The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-19
THE AM A z ON B A S N !.
The Official Reconnaissance OF the Amazon
Rasin-Rcport Of Lieut.. Gibbon.

The Official Reconnaissance OF the Amazon
Rasin-Rcport Of Lieut.. Gibs,on.
The first part of an exploration of the Valley of
the Amazon has already been published. The
second part which has just been completed and sub
mitted to Congress, comprises that portion Of the
ronte of Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, U. S. Navy,
through South Peru, Bolivia, and down to the Ma
teira River, in Brazil.
We have had access to some Of the notes scrubbed
N the saddle on the Andes by Lieut.. Gibbon, on
his lofty and interesting journey. He says-
Talma, small town in Perjury Alpha and
Beta Centauri-n latitude II deg. Is min south, is
situated in a rich, well cultivated narrow valley,
between the Andes range Of mountains on the east,
and the lofty Cordillen chain on the west.
On The 9th July, 1851, the writer turned south
cast accompanied by Henry C. Richards, native o.
Virginia. in the United States, and Jose Casas, of
Spanish descent, a native of Peru. A volunteer mes
tiso c,,iero with his little son, drove train Of
mules, which carried the baggage.
The ravine through which we ascend is thickly
populated with Quichua Indians. Their houses are
built of stone and wood, and matched with coarse
mountain grass. The natives are busily employed
gathering the harvest Of maize which is small
grained and of four colors-red white, yellow, and
blue Potatoes, of which there are numerous varie-
ties, are also now gathered. They grow in perfec-
ton though much smaller than their descendants in
the United States.
The little estates (chacras) are owned by de-
scendants OF Spaniards, Indians, or mestizos-the
latter a cross between the two former. In almost
all cases the cultivation Of the soil is performed
by the aborgnes, at wages from ten to twenty
cents per day. The Indians celebrate harvest time
with merry making. Meals are cooked in the fields,
where their kitchen utensils carried. II is ANUS
ing to see these happy people enjoying music and
dancing in the barley stubble. When we meet them
they are very civil, modest, and unassuming in
manners. The men carry enormous loads of barley
or wheat on their backs, while the women drive the
loaded ass, and sling the children over their own
shoulders. Horses, mules, sheep, horned cattle,
pigs. and dogs are all admitted, together with the
family. into the harvest field. While the father
reaps and mother gathers, the boys tend the focks
and the elder girls take OF the babies, and spin
woolen yarn by hand for stockings, pair of which
was offered for sale at twenty-five cents nearly long
enough for trousers.
At the top Of the mountain not a house or tree
to be seen and no sign OF cultivation On tufts Of
coarse mountain grass flock Of sheep were grazing.
some Of them good sized merinos. Wool is sent to
Lima, where it is sold to be exported around Cape
Horn, to the manufacturers in the north.
On our left we see the remains Of an ancient Pc
ruvian road, used in the times Of the Tncas. 1t l.
slid that good roads marks of civilization; could
my mule Rose give her opinion she would certainly
decide in favor of the Inca road in preference To-
those found in Peru at the present time These re-
mains show width Of thirty feet Of rock pavement,
with well placed curb-stones each side Where
the road has considerable inclination rows of stone
are placed across higher than the general level Of
the pavement, so that it appears Ike stair way
the side of a hill That it was not coach road is
no argument against it. 10 was made before the
horse the ass, or the COW were introduced into
South America from Europe. II was constructed for
the Indian and his lama who the surest Of the sure
footed; and therefore the improvement speaks well
for the civilization of those times of which have
but traditionary record.
Upon plain on the mountain top was cistern
by the side Of path, where water Is caught dur
ing the rainy season to supply the thirst ia the dry
The wet season commences here about the middle Of
September, sometimes later, aud lasts six months
the remainder Of the year IL dry.
To the east is q snow-peaked mountain, and as tao
moon rises as If from the Atlantic ocean, we are
followed by a cold north wind. The sun seems to
have sunk In the Pacific sea- leaving us under the
shade OF night where not living thing was to be
seen, except black eagle returning t, its roosting
place under ovcrhanging rocks. o. the west side
Of lofty peak little tent was p,tchel; the bag
gage piled up aud covered at the door; the mules
lei srcc for the night TO feed upon the mountain
grass ayound as. Gre was kiadled and water from