New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-21
TIE VALLEY OF THE 1M4ZON.

RESULTS OF PROF. HARTT'S EXPEDITION TO
BRAZIL.
About 10 months ago Prof. c. +. HART OF
Cornell University headed expedition the Valley OF
the Amazon for the purpose Of studying s geological
structure and ascertanng the correctness Of Prof Agas
sizs theory OF the glacial origin OF the valley cODro
vered point among scientists The results OF this exped
tiOn Of great Importance the scientific world
they prove the ideas which many naturasts
have held in regard to this region Prof Hart who
somewhat familiar with the drift glacial deposit Of
Southern Brazil has been unable discover thing OF
similar nature In the Aniazonian Valley and believes that
ne has evidence prove cOnclusyely that Prof Agaszs
theory was founded an error. He says that Prof.
Agasiz has mistaken for drift the wells in which he has
discovered Devonan osss and that the geological sruc-
ture OF the valley instead Of being barren and unntrr
estlng as scientists have heretofore supposed on the
the vicinity OF Para especially the Professor has opened
Prot HART under the patronage Of Harvard and
Cornell Universities, taking with him O. A. Derby as
sistant. Arriving at Para he found the yellow fever
raging. and went up the river Immediately He studied
the formation u the mountain district oi krere making
line collection OF Devonan fossils previously discovered
and his rrsearches confirmed his previous belief In
gard to the formation OF this nteresug region He Wis
aud extremely perous Journey to the Sierra Parana
qnara the most beautiful and conspicuous OF the table
composed Of Horizontal beds clay and sandstone
h na Eep & rst beds pro6aV Dsonr rO tn
the tertiary formation. In order to complete Seologi-
cui section OF the VALLEY he revisited the TapajOs River
and explored carefully far ltaituba, where he
and his assistant made large and valuable collections OF
carOnferOus fossils. Brazil has until lately. been
thought to he country without antiquities, but his
searches show that tho field not barren as has been
imagined He explored the sites OF ancient villages
situated near Santarem, and cultivated at present By
settlers from the Southern states ana he found In the
patches OF black laud the edge OF the bluffs large
quantities OF broken Indian pottery This proves that
the country must have been settled for long period.
said have lived and foughthe possession Of
the celebrated and precious stones of which Prof
HART has obtained specimens Near SantaIem he eN-
aiIined critically an immense mound OF shells made by
the Indians, probably long before the time OF the Blum
dweers Indicated ny the pottery mixed with the
shells In other places he discovered other antiquities
In the shape Indian implements urns, and weapons
His assistant in company with Col Beckley, remained
to pOre Indian mounds Of the Island OF Maro.
The Professor oyed his leisure time ia fauartEng
himself with tho Tupy Language, which Is spoken
throughout the western part OF Eraz and be Is engaged
in wiring grammar and dictionary of The language.
and in making collection Of the Indian fables and e
gcDds of which bear Die resemblance u
fables Of European origin He has also prepared work
the Indian languages Of Brazil which viii be Of value
graphs OF many places OF int st and will reproduce
them ia work which will be published ON the results OF
the expedition.
Prof Hartt states that the American colOnists who
have established themselves in that region, thriving
and engaged In the successful cultivation or sugar,
cotton and tobacco and that the fact been demon
ted that the climate adapted to the AngoSax0n.
who can, without Inconvenience Work at midday be-
meath the scyerest rays OF the sun.