The New York herald., 1878-09-29
AFLOAT IN THE FOREST.
Description of the People and
Their Habits.
ABSENCE OF THE COLORLINE
Ports on the Great River and
Their Trade.
PARA, Sept s. 1873.


that St Louis does to New Orleans 1t is about
thousand miles from the mouth OF the Amazon, ana,
although built on the Rio Negro short distance
above Its confluence. Is visited by all craft plying
the greater stream and is generally considered of
Its towns. The Rio Negro s quite large enough to
claim tho city for ITSELF but II Is 80 near tho Amazon
that the great river grasps as does every thing
else that comes Within its reach. Mana0s is laid out
~ right angles, with its east and west streets descend
Ing by a gentle iucline to the black water OF the
Negro, aud those north south into
Igurpe, which divides the town into TWO al.
most equal portions This lgarpe is crossed
by we'll built bridges OF wood The streets
lighted, on nights when tho moon does not shine.
by kerosene lamps. Thoy kept clean by the
frequent rains and the buzzsrds, and the principal
avenue Is paved win blocks Of hard. red sandstone
peculiar 10 tho Upper and Middle Amazon. There
arc, perhaps three thousand people within its limits,
but these scattered. and each house has such
an abundance of ground covered with
berry, surrounding It, that the city Is spread over
large area. From distance, picturesquely situated
rs It Is on rolling ground, Il presents beautiful ap.
pearance. Tho main avenue. lined BY rows OF big.
beed palms, slopes directly into tho river but the
descout Is SO gradual that carts wagons
can be driven directly TO the sides soi the
lighters which discharge the steamers. This
avenue is fanked TO the esst BY the
Cathedral Of Mupaos ugly structure Of stone, rem
dored glaring by thick coating OF whitewash. It's
architecture is hideous, but Notwithstanding Its home
ness il Is the pride OF the people They have spent
O vast amount Of money upon It, and are continually
spending more. With strange taste, however, they
whewash the expensive carvings in marble, and thus
destroy what little beauty the exterior OF the building
possesses The interior IS PLAIN; u few gaudy reig-
ious pictures ornament walls and huge altar Of
MIA lie ho tnarn md lint nj thasa
attempts decoration the church Is forbdding and
cold. II Is large that the congregation is lost Ex
cept on grand festivals but Tow attend the
vice. Women and children mako up the audience,
and these seem TO worship more as matter OF form,
Tor want OF more exciting occupation, than from
any desire Tor religious instruction.
THE
The town boasts oI several shops furnished with
articles oi European manufacture, and Is happy In
The possession OF billiard room. This luxury ap-
pears be highly appreciated by the gentiemen OF the
town, but from their skill Quo would Judge they haa
not long enjoyed IT, one Of the officers OF the expo
dilion object OF great admiration Of
his amazing Skill He attracted as much sttsntion
rs would Sexton In New YORK, albeit his
average was not greater than three. From
the patronage bestowed upon the billiard
room It was evident that other amusement not
DO obtained This was the case. Possibly there 10
place OF similar SIZE the world of civilization
where ttlo attention Is paid to recreation. There
is no theatre, no concert hail. no iycaum library.
Doe old seuhor told US one of tho pieassntest M
pries OF his youth Of circus that all tho way
from Peru Ho dwelt with innate tenderness on tho
beauty OF the horses aud The cievorpess OF the clown
bat ADDED mournfui voice, "Aas senior, two Of
The beautiful horses aied circus has ever
come TO give US JOY" The paucity Of inteiico
iual amusement Is, however, compensated Tor
Ia pert by the hospitality OF the people
themselves. They entertain each other in
= solemn way with tea and mandioca cake. These
teas are generally concluded by q dance. which Is
quite solemn performance the least winch pre-
cedes At these dances color limo is 81 ght
o., aud fact iu x the relations OF lilo the color
prejudice does exist. The Brazilian "ro man-
ner born" not exactly white, aud the nixod bioods
couairy range from tho line OF new saddle 10
tnat the ace oil spades but the wbitesI among them
does not hold himself alooi iron his less favored
brothe. Ou the contrary. he treats MIN exactly as
he would any else. He eats, drinks. votes, dances
aud sleeps with him without thought of superiority
account OF tho shade OF his SKIN. Al Tea given
during tho stay OF the ship In Manaos there every
shade from the blackness OF Ethiopia TO tho white-
moss oil Cauca rcprcsented, and during the dance
which followed the tea the wnitest OF the Brazilian
men lad Tor MS partner In the nrst contra dance
nearess. and was vsdris to negro who had Tor his
mate the iairest OF the Brazilian ladies' present. the
result OF tins familiarity rs seen ali up the Amazon.
rhere is no distinct color mo races have so
blended that new tint, kind oil French bronze has
been evolved.
Manaos, with the exception OF Para, Is the lest
thrvig place on the river. Its position anu tho
tabnsbm.nt OF The Amazon aud European line Of
"eamers has contributed greatly TO ITS prosperity.
The Rio Negro Is black wafer river OF great depth
md widsD, running through country rich In rubber,
sisa anu other WOOL products. The Purus, draining
IRON tho soutnward, pours wealth OF rubber woods
Amazon, winch fUrmeriy driftcu slowly down
toward Para, Dow stop wnere tsc steam
Para. All tho proiucts OF the surrounding
ais,rcts pour into IL During ls17-s there were
zoo O0O pounds coslanbia nuts, 600 900 pounds
ber 100 pounds oil copaiba anu lOO0UU pounds Of
aienIe and cabinet woods oi total value oi iSors
than 5000. OOO. showing that speaks well Tor the
men whs have established themselves this lar OF
locality. Tho little towu really offers great induce
ments TO msn OF energy ana oi moderaie capi-
tai. Strangers are we'll received, the c-
mate Is bea,tny, insect pests arc almost unsnown.
invested capital secure the country peaceful ana
hBough IL 10 al present Isolated sui IN lew years
u must become oil great importance equenty
De put Into closer csmnuoication srea.
tres OF tue worla. IA. country around Manaos Is
sliphtiy rolling IL 10 covered with dense of
trees anu Is Intersected by numerous IgariLe., or
ssnoe paths, winch give means oil commu
with tho interi. r. On one OF these the pIc-
turcsque gfcat iall OF Manaos is situatea.
fne approach to this Is so beautiful that
even .he most indifferent spectator msits
into enthusiasm. 10 ENJOY the iuii beauty OF the
route one must traverse early IN the morning, be-
lore the sun has had lime TO ncat the
away tnc iDin veil OF mist which hangs between tho
tfeUs as enough suspended FROM their branches.
TUE BArEkRs
To do TINS IL Is necessary 10 start from Manaos be-
tore Or Just about sunrise. ior miic or so Oi the
rver must be paddlea before the entrance TO Tue
lsafpe reached. TINS preparatory trip Is not un-
Interesting. Az this hour only the early rscfs OF
hsuaos arc about, but ibosc who pay psrto-
nhf alehtiou 10 cleanliness may be seen as
tha canoe, propelled W TOUR strong Indian
paddcr' smo siicn alides along the snore taSing
tWir uvrnihg oath lhese, be they men, women or
e0lidtvn, pa no attention 10 t9c canoe. Ihcir mvd.
esy 10 hot sbOcked ny tue presence OF strtngers
Ibcy 30 "n wan their auiutvBs as tuougn tho river
were "a scciudsu Ostu. The ngurvs OF SON OF these
ptoplr sre superb Many ot tho men are perfect
types OF strength. Etcn muscle stands out snini1g