It's
the diversity is much ess than could be under any other
circumstances. The upper part of the Amazon with the
exception of some desert tracts would probably be found
admirably adapted for grazing purposes uniting the requ
sites OF n-growing embarrassing, and vine
planting country with the mIldness OF tropical CLINE
!: difficult 10 cay what desire would be left ungra,hed
by the country below the great falls No winter there
chihs with its ross, summer scorches with It's burn
ing heat the thermometer huctuates but slightly above
below the average OF so degrees, and Nature contn
ually smiles in the fragrance, the freshness and the
splendor OF tropical spring and pours forth the choicest
productions OF earth with profusion unexanped else
where The orange the shaddock The lemon, the pine
appe the banans the cocoanu the cacao The cage, the
root the cimeioo, the sapadillo the nanioc the
Mango the guava the panain, the bread fruit the straw
berry ree the nut the cashev freely offer their
produce and many Of them during all the changes OF the
year Commerce invited by the sernga, India rubber
tree, coffee sugar. cotton, and the silk cotton tree bombsx
ceiba) sarparilla and many other valuable products or
medicinal herbs, and by endless variety Of the mos,
available timber for ship building cabinet work, fre
queniy surprising both rosewood and mahogany in
beauty and possessing durability, in the OF the
green heart with which the locust is unable TO
compete.
We have said enough, sole object at present is
confirm the interest already excited, and 10 stimulate
further inquiry IT, however such treasures are known
10 exist in that part OF The world while yet the region
itself remains terra nfogns TO u.s. how much might we
reasonably anticipate from u when lis resources be-
came fully known and disclosed by intelligent occupa
ton We need only add that the native wealth OF the
country could furnish independent OF cultivation, annual
exports 10 the amount Of millions that there 10 every
probability OF California being discovered along
al il upper waters rich gold and precious stones and
that The only obstacle which long keep back the civ
zston and commerce OF the world will be tho jealousy,
the narrow policy, the stupidity OF the imperial gov
eminent OF Brazil country larger than the inhabited
portion OF the United Staes fertile than the Mis-
aissrp bottoms, and blessed with climate surpassed
only by favored spots in Chilli Bolivia, and Peru, cannot