The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-04-06
Valley of the Amazon,

huston correspondent Of the Springie "a
HVaSticsa thus quotes from one Of the lectures
II Pfof Agassiz before the Lowell Institute
Ina 'iic boat, followed from the trunk os "a
ret, .H war'n, uiois, and agreeable atmosphere
The Professor rowct Us under afcadcs of luxuriani
tropical foliage gorgeous with flowers and birds
with tangled y.ncs an! parasites aai soaring
palms, aad dclcctablc fruits. !; was "a Kind Of
primeval Venice, the forest So crowded ans
lnicrlaCct with growths ~ TO he iuiicnAiratlr io
mortal footsteps, the land 80 iraycrscd hy vines
rs 10 make the building OF highways an imlsossi-
hiliiy. We take natures highway and sail over
the river go studded with Islands across the
lagoon 50 over sgcal with aguaiie plants that
We know not where land begins and water ends
miles Of the Victoria Bcg.t rearing iis white urns
while cranes and heFfous stalk over the leaves as
!! they were on laul The ted a. the Amazon
slopes toward the ocean "a gradual descent
mat the t.yei s.rdys network OF innumcrate
channels which often ihierscci each other at ghi
angles and form an astonishing number u
island - broad Is the river that iu a disiR,~c
- ] -aI iAilcs above the ocean one caGuui see
across from suuyr 90 shorr
The excess uf ho' AMI dry sclsous which
auali. prevail, 30 ilr i.oi' gigrs lscc 10 the
valley q. i'c Amazon ?. 81. .l.lir of delightful
evenncss. Perpetual suu.ul,s The rain sasou
moves gradually n'oi 'rus :.u ia 20 -ou;h along
'hr vaiirv 50 hat It continual, feeds some =
'h' f!ftr iEuu'ne,ab.e .li'.rhl'cs The iersirra-
'sic T,sirHn'! wi'hiu q inaNimu.n uf si degrees,
ti.! minimum 90 - -tlsrs cun-lsui ~yapuga-
'HI AY! 'he runseurcii luNufiauc,.u' fr.ctntior.
- "hlci uut Whu haas NOT sen .' r,n hardly
'uFm conception On, point in which these
Fplic.. 'ur,s;s d.dcr from Ulis j the cuiiTu
absence 81 e." i.r.- which torn the striking
feature "i our uO:ihcrn woods There are no
uaks. plues .nAplcs, willows, hicSOgics- nunc al
AL Another po!nt is the A,;crogeDcOusncss OF
The vegetation ~ home OAKS grow with oaks,
piaes with pines but here We seldom see two
trees or plants Of one kind ia close proximity -
There are tall trees 81 strange varieties, and
beneath ihcm not low growth OF unlcfbTush.
but an absolute impcnciFablc ihieLei and curtain
o. vcrdgr, crowliu., climbing, SCARED over
With parasites whose broad light and green leaves
shine against the foliage. which cling and climb
everywhere with is brilliant flowers.
Among the most conspicuous trees is that
which hears the Braxil nn, oi our commerce,
which grows 20 an enormous height and lifts
is cone OF sgrcn leaves above the other trees Of
the wonl Auo,hcF lofty trr, Is allied 20 the
same plant which We call malows This also
arises 10 aa incredihlp height, spreading its
umbrella Of foliage above the forest The great
est number u ,Eccs arc palms and they arr more
nearly allied Ia grass than 10 any other species
of our vegetation Some varieties Of the palm
grow low. tie leaves springing from the ground
aud forming an cagan, vase OF leaves aud fruit
The slender trunks of Others, spring To the height
OF hundred feet before shooting out their broad
fans Of beautiful leaves. and there are palm vines
which climb hundreds os feet Owe; the forest
e!inging 10 other growths with their curious
leaves Prot. Agassiz referred 10 the infinite
variety and numherless uses Of the palm, and ie
enormous sizcs. aud he exhibited some interesting
dried specimens. one being FIVE or six times his
| own height, rs he held il on the stage, the stem
as straight as a lead pencil, and slender as
man wrist, 10 the top, where IL was frnged
with leaves. The varieties Of palm bears fruits,
which correspond with our nuts, aprieois, cher
rics, grapes, and frequently In such luxuriant
clusters, rs il would be hardly possible for a man
10 lifi. lie showed a brush OF wiry ibers, OF a
weigh, and size which he managed with difficulty
This was one cluster Of frui, stems denuded Of
their berries. The palms are OF surpassing majesty
and beauty The Professor had seen Two men
seated la the aAll Of leaf and the leaves are
sometimes % or 80 feet in length. and from 10
10 3 Ia width