New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-25
EXPLORATIONS IN BRAZIL.

PROF. HARTT on THE RIO T0CANTINs-L
COURTESY OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFIC1ALs-TfiE
GEOGRAPHY OF TIE RIO TOCANTINS-THk
NATURAL CANALS CONNECTING THE T0CAN-
TINS WITH THE AMAZON-THE ERRONEOUS
MAPPING OF THE RIVERS OF THE ANAZoN
VALLEY CANETA THE MANUFACTURE or
INDIA RUBBER-A THUNDERSTORM IN ihE
VALLEY OF THE AMAZON.
PARA. Brazil Sept 5.-When the last steamer
sailed arranging trip to the RIO Iocahths' onoo
then have successfully carried out and nave retu'o
safely with my party t. make arrangements Tor al ca
plcration Of the Xingu and Tapajos nave ho'
time 10 write much about scientific results am ui'u
after the Journey and shall attempt little more 'h"u
general sketch Of the Trip may say in bei '"t '"o
geological and geographical results OF my explorations
have - far been OF the highest interest nave iu
the geological structure Of the Amazonian Valley "her
the Tocsntins Joins It, very different from what H"u
supposed Fortunately the water very low "heh
visited rapids, and had most excellent oppor-
tunity study the rocks. hope TO he apie "en 0o
90 discuss my notes. TO give very de'seu uesoiIIO"
of the physical and structure OF the Lo"er 10
.apns So entirely unexpected have been some OF my
resulta that am looking forward with great interest
70 my visit to the Xinsd and Tapaos the study
OF which rivers will trust throw much additional light
on the structure of the Amazonian Valley.
The President rather Vice Fresident,o the Province
for the President is absent in RioDr. Abel Graca we'll
educated and liberal-minded gentleman, received
very kindly on my arrival Para. He kind enough
60 place at my disposal little Government steamer the
Jurupensem explore rivers the province.
order to the Inspector da Marnha TO furnish
also with coal and other fuel. The Jurupensem is
OF several small Government steamers employed In
various ways the rivers Of the province She syery
long exceedingly narrow, drawing not than .? feet
of water making her very servceabe for river eXpora
tons Beside ths there is scarcely craft the
nian waters that equal her in speed.
START.
4
specimens and left them at the American Consuls,
and on the evening OF the 10th embarked Il had fitted
out the party with provisions for several weeks plenty
Of beans, dried meat pork, farina coffee sc, &c) To
stow away 10 persons, each with what an American
would call moderate amount Of baggage on board cur
little craft small problem to solve, but solved
o. We all ready 10 sail the morning OF the 1th
but two Of my young companions, whom had sent on
excursion 70 the island OF MaTaj6 had not returned,
aud we delayed dav IN the hope that they would Join
The next morning they made their appearance
with quantity alcoholic fishes, brd-skins, live
rots pOrCUpinc Sc and in high spirits after weeks
hunting. Tho tide did not serve until the
next morning before daylight when We could
cross the Bay Of Jaraj0 without danger VIII
oaf ntt,e and dcepy-freiglted steamer. There was
Just for the boys to cling their hammocks under
the awning the aftcrpart Of the boat where they
were exposed 10 the fresh cool night air
Prcnt!ss and l. not finding deck made our beds
and attempted 20 sleep in the little cabin below.
Very early, long before daylight, got up steam and
departed Camctd, the Rio ToCantins. went on
deck pped in blanket and watched headland after
headand Of forest pass by and the emmer Of the bright
ttars on the dark river We steamed up the Guajara
few miles, and then took narrow channel called the
Rio ArrOssl leading through the line 81 islands that
paraes the Guaar4 from the Bay Of Mar6, and al day
break entered the bay.
Before I 60 further LEI say something about the
River Tocantns that you may better understand my
desorp5n OF the voyage. Right in the center OF Brazil
Is the province Of Goyaz long and narrow territory eX-
tending from north to south. In the southern part are
hills several thousand feet in hight In which arise several
large rivers that flow northward To empty into the ANA
Eouiau Valley Most important among these are the To-
cantns. the east, and the Araguaya, on the west
Like the san Francisco and Rio das Yha in the sister
province Mras Geraes, the former is rapid river OF
little importance for navigation, while the latter Is navi
gable for great part OF its The two streams as
rvery schooboy knows unite just before reaching the
edge Of the Anazonau Valley, and the main river DaoW
Is known as the Tocanns. The Arasuaya just before
unn. with the TOcantns Is Ohstuc;edhy some serious
rapids and 50 also the Minas River hut above and
below them every facility is offered for steam navigation
Yhe iulefatcrhle d.. Cjnto dc Macalhaps, formerly
President Of tie Of Para has ahored for years
with great energy establish line Of steamers between
Cover and Fa and he has now two small stea-ahhches
on the upper river but the rapids very dangerous
that during the dry navigation Is Interrupted
Coverum, no taking Of connecting the upper and lower
nsyieate points OF the river by railroad which Is
reary tho ONLY sensible thing 10 be done. TIE main
river below the rapids niuCs its waters WIKI those OF
Tie Amazon OF the head OF the Bay OF Marao to the
west Of Para The country between Para and the mouth
of tl,e Tocautins is nothing than an immense
swanp covered with forest dry during the dry season.
spbncrecd during the wet and cut up by Network OF
payicane chauncs-a perfect labyrinth Of waterways
IT, enter the Tccau does not need TO 80 IL at the
month Almost any OF these channels VII conduct one
e. the rv.r T, avoid tho voyage the broad fresh
water bay Mara6, steamers, after leaving the Rio
Arr0sal -o1I take 0f these channels winch, unoer
Size vari0Us OF Abte and Anapu conducts one 10
tp Tocauns AT considerable distance above its mouth
i, vyas nv fns way that we went. wish could give
Won some idea OF the beauty Of these canals Sometimes
tey are narrow and rver-Ec with dense wall OF for
est OH eacl side here they widen out into akeke eX-
,y,pses Occasionally there islands whose heavy
1c, forest cyes them LlufrOnt OF foliage all round.
gcaut fyaroDes Lad OF from these channels IN every
direction, and the Inexperienced navigator would sooh
losr himself the Of channela the lanu - only
lust above water ana Il is densey hned along te DOT
dor Of ,c channel with forest Of magnificent Murit
, pfosri,io, hat lift their immense cOronal Of ele-
Gan, fn-shapcd leaves far above the Other trees Along
,bc edge Lore and there grows the mangrove, with IT.
c,rous aalia roots and the Aningo tArU" with tail
stout soft stems supporting top bunch Of large seq
,tt m o. with occasionally white hover Ilkoh Gaia
PALM FORESTS.
Ifayp rreViousy remarked in describing TINS country
that 40 general rule palms did not form forests IN
Brazil and ordinarily they make but little show among
1,eoter trees The giant Maurtas arc, 70 certain eN-
tent al t1ccpon a. this rule; they grow all along the
bprder Of The channels in the low sWaHpy Inuh''eu
grounds ana the low Islands OF the Lower 1oc"inS
md the adjacent country their immense straight
trunk rEaf Ike pillars 10 support lever r"ol ol 'oi
anre 81 vonIrous beauty appear to cover the whole
II e.