The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-13
THE AMAZON SURVEY.
OK BOARD u. s. srEAxER ESrERPRIsE, \
MADEIRA RIVER, 0Pg ISLAND URNA, s. A.
Illr u 1919

water deep II frons OF Town or Serps that
safe anchorage for large ship not obtainable The
Enterprise therefore, remained during Sunday, the
10th Of Jane. at anchor three miles below. From
here boat parties were sent to the town determine
its position. II Is place of some importance owing
10 its being near the confluence oil the Madeira, the
direct route TO Bolivia. II Is situated q grassy
terrnced bIun, and from distance presents quito
imposing appearance. A nearer approach, however,
dispels the illusion, for IL s way
psror 10 the other towns Of the Amazon
Valley The houses principally adobe build
ings OF ono story and, like the other
habatons seen In this region, are totally deficient OF
all appliances Suggestive Of comfort luxury For
beds, nammocks are swung from hsoks in the WALL
Doors TO be found, but they only be used
night for the purpose Of keeping air. which
Is considered unwholesome Privacy is an unknown
and an undssorved pleasure. Men. women. children,
dogs, chickens, monkeys aud parrots occupy IN COM
mon the shelter which by courtesy is called house
APrER A III.
The people, at the time the visit Of the eyng
party, the torpid condition which follows the
celebration OF fiesta. The day having been not only
Sunday but also the birthday OF favorite saint. The
lbaIions been many and the resultant stupor
cvcn moro deep than ordinary. Most OF tho inhabi-
ants had retired their houses whore they could be
seen ioing In their hammscks. Those who
were about were too excited to think
Of anything except more cachsca They
disdained TO answer questions and were
not even willing to vend articles OF food In thor
possession. Only the naked children and a low halt
grown girls seemed TO be in their sober senses.
These watched with great interest the placing OF .he
artificial horzons and the operations Of gentlemen
VINO taking tho stars This condition OF affairs
only obtains, Is just TO state, during festas aud
times Of general rejoicing At other periods the
people generous and hospttabia All along the
coast The expedition with the greatest kind
ness Uniortunasely, however, isstas como with such
frequency that the effects Of one are Hardly worn
or before another must be celebrated.
Serpa claims to have population Of 500 souls but
500 Is probably all that could be counted
sERRA AND THE ALIiGAroRs.
Il has some little trade, principally in rubber from
the Madeira Valley, and in goods from Para tor
the Indians who dwell in the surrounding
districts. While pulling In the eddies
from the ship TO the to~u the nrst alligator was
seen, but he, unfortunately. was dead From the re-
ports Of travellers, and the emsnts Of books writ
ten BY explorers IL was supposed that these reptiles
crowded every lagoon and summed themselves on
every bank, but whether It Is account of
or because thsy have forskpowlsdgs OF approaeh
ing danger not a cay man has US yet shown himself
So far algators and water Doas are concerned one
might well be sailing up the HUDSON Delaware.
That they do exist 10 undoubtedly true, Tor the dcad
one has been seen, ana IN Para xnacondas are ex
posed Tor sale Nevertheless It u be feared that
modern voyagers have been ex,rAvagapt In their
tales was orslana, the spanard, Who not content
with telling the WONDERFUL TRUTH concocled outrage.
GUS winch told Of rooted with gold Of
formidable ono breastcd women who fairly fought
him as he passed through their territory OF ANA
zonas
TIE MADkIRA
The eorvette lsit Ssrpa on Monday, the l7th OF
June and at three in the afternoon she turned her
prov into the Madeira. THIS main anauent OF tile
Amazon Is, atits moash, about Two miles wide. II
Anuc .eNna n nd and ,nuo
oatlets separated by islands The principal channel
has depth OF fifteen f4tnoms at this and at
OF It's water shade or TWO lighter than that Of Inc
Amazon. TINS gives II, by comparison, asomswnat
..Ailky RIVER" lev miles Iom ITS mouth The
bank begins 10 rise, aud from this poiut to the falls
10 Vol marked Il 10 composed Of reddish loan
lard In strata which, NJ distance, give II q
rocky appearance rhs bank MAKES the Ma
dslra = more Ds.asiruL river than Vie Amazon !.
Of the water aud ~ rcd surface fcstooued by
ns ,o's gives r.s. 70 sns sy wsaf RED ~ 80 mScn
clay OF the general description those
The bapks Of the great river There are not many
coltoawoods are more heavily buitrsssed, and many
rubbers are gigantic The currens flows rapidly, bus
thers liz not nuon driiiwooa borne upon H. Most Of
that lled by the rise Of the has passed OUT but
a. iho tune Of tho Hoods during the SEASON OF rn the
swept from lis own banks and from those Of rs rlDu-
tarisa From sh,s ths river has derived Iss
UNKNOWN KivxR.
On entering the Madeira the critical point OF the
survey reached. The Amazon flows with
iorcs ana the volume OF water poured over Its iIa-
experienced In navigating It, Tue MADEIRA, ailh0ughs
great river IL - yer unknown. Until within few
who harassed traders VINO attempted the passage
the falls and down the stream. The piiots spoke
mat rapids and bars awaMsa tho snip. Cons.qaenuy
the most extreme care was taken. Az sunoown
apPro.cnsd the anchors wsre dropped aad tho sorvss
These ssoppaees were maas when prSctssable, near
sits or tassda where the observers could md .
clearing to set up thor instrument Most Of these
hu,s were the dwellings o. owners OF Cacso
plantations. OF SernqHeros, the rubber sstbsrcfs
These people were al.sys KIND and, IN some n
stasees they wore ELUSIVE In their hospitality.
CHRISTENING.
At point the Eazonua Santa ANA, the vessel
stopped Just a. the Padre had arrived = the
lately born babies Of tho proprietor. Jhs perform.
snce Of TINS me was evidently 70 DC celsora.ed with
SeyInquero had gathered together, and wandStng
troupe, consisting OF two voilnIsts and harper had
dritlsu from unknown point to the Wuen
ths boat from the ship reached the shore the csfs
mony had already begun. An altar. Constructed of
apartment, and the ohndrsu being handed up 10
the smiiiug padre, VINO was performing his pious
had been coneiud.d the altar was moved away and
the room cleared tor dance. This was entered
nth f'; n S sus ss ana % ksp up not %
lays ot friends arriving TO take the place Of those
faIigucd.
rms man, although living without any Of The lux
uriss and with but lev oil The comforts OF lie. IL
TO own twelve square mics OF territory and TO have
fortune OF SOU, 600. H. seemed live Ia
pasrarcha style, Dcing surrounaod by women slaves
troops Of children, and herds Of cattle.
NaECTs.
Whilo 10 the Amazon the northeast trade winds on
thor way home had been an immense relief and no
one had Suffered greatly IRON the heat nor had mos.
quitoes or insects been annoying Now, however, all
eosnors has vanished. No breeze relieve
the intense heat Of the midday The thermometer
ranges during sunlight IRON IS to 90 degrees Of
Fabrsnhsit, and daring the dark ness IRON ~ 10 50
degrees Were u not for the refreshing GOODNESS OF
the nights the climate would be IN bsarabo. Insecss
oil all kinds hold high carnival During tho day bril-
iapty coorod dragon fss butterflies Of every insg.
Unable hue, winged snts and buzx,ug wasps irsqusnt
the ship, while both day and nignt mosquitoes Know
NO resi-. Fortunately the MADEIRA mosquito, either |
because he has not cultivated nis powers or some
Other unexpiainabie reason, does not compare win
his brethren Of the swamps oil New Jersey aud |
the marshes OF the Mississippi Here his |
Stag, although Irritating, 10 not poisonous, |
and his hum, although plainly audible, is but tho
faint reflex OF tho aggressive song OF mis- northern