Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-30
p pROGREss.oF COMMERCE.

before IS the undoubted benefactor of his county.
In like manner, bal infinitely greater extent Is
ne the ~ benefacter of his country" who opens 70
the commercial enterprise of its citizens ne" Guam
nes of trade and fresh regions of teeming 'houg" u
developed wealth.
TIE readers of this journal know something OF 'ne
and varied resources of that poIuoh vi Noou'"
America which is waiered by the LA Ftata ana is
tributary streams for they have oeen unIoioed ana
described in columns in series OF papers from
the pen of a distinguished gentleman OF tnis Guy, ="
whom the commerce of this country is under lasting
OBLIGATIONS not only for the fresh fields of adventure
70 which he has invited il, but for the facilities and
safeouards with which he has armed it against the
difficulties and periIs of navigation. The labors Of
Lieut.. Mary havein nosenterPrise been more vau-
able and than in the endeavor TO bring to
the notice of the commercial men OF the country the
treasures of wealth hch lie scattered on the noun
tain sides, in the streams, and in the rich valleys OF
the g river basins 'f of South America In compu-
ing the value and the variety Of the productions OF
the country, in estimating its dormant resources ne
almost exceeds belief. His descriptions read like
fabulous story of fairy land and we almost IAN
cY ourselves under the spell OF enchantment as we
wander with him beside estic rlvers-oVer fertile
valleys teeming with the varied and luxnrant pro-
auctions of the lropics-throngh forest soudes vo-
cal with the songs of birds Of the gayest Plumage
rich in dyewoods of exquisite tints and in herOs oil
medicinal virtue, and fragrant with the perfume oil
every fower-across mountains on whose surface
sparkle the choicest diamonds, and in whose bosom
lie exhaustess mines of the precious meals-as with
etabe cow, and drink the juice of the paO de borrd-
cho, or drunken tree-or traverse immense pampas,
grazed by countless herds of cattle and horses,
and fields g in which sugar-cane, cotton, tobacco'
rice, Indian corn, mandIoca, and a thousand other
productions vegetate in profuson in short, as we
contemplate Nature in the abode of lis almost wealth,
beauty, and magnfcence. All this is sober reality
and constrained to credit the marvellous story
by the teslilrany Of truthful travellers AMI The evil
dence of ndispu table facts. Speaking of Bolivia,
Lieutenant Many says:
..The climate of Bolivia is one of the fines. trop-
cal climates in the world Indeed, its climates and
productions may be considered 10 include tHose OF all
the habitable portions of the globe.
Here, one seated at the foot of a mountain, and
surrounded with the luscious fruits of the tropics.
may, casting his eye up towards the snow-capped
peak above him, take in at view the whole range
of the vegetable gamut Beginning with the chir-
moya, the pine apple, the orange, and the VANILLA as
they their fragrance around, he passes through
he ascends, groves of the olive and the vine, the
peach and the pear, until finally, having completed
the vegetable notation in the order OF production
through tire Torrid and Temperate zones, he reaches
the Frigid, and with its cap of snow he finds the
summit crowned with the MOSES and the lichens Of
the Polar regions. -
Mr.. Hopkins, United States consul in Paraguay,
talks in a not less enthusiastic strain:
I'VE have found the forest spontaneously prOdu-
cling every thing necessary for the comfort and lux
ury of mankind, from the beautiful cotton tree that
affords him clothing to the coors which suit his fancy
as dye; and from the woods that furnish his ship
and house, ornament his escrOrie, to the herb that
cures his sickness, the incense thai delights his
olfactories. tits only necessary to add that the eli
is favorable to all the useful grains and table
vegetables, with delicious fruits support the frame
and crafty the paate.'
Castelnau French sarunf, sent out by Louis
Philippe in l943 to explore the interior of the
try, reports that
THE productions of the country are in great va
riety. Sugar-cane, which is gathered eight months
after planting, is the staple of the province of Ger
rado. Coffee, successfully cultivated in this pro-
vince as we'll as in that of Chiquitos, Yields fruits
in two years after being planted, requiring but the
slightest The cacao recently introduced into
these two provinces, bears in three four years
most The tamaIind, which succeeds in the same
localities but especially in the country of Chquitos
requires five years.
Cotton yields annual crops; there are two species
the white and the yellow.
Tobacco grows, so TO speak, without cultivation in
the Province of Valle-Grande, in which il is the
are three cultivated species, and wild, is equally
abundant Maize ripens in three months, without
regard to season. 1t is cultivated particularly
in the province of CercaGo.
The cassada produces in eight months after plant
ing. There are two species OF 1.-THE sweet, the
other bitter; the former is substitute for the potato,
and even for bread itseE-the latter serves only to
make starch. There are many varieties or species CT
bananas, which produce year after planting. They
are cultivated especially in the province Of Cercado
Two species of rice, white and red, cultivated,
both in the province of Cercado and Chiquitos
yielding crops every FIVE six months. Ii is said
10 grow wild in the country of Chiquitos.
The vine, which fourishes particularly in the pro-
vince of Cordillera, where it was cultivated in the
missions until the epoch of independence is not now
made use Of 1t will, perhaps, hereafter be one Of
the principal products of that country.
Wheat, barley, and the potato could DE cultivated
with advantage in the province Of Chiquitos, and
Cordllera, buta this time they are neglected. except
In the province of Vale Grande. The culture of
coca has commenced in the province of Ce-caGo,
where 1t is found wild also The zuinquna on The
mountains IT Samaipata AS already mentioned
fruit abounds IN this egion-oranges, lemons ctrons
figs, Papayes. pomegranates muskmeIons watermel-
ons, chIrmoyas, (Which the Braziians call fruin do
conde, pneaPples, &C. The last mentioned Of these
fruits grows wild and in great abundance in the woods
OF Chqultos. We met with it particularly the dav
before our arrival at Santa Anna 1t is fine favored
but left su:h burning sensation in the mouth that
bitterly re, ented having tasted it.
Int he province are gathered in great abundance
JaaP, qulnqulna bark, sarsaparilIa, VANILLA roucou
copahu, lPecacuanha, caoutchouc, copal, &c.
Dye-woods. cabinet woods, and building timhar
abound The inhabitants gather with care great ouan
titles OF gums, roots, and barks to which thew attr
butte medicinal virtues of every kind At several
points In the department. especially in the provinces
OF Vae-Grande and CordilIera, are found iron and
traces OF mercury Gold is found in the province of
Cercado, near the Pueblo de San Xavia. Mines of
silver were worked in the mountains of Colchus nv
the Jesuits. Don Sebastian Ranco, whilst he was
governor of Chiquitos, announced to the government
that diamonds of very fine water had been found in
the brooks about Santa Corazon.''
Two officers of our navy (Lieutenants Herndon and
Ulooon) haYe been despatched an ex ploring expe
1tlon 90 Vnthe valley of the Amazon. One Of these
Lieutenant E1erndon, has returned and we will ven