The North-Carolinian., 1855-11-17
THE REGIONS OF THE AMAZON.

GibbOn, were ordered by Hon. VIM. A. Gra-
ham Of the Navy Department, to explore the
AmaZoh, examine its continents, and to report
their capacities for nayig iga tion aud commerce.
They were to notice the nature aud extent Of
The resources that might lie in concealment
there, whether Of the field, forest, river mine.
All this did the competent Leutenants perform
with q degree Of skill and accuracy at once cred
table to themselves and the government they
represented. sz h. st..-.4F fes.
Since it was object of the highest in,por-
tance,t that much of the great basin Of the
Amazon be explored the means placed at
their disposal allowed, Gibhon aud Herndon
separately the former proceeding south by
Cuzco to survey the Bolivian tributaries, while
the latter descended the main trunk Of the
river. .+;szs 80 .=... r..
The mineral wealth Of this country can scarcely
be ovcr-estimated. For centuries it has given
to the world untold quantities of gold and sill
yer, and still the mines seem productive as
ever, and inexhaustible as the mountains
themselves The Silver mines of Cerro Pasco
have yielded annually since their discovery i'll
1880, over two millions of dollars. But the
miners are comparatively few and deficient in
the art and the means of transportation are
slow and tedions; hence it is that these mines
are turned to little account There are many
veins abandoned, and many Others which have
never been worked at all. Governmental re-
ports Of Bolivia show that III one district there
at least four thousand rich veins of gold and
silver only sixty-fve of which yield their en-
bosomcd wealth. Accounts from other places
present facts equally as striking. And besides
gold and silver there abounds, in the Andes,
from the isthmus of Daricn to the straits of
Magellan, quantities of murcury, lead, iron, tin,
copper. antimony, sulphur, salt, ni're, vitriol,
&c. The diamond regions on the Tadajos con-
tain in themselves sources of almost unbOunded
wealth.-A person may sometimes hecome vastly
rich in this region al! at once; but diamond
hunting is at best but a lottery business, the
most engaged in it are Injured But HernGon
says, a merchant, by carrying dry goods and
groceries to the miners could clear at least five
hundred per cent in eight months. on the capi-
tai invested If the fiction of El Dorado is
ever disspated, it will be when science and i'll
dustry shall develop the minerals of South
America. Anglo-Saxon effort would make
these rugged hills blossom as the rose, and glow
with spicndor beyond conception.
The vegetable kingdom is varied, valuable
and abundant. There many varieties of
palms all of which are useful in furnishing
wine, oil, wax sugar: Trees suitable for
building ships arc found in great abundance;
hcSides many oter kinds fitting for cabinet
work, some of which are beautiful durable, and
capable of the highest polish. In a South
American parlor eight guests can be S atrd
each in different species of mahogany chair.
This is the land for India-ruhI'cr, sarsaparila
ginger, black pepper. arrow-root, indigo, nut
meys, gums, medicinal plants Of rare virtue, and
dyes of the gavcst colors. Delicious fruits grow
almost spontaneously, and in the greatest pro-
fusion, supplying the indo'cnt native and his
next door ncIehbor. the monkey, with their
daily snstenance. Here oranges, lemons,
citrons, pine-apIles, pomegranates. pears FIGS,
melons. peaches, grapes, and many other fruits
which become exceedingly luscious to the
customcd palate. -oca .sa Ya5 - rsz
The farmer can raise three crops of Indian
corn of good quality during the year. Cotton,
tobacco and sugar cane flourish; and i'll fact,
amy kind of vegetable, which warm climate
and rich soil can produce. may be found in
the regions of the Amazon. The Coffee bush,
with its dark green leaves, pure white bios J
SONS and scarlet berries presents a very pretty
appearance. The leaves of the plant are
ga athered several times during the year, and
sold at large profit. AS the uegrO values his
tobacco, or the Chinamau his opium, so does
the Indian of South America prize his coca leaf /
" ithout it he is miserable, with it he is con
tented and happy. Under its stimulating in !
auence he sometimes performs almost lrodigics
of labor without food or sleep. |
There many varieties of climate arising
rom the difference in the degrees of elevation. |
In the hill country the climate is delightfully."- |
fresh and healthy a constant east wind tenn /
pers the vertical rays of the charmingly
/
nor the heat of summer From region of snow !
and ice, one may descend the mountain side and
thaw his stif1ened limbs under a tropical sun. |
The winter storm RACES around the summit,
while the quiet plains below are carpetcd in
vendure. These plains are certainly |
he most delightful regions in South America.
Veyetation springs up with rapiditv OF growth
that is perfectly marvellous; and the harvest
S perennial. Egypt the ancient granary of
he Roman empire, furnishes no parallel in
ecundity to this. In one field the corn is Just
,eepng from the ground, while in another it is
eaoiy for the garner. On the mountain tops is
everlasting winter, but here reigns perpetual
pring Tarma is a beautiful place, situated i'll
valley, and cmbosomed among trees aud
lowers green lawn stretches ont in front,
While the mountains that rise OH either side are
covered with waving fields of barley, nearly to
heir tops. u..ss eE=
4 Although this is a remarkably healthy place,
ct Herndon gives it as his opinion that yonng
graduate of medicine from the U S. could go
here, marry pretty girl in hrh standing, aud
,et into practice that would enrich him in ten
ears Hearken, We paticntless aud penny.esS.
tudents of 4Esculapius! s--r~~~~~-~-~~
The regions watered by the King of Rivers"
PRODUCES more Wild animals than any other
ountry on the globe. Cattle aud horses browzc
N the endless pampas; the woods swarm witt,
anne, and the rivers are stocked with hsh,
urtles and alligators. Here is fonnd the black
igcr the ant-eater, the. sloth, the Gs'l-oX, the
nta, or wild COW, the boa constructor, the ana
onda, and birds of all shapes and sizes, and Of