The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-10-18
An Intrepid ExplOrer-Ernest MOrris's
Plans for Ascending the Amazon
and Its Tributaries.
New York World.

An Intrepid ExplOrer-Ernest MOrrIs's
Plans for Ascending the Amazon
and Its Tributaries.
New York world.J
Ernest Morris, the young Brazilian ex
plorer, whose remarkable expedition to
the head waters of the Tapajos was
sketched in the World few months
ago, has returned to New York from his
home in indianapolis, and intends to set
forth again in few weeks to renew his
explorations. After entering the mouth |
of the Amazon he proposes to ascend its
tributary, the Xingu, taking with him
his former guide, young Manduruca
Indian called Barney, The Xingu, al |
| though one of the largest tributaries of
the Amazon, is but imperfectly known
to geographers, for no professed ex-
plorer has ever ascended it far, and the
| greater part of our present information
as to its character and the country
through which it flows has been obtained
| from Indians or semi-civiliZed half
breed traders. Even the Jesuit mis-
sionaries, who have penetrated further
than other white men, have been de-
tered from its ascent by the chain of
turbulent and dangerous rapids in its
stream, and the known ferocity of the
QWellerS on 1tS banks.
Morris describes the Xingu, at its
junction with the Amazon as " a broad
black river, flowing between precipitous
banks, heavily wooded with tropic veg
etation" He intends to organize large
party of Manduruca Indians probably
who can be hired for trifiing sum, to
carry his boats past the rapids and beat
back the hostile natives, if they should
| r. hic Tn faap
of the difficulties and dangers which he
must encounter the project seems almost
foolhardy, and the young explorer might
E be set down as a cracked-brained enthu-
: siast if he had not shown already un-
mistakable proofs of his skill, courage
/ and endurance of .contending with
S similar obstacles. The boy of nineteen,
L who, with only fifteen dollars in his
pocket, entered the mouth of the Anna
E E zon, made his way alone to the sources
of the Tapajos and returned in safely
v with a valuable collection of specimens
and other records of his adventurous
Journey, is of the stuff out of which the
: true explorer is made. From earliest
= boyhood, as those say who have known
y y him, it has been the animating purpose Of
" his life to win a name among the Frank
Inns and Livingstones of exploring fame
y and his single-minded ardor has nevel
y grown cold.
~ While in Brazil he obtained number
= of heads of Indians, which have bee1
;, preserved in a singularly perfect stat
i by process known to the tribe will
" whom he lived for several months. HI
- was offered one hundred and fifty dollar
~ for each one of these heads before bring
~ ing them to the United States, but dit
g not wish to dispose of them at that tim
10 because they furnished the best evidenc
of the strange story which he relates
Now, however, he is anxious to sell theI
to some museum in this country. ]
e- they can be sold during the next fe'
tie weeks he will be able to prosecute hi
explorations Independently; if not, b
ey is desirous of acting as collector c
re agent for some museum or society. II
N, has letters which speak highly of h
Ii character and ability from Governo
at Williams, Senator Morton, and prom
of nent citizens of Indianapolis.
nd While in Brooklyn last June he d
of livered two or three lectures before tt
IL. Long Island Historical Society, and r
ad ceived a letter from the committee G
nd natural history, consisting of Eli
on Lewis. jr., Benjamin o. Silliman al
eg, Charles H. Hall, speaking in the highe
terms of their scientific value, and tt
VS. desirability of his continuing his r
er searches.
nd The plan of the proposed expedition
clearly defined in Morris's mind. T
aid intends to sail from this city early
lk. October for Brazil, and to ascend tt
he Xingu, as has been said In his last e
ON pedition he reached the head waters
sy, the Tapajos, and assembled one of
the main tributaries, the Cururn, for sor
,od distance. The natives told him t
do. Cururu was only canal connecting t
Tapajos with the Xingu, and he propos
ISIS, to determine this point definitely. ]
rm, believes, however, that the Cururu dc
eg- not join the two rivers, but rises only
ybe few days journey from the Xingu,
pen near perhaps that the waters of the t,
son streams mingle during a heavy floo
-, On the banks of the Cururu his frien,
aid the Campanaries live, and he feels G.
five tain that they will assist him in his n
on on undertaking. After exploring the I
dis, known region through which the upI
'ar! Xingu flows, he intends to 90 do
the Cururu to the Tapajos a
the then ascend the branch cal
the ST. Manuel, which the natl
IVY dIeSe W De GHe CONTINUATION Oh the m:
PITY stream. He thinks, however. that
mo- Juruena is the largest upper tribute
she of the Tapajos, and he may decide to
1t 1t up this stream instead of the St. Mani
In either event, he intends to penetr
let to the great watershed which lies
ard tween the head waters of the Tapa+
his Xingu and Tocantius, and the Paragii
and River, the last the main stream of
Rio de la Plata. The region of
SO. watershed has never been explor
go. Prof. Hart, formerely of Cornell [
peak versity, who is now directing the S
me. veys made by the government of Bra
says of it in a late report: so littl
her; known of this watershed that we
and dismiss it with few remarks" Mo
:, proposes to examine the conformat
old and flora of the region as carefully
our possible, and the results of his explc
you. tion will be of undoubted value if
now succeeds in completing his labors.
me After having made an examinat
:, of this region, Morris intends descend
I'd 1t the Paraguay and the Rio de la Plat.
her Montevideo, and then sail from I
Inelr port to this country, carrying with
that the fruits of his expedition. He is
NOT termined to start on this tour of exp
'neer alton poorly equipped rather than no
eater all.
love
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