Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-03-07
OUR BRAZILIAN LETTER.
para--The AmazOn-Fruffs- In.
doIent Natives and Bnervating
OIimate-The American Colony at
6Rntayeen, Etc. O ioD Haar ~

sanfaveen, Efc. O ioo aT
PARA, Brazil. January %. 1874.
! To the Editor Of the Ledger: j mi-
Here am and have been for the last
ten days, preparing for the trip up the
Amazon, on which we will start to-day
We have with us a tolerably strong
party recruited in this place, and have
sent to the United States for complete
outfit of engineers. Coa
The Madeira and Marmore Railway
Company is a corporation aud legalized
by the Bolivian and Brazilian Govern
ments. It's object is to build a railroad
aroundthe falls or rapids Of the Madeira
river. which is navigable for two thous-,
and miles, with the exception oft falls,
which can be obviated by railroad lob
miles long. One of the contractors was
engaged on the Union Pacific railroad,
and consequently has cut his eye teeth.
The beginning Of the'road IS 1900
miles from this place-7OO miles up the
Amazon and HOO miles up the Madeira
"a voyage for steamboats, of nearly two
weeks.v. n
The country through which we have to
90 is an almost unbroken forest, filled
with monkeys, parrots, snakes, tapirs,
tigers and other warlike animals, OF
which / will send you a full account
when better acquainted. II you desire
more particulars of this country, read
" The Amazon" by Louis Agassiz.
Para is gay old place. Some of the
houses built $50 years ago still stand;
the largest are churches, theaters, cath
edrals and converts. Several forts front
the river. The houses are built of mud,
plaster and brick. Some have walls
five feet thick, and all are covered with
red brick tiles that admit air freely, but
keep out the heat of the sun.
The natives are indolent, ignorant and
will not work for any consideration.
This il a lazy mans paradise. The
rivers are full of fish and the woods OF
game, and fruit of every description al
ways in season; all that is necessary is
to be in hammock and catch the fruit
that falls. No clothes are needed; the
uniform warm temperature OF the eli
mate renders them Ito the natlves) use
less, and the most of them 60 clad pretty
much as the daughter of the chief of the
Moraberneos, whose photograph l send.
There is not fireplace or chimney IN
Para. Cooking is usually done IN the
open air, or among the better classes on
a stove, with the pipe sticking through
an open window. Very few houses con.
tain bedstead every one is expected
TO sleep in Aammocks, coveredswith
mosquito bar.
The business Of this place is prinei-
pally india rubber, immense quantities
Of which are constantly forwarded from
the interior. The city also exports Bra
zil-nuts there called Para nuts), cocoa,
cinnamon, tobacco and numerous medi-
cal herbs. Oranges, lines or lemons
grow wild, and can be had for gathering.
| Pine-applea are cultivated in the gard
ems. Another fruit they have never
leaves Para, as II spoils ten hours after
being taken from the tree; it is called
| Acajie, and resembles outwardly small
lemon; it is gummy, resinous, sweet ana
oily-yery pleasant to take and exceed
ingly cooling and healthy.
The Amazon is immense; ~ rushes
from the Andes with a seveu.mile cur
rent per hour. and receives many triou-
taries equally as large as the Mississippi.
The ocean tides change the direction Of
the current every twelve hours as lar as
six hundred miles above the mouth, and
the opposite bank from one side IS IN
, visible the same distance. Z Numerous
Islands. however, relieve the eye, and
from their size appear 70 be the main
land --
Between this place and Manaos, nine
miles from place called Santsveen,
!. colony Of refugees from the Southern
States have located. Originally about
three hundred came out, bat their mum
Der has dEindled down 10 bali, some haE-
ing returned, others wandered OF = va
{ rious places Most Of those remaining
/. at the colony are doing quite well, And
50 would al, but the climate encouraged
laziness BY producing spontaneously,
! enough TO support life, and 50 offers a
( premium for worthlessness.
Having, ] believe, about spun my
yaru," ] will break the thread Of ny. mar
ratiye until reach San Antonio.
o Yrura W Z Moor