The New York herald., 1869-04-07
3 O Z I " I A.
It's Valley Of the Amazon-Trade, C0n6i-
ton and Future.

cihc, While on the east Brazil inlerpOses vast terri
tory between ber and the Atlantic. The Pacif
shore line is nothing but a desert whose nt6ddROs
with their changing sands, render It's transit yer
diiicult and even dangerous for both man and beast
Here smut up IN the very heart OF South America
Is territory having an area OF some 400 900 square
miles aud containing about 100000 inhabitants
It's formerly ABOUT 473, 900 miles, but lat
treaty with Brazil has cut OF large strip from tax
north, and leaves the northern boundary OF the re
public on a line with the junction of the Rio Ben
with the MADEIRA.
One very notable feature is that all its inhabtant
are found upon tie Atantt slope OF the Andes
while tho inhabitants OF all the Other countne
tributary to the Amazon valley have ther population
upon the slope OF the Pacific upon the caribbean
Sea. The people OF Peru and Ecuador especially arr
confined to very narrow anu steep mountain bel
between the Corliera ana the ocean, leaving the
magnificent and productive lands upon the Amazol
virtually untouched.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The typographical features Of Bolivia are notable
for their granuedr. The great chain Of the Andes
here branches out INTO mighty parallel ridges and
counerfort spurs. The latter shoot far 10 the east
ward until they meet the parallel Andean ranges
OF Bgazil in the great Province OF Matogrosso. In
terspersed among these c0rdilefas are great sepa-
rate groups, swelling ana luluDtiHg hlOit aiii
crowned with eternal snow. \ great elevated table
land, about 1000 feet hIgh, and held between the
two grand ridges OF the Andes, extends almost from
the northern conhae Of the Argentine Republic
northwest to the frontier OF Peru. Lakes rltacaca
and Poupoo situated ON this plateau, receive Its
drainage. All the wa.ercourses TO the east of this
tableland flow into tu3 Atlantic.
ThE RIVERS.
To the south we have The Bermejo, forming In part
the boundary with the Argentine Republic, and
the pilconayo, running southeast and nearly
parallel With the BermeJo, both emptying
into the Paraguay branch OF the Plata. TO
the north and east We hnd three great
streams aliluents OF the Madeira branch OF the ANA
gon. They pour into the Madeira a wealth of waters
in way inferior TO the volume Of the Mississippi
Their names are the Beni Mamore and Guapore, or
Itenez. The Benz has seyeaty-two branches, all
more or less navIgable for canoes whicn freight from
one TO three tons each. Twenty Inferior streams
swell the volume OF the Msmore, which, IN course
ofnearly nine hundred miles through tue very heart
OF Bolivia carries in the dry season from five to fifty
1eet of water, with breadth varying from one hun
dred TO five hundred yards. The Guapore forming
the boundary line between Brazil and Bolivia.
has its headwaters almost In sight OF the head
waters of the Rio de la Plata. 1t receives some
thirty aiuents of various sizes; from those
permitting large canoe navigation to rivers which
can be assembled by large steamers. The aggregate
length OF these aluelts OF the Madeira with their
tributaries cannot at rough estimate, fail short OF
5000 miles.
OF THEIR NAvIGABILITY.
or the 5000 miles mentioned, at least 1000 are
suited to steamboat navigation in the dry season,
and in the wet season at least 900 miles mole may
be added for light draft steamers For 500 miles of
The lower Nanore steamer, drawing twelve feet Of
wafer could run the entire year. The banks OF these
rivers afford excellent natural landing places
throughout almost their entire extent, like the Mis-
slsslppl and the arana.
The BeImejo and Picomayo can scarcely be called
navigabe. The former carries but very little water
IN the dry season, and the former, at point about
250 miles from It's mouth, Is almost absorbed by a
vast sandy plain. Above this some fifty miles fall
beyond.
OF the Paraguay branch OF the Plata nver IT maj
be sad that 1t Will prove great outlet for Bolivian
products wnen the immense wild lands OF southeast
BOLIVIA are settled and made to yield their wonder.
ful natural wealth into commercial marts Steamers
can ascend 10 point nearly opposite the centre
or lhe republic on the Brazil frontier. Between this
point and the present centre OF population 1t would
be necessary TO travel at least 500 miles Of wids with
no road. The Bollvians, therefore, very properly
turn their eyes towards the Amazon as the natural
outlet for their products TO the commerce Of the
world.
To describe the climate OF Bolivia would require too
much space for the limits Of this paper, for 1t could
only be faithfully done province by province. Al
though almost entirely within the tropics 1t
may be said that twothirds OF It's terri
tory Is Of the temperate zone. But even
within this. almost any climate desirable
to man may be selected. Far over towards the
frontier OF Brazil rich tablelands, Of from three TO
the hand OF man to unlock their dormant wealth.
Very few diseases are known. In the east small
pox and diarrhoea are common, the former from
lack Of good physicians, the latter from want OF
care.
the heathiest IN the world-Humboldt, dAubigne,
Haenke, Castelnau, Gibbon and others who at
different periods have made explorations In the
country under direction OF their respective govern
ments.
OF the country Is In great part upon the Amazon
slope. Many populous centres are found upon the
banks OF the rivers far IN the east and northeast
Among these towns are santa Cruz, containing
some IL 600 inhabitants, and Trinidad, capital OF the
great Benz province, having 5000. The people may
be divided into two great sectlOns-mlning and agr-
cultural. The valleys OF the Benz and Mamore fur
districts, and In exchange receive the foreign goods
which find their way into the mineral centres which
have heretofore Intercepted all commerce between
the Bolivia valley OF the Amazon and the outside
world.
onehali OF the 1000 600 Of the Bolivian people are
OF the Qulchua and Aymara Indian races. The lat
ter have their centre OF population at La Paz The
former cover greater extent OF territory, and may
be said 10 be scattered over threc-fOurihs OF tile
county. The Spanish Is the dominant and most
numerous race, and IL gradually gaining ground
over the Indian. In nv experience and trayeis In
south and spanish America think It may be Justly
said that The Bolivian people are among the most
hardy, energetic and industrious oil all the Spanish
TIrE PRODUCTIONS
ofthe country arc almost everything that can be found
ia the known world. 10 an elevatian OF 5000 feet
the eastern slope OF the Andes covered win loty
forest trees. From my own observations and those
Of Humboldt, HaeDke ana others give the fOlloy.
ing as the principal valuable products:-1he potato
banana, inuan corn. wheat, barley and rice. Corn
sometimes produces 200 bushels TO the acre and wnea
seventy bushels Cochabaniba supplies great quan
tltes o wheat 10 the cold districts OF La Paz anl
pUiosi.
Of the fruits there are found oranges lemons olives
nlnCa 4I.lq mi rltfr rfftlay yua
pOInegfanaies, peaches, and IN fact, almost eyerj
variety OF fruit. Delicious VINE n also made from
native grape, aud IA the province OF Clnt have
found wine IN way Inferior to the best produced
IN France. This finds its way over the centre anI
south OF the republic.
The hnest Peruvian bark Is cut in northwest
Bolivia aud three-iOuths Ol the entire crop OF th'
world comes from this district. The crop from tn,
Nuugas valley varies from 700 10 600 tons annually
santa Cruz. upon "a branch OF the Manore, Is III,
centre OF a very extensive Peruvian bark district
but The transportation over the mountains Is 81
L. L. L. L "