The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-15
TO the Heart of the Andes.

To the Heart of the Andes.
No civilized region of this continent has
hitherto been 50 Isolated and unknown rs
the southeastern provinces of the Colom-
ban Republic. Walled of from the ports
of the Pacific by towering peaks of the
Andes utterly impracticable to beasts OF
burden, the commerce OF a flourshing dis
trict has been stinted to such sonnty sup
plies as could be conveyed upon the backs
OF men. For years the pcnt up inhabit-
ants have looked to the opening OF COM
munication with Brazil through conilu-
ont of the Amazon rs the one avenue of
dcliverance from an intoerahle situation,
The entire feasibility of the project and
its capital importance to both countries,
are set forth with other interesting facts
in memorial addressed by RAPHAEL
REYES, citizen OF Colombia, TO the Bra
lillian Cos eminent.
Rather more than year ago Seflor
REYES undertook to traverse the unbroken
forest which stretches across thirty degrees
of longitude from the Andes to the Attain
tic. 1t is, however, the first and unfamiliar
part OF his journey, performed in an open
boat on the RIO Potumlyo, which Is invest
cd with peculiar interest. His personal
soundings and observations of that river
the first of which we have consecutive
reoord-prove it to be II perfect natural
highway, free from distractions, and of
| depth sufficient to admit of steam naviga-
| ton throughout most OF its great length.
Tue lea or Potumayo, has ite source
among the Andes in the province of Paste,
under the second parallel of north lati-
tude. Besides numerous smaller feeders,
IL receives the waters Of twenty-five great
sflluents, of which the last ten. beginning
with the Guames, are navigable. The
length of the Potumayo Ia not less than
nine hundred miles, and its depth through
out six-sevenths of rs course ranges from
seven 10 thirty feet. These measures,
moreover, were taken in the dry season
bet yeen December aud April, and should
| be doubled for the remainder OF the year.
The river has breadth at certain points
Of four hundred yards, the bottom is of
firm sand, and tto current may run three
knots an hour.
The forests which skirt the lower course
Of this great water road abound in caoao,
sarsaparilla, and caoutchouo, while choice
| resins, Peruvian bark, aud gold mines are
found upon the colderuplands The aver
age temperature is about seventy-fve de-
grees Fahrenheit, and the climate is as
healthy as along the shores of the Amazon.
1de wild Indian races with which Senior
REYES came in contact appeared to be
peaceful, hospitable, and amenable to me-
Iteration.
From the junction Of the Potumayo with
the Amazon. to which point the steamers
of the Amazon Navigation Company have
already attained, the journey TO the mouth
OF the Guames might be made by steam
within ten DAYS. From the latter fork the
province Of Paste is only distant som,
seventy miles, which on good road might
be traversed in four days more. Paste
the capital city, contains II 900 inhabitants
and Is connected by highways of no great
length with the adjoir ng provinces Of
Caldas, Popayau, Tuqueres, and ObandC
in Colombia, and 'ndabura in Ecuador.
The whole district, which, upon the ex.
tension Of steam navigation to the Potu-
mayo, would forthwith despatch its prod
ucts to the Atlantic, contains u populatiUr
of half II million. The people are thrifty
and industrious, employed for the mosi
part in stock raising, grazing, and aGricul
ture. The chief staples for export would
be coffee. sugar, tobacco, smoked beef, tai
low, hides. and drugs.
The advantages which must accrue both
to Colombia and Brazil from the connec
ton of this rich and populous region witt
the markets OF Manaos aud Para are in
| dispuf able One OF the lpast obvious II
he opportunity which might be afford
ed of satisfying the Brazilian demand TO
free labor by Colombian rather than Euro
pean emigration. Moreover, the extension
of steam navigation TO the Potumayo tai
lies with the sagacious policy which ann
TO make Brazil the mistress, in fact If no
in name, OF the whole country commando,
by the Amazon and ITS continents.