Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-31
NEW BOOK.

~.
LEWIS HERNDoS U. Navy, with Map and Plates Pub
lished by TAYLOR MAURY Washington, 1854
In the month Of August, 1850, It. HHRNDos, of the
United States navy, detached from the ship Van
daa, then lying at anchor in the picturesque harbor of
Valparaiso, and subsequently received orders from the
Navy Department at Washington to proceed forthwith to
Lima and Bolivia for the purpose of collecting from the
monasteries and other authentic Sources such informa
ton as might be accessible touching the head Of
the Amazon and its Bolivian tributaries.
On the 18th of April 1851 the Lieutenant received at
Lima directions from the Secretary of the Navy to
'he cordileras and to explore the Amazon from its
sources to its mouth and also to associate with him in
the expedition Passed Mdshipman LARDSER GIBBos of
the United States navy.
The documents transmitted by the Department con-
eu detailed instructions, very copious and very minute
with regard 10 the general objects of the exploration
leaving the route however altogether to the discretion
of the adventurous pioneers.
1t Herndon having obtained all the accessible infor
nation left by the Jesuit missionaries relative to the sub
ect OF his Instructions and having also CLEANED much of
useful accessory notices from other sources resolved ON
mature consideration to divide his party directing Mr.
Gbbon to proceed to Cuzc and thence reach the large
and navgable river Madre de Dios, the foot of the
Andes but, should that route prove mpracticable to
advance south Puno the banks Of the Lake caca
Z
rivers Mamore and Madeira reach the Amazon and at
certain point that river await his arrival This step
appeared most conducive to the aim of the expedition,
and met the entire of Mr. Gibbon It. Hern
don reservng to himself the survey of the countries
drained by the Upper Narration and its tributaries
Having succeeded in obtaining mules guides arms and
all the piaca necessary for scaling the Andes together
with official passports from Washington our two gallant
explorers set out in company from Tarma Wednesday
10th May 1851, on which day commences this diary.
The narrative of objects and Incidents in their pre-
gress these Apke steps, is intensely interesting
The magnificent scenery of the Cordilleras the bold
grandeur of Nature from the soaring condor to the snow
crowned peaks and endless forests teemng with uxurant
vegetation and marvellous forms of brute life the gori-
Gus nghtsky, dome Of steel Lit up by stars revealing
to the naked eye the very satellites of Jupiter.
On the ls of July It, Herndon and Gibbon having di-
vided between them the equpage instruments and
milton, separated amicaby Chanchamayo the one to
explore the Bolivian tributaries she other the head wa
of the main trunk of the Amazon After perious
descent of 325 miles from lingo Maria the head of canoe
navigation through prmeyal forests wilds and rapids
It. Herndon arrived at the mouth of the Chasuta and
boldly launched out the wild waters of the mighty
Amazon. We quote the gallant narrators vivid sensa-
tons entering the of this majestic volume:
The march of the great river its silent grandeur was
sublime but in the untamed might of its turbd waters
as they cut away its banks tore down the gigantic dea
zens OF the forest, and built up islands, it awful 1t
rolled through the wilderness with stately and solemn
air Its waters looked angry sullen and relentless and
the whole scene awakened emotions of and dread
such caused by the funeral soemnites the minute
gum the howl of the wind and the angry tossing of the
waves, when alhands called to bury the dead in
troubled sea-" And he thus descants on the natural
riches Of these regions The mind is confused by the
great images presented to its contemplation We have
nfo its
great streams inosculae whose shores produce may
be made 10 produce all that the earth gives for the main
tenance of more people than the earth holds. We
have also here fuvia navigation for large vessels by
the Amazon and its great tributaries of about six
thousand miles, which does include the nnumerable
small streams that empty into the Amazon, and which
would probably swell the amount to ten thousand;
neither does it include the Orinoco with its tributaries
on the one hand, the La Plata with its tributaree,
on the other Let us suppose the banks of these
streams settled by active and industrious population
DESTROYS to exchange the rich products Of their lands
for the commodities and uxuries Of foreign countries
let US suppose introduced into such country the rail-
road and the steamboat the plough, the axe and the
hoe let suppose the land divided into large estates
and cultivated produce all they capable of
producing shall have difficulty in coming to the
conclusion that territory the face of the globe is
SO favoraby situated, and that if trade there is
awakened, the power, the wealth, and grandeur of
ancient Babylon and modern London must weld to that
OF the depots of this trade that shall be established
the mouths of the 0rnoco, the Amazon, and the La
Plata"
There is scarcely any attempt at the regular cult
vation Of the earth in all the Province of Amazonas
but the natural productions of its soil most varied
and valuable In the forest twenty three varieties of
palms, of trees fitted for nautical construction there are
twenty-five kinds for the construction of houses and
boats thirty three for cabinet work. twelve There are
twelve kinds of trees that exude milk from their bark
of which possesses extraordinary virtues in the
Of mercuria diseases OF medicinal plants the name ia
egon The banks of the rivers and inland lakes abound
with wild rice, the food of vast number Of water fowl
md which is said be edible Wild cotton and tobacco
ire also found thriving spontaneously We shall abstain
rom quoting the encomiums of Count CAsTELSAU and
HUMBOLDT the extraordinary fertility and various pro-
lucts of those regions The book presents the latest and
most reliable chorography and is interpreted with valu
able political and commercial statistics and embellished
With illustrations. O.
On the 26th July, 1852 Lieut. Gibbon was at Trinidad
lie Moxos, on the MamorG, in the Republic Of Bolivia,
making preparations for the descent of the Madeira His
epor will form supplement this narrative of the ex-
petition.
WHAT RAILROADS Do.-On Thursday last the estate of
James Hsrmer deceased in Cheltenham township Mont
yomery county, sold by Ephraim Fenton, trustee.
These farms situated the North Pennsylvania rail-
Dad, ten miles north Of the city. The homestead Of for
ythree acres brought 1921 per The property adj
DINING, OF fory-sx acres, brought S23750 per acre.
The other farm, of eghytwo acres, with but tolerable
$3.50 Ii is believed that four