The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-06-01

OH iESc Ill OuSy- AS tncy passed
large steam boats loaded with pro-
duce, Tbecla read on the ends of
the packages, on the upper and
lower decks-cotton for England {;
coffee for the United States; choc-
olate for Portugal; iice for Italy ;
india rubber for Russia alpacca
wool for France; peruvian bark
for the world; fruits Tor mankind.
Again and again the African feet
turned, first on one side, then on
he other, passing RATS of logs or
lumber-flat boats, on steam boats,
ferry boats or sail boats.
At daylight In the morning the birds be-
gan TO sing,
As the boats passed each other the bells
began to ring. ,....- .,,..... -. .
The bostmen pulled. and sang. at rope or
oar.
UP or down the river, and from shore 70
shore. >...
Cheer mp my lively lads In spite Of wind
or weather.
Cheer up my lively lads--let us al pull
together."
Ascending the Amazon thou,
sand miles, they turned into Ma
deira River; passing cultivated
prarie lands; pasture fields herds
of cattle; pens filled with young
calves; droves of horses, colts ;
lakes and rivers; fishermen and
farmers ship builders and house
carpenters; wash women and dairy
maids. as that an ostrich l see
going with lightning speed away
across the prarie 2" said Tbecla.-
1t is the locomotive" said the
pilot. The passengers were land.
ed five hundred miles from the
mouth of the Madeira River near
the lower falls, and we're conduct.
ed along the bank up the river
The fleet returned tow ards Africa
for more emigrants.
Among the traditions about Am.
azons and Amazonia, there is one
which tells of q great city built
long before the Spanish conquest,
and it may have been long before
the reign Of the first of that long
chain Of Incas' rulers, who con.
quered SO many tribes, but who,
it is said, never extended their
rule into these rich and product
i've low lands of the Amazon valley.
This traditionary city is thought
to have been built by a great peo.
pie inhabiting this country during
past ages. The streets were paved
with gold, and the houses built of
silver and marble. Thecla's curiosi
ty was excited. She was so near the
reported locality of this wonderful
city, she determined, if possible,
to see it. 1t is in what is called
tho Gran Pitete country, west from
the falls of the Madeira-near the
River Purus. After travelling
along at the foot of the range of
hills and mountains which separate
the Amazon basin from the upper
country-which is watered by the
tributaries of the Madeira river
she came to q lake of orange col.
ored water, with, shores tBickly
wooded. She peeped through the
foliage, and saw, in q small inlet,
large white lilies-pink in the
centre, and yellow stamens grow.
ing around the edge of q fiat,
broad, thick leaf. Raising her
dress, she stepped on the leaf; and
while she was expressing her de.
light at the beauty of the flowers,
an east wind sprang up, and Thee.
ia was borne swiftly away on the
Victoria Regia out over the broad
sheet Of water to the opposite shore.
There stood the city Of gold-the
city Of silver and white marble
the city Of tradition--the city of
Pitete. Pushing between the light
canoes or gondolas of the lake
which lay near the marble steps,
she soon found herself on the
smooth pavement, walking among
q well dressed multitude Of people
all black-speaking the English
language, and who seemed 10 be
deeply interested in some excite
ing question common to them all.
She soon discovered that she was
in the capitol city Of a great na.
ton Of Black Republicans. She
found the centre Of attraction and
cause of the interest the people
felt at the time, was that the new.
ly elected President was, ut twelve
O'Clock, to deliver his inaugural
address from tho balcony Of the
capitol on the main plaza. Thecla
felt greater interest In seeinQ the
wealth and grandeur Of O great
city, and in the beauty, improve.
ments and agricultural develop
ments Of the country from which
the substantial commercial wealth
she saw on the rivers came, than
% hear any one man talk aboue