The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-31

and the rigging become led with the lianas and
epiphytos plants which hung from the branches. me
Canal Of Tsjapura not more than sixty eet VIDE at
It's narrowes point ana IN passing SO close " .ne
bank one could we'll observe its formation me wate.
margin formed by undulatng edge OF nno
broad lenved plants which rise and fall WIN ever
wave and ripple. Behind this tho undergrowth OF
bush tern and young palm, interlaced ana hes.ca
by crcepers various kinds makes bed from wnich
rise the boies oil the larger lneispersed among
the sky heavy butressed silk cottonwood trees rear
ing their massive crowns above their more eieean.
brethren; now and then rubber tree, dlsungaisneu
BY its white trunk and deep green ioiase, ana, IN
cumps of two or lhree the curiousy mottled niedN,
with It's blood red bark and denuded branches. Lne
forest is dense SO dense IN tact that an !haan can
not ind a path nor the birds OF the air
way. But few flowers can be seen at tnis
many to be found IN The woods. All, except few
Towering orchids, desert the shade made ny tue
overhanging wealth OF foliage for more open spots
Occasionaily however trsc crowded TO ITS top with
yellow or crimson blossoms breaks the uniformity OF
color and gives the eye respite from the conunua
green.
The ship anchored tor few hours before she
emerged from the strait IN order tnat soundings
isted ahead which IL would be dangerous to pass,
but II such bar had place. save IN the imagina.
tons OF lanacio and Gomez, 1t had been wasned
away, Tor tho leadsmen could not I'D loss than live
fathoms wherever they sounded. This halt In the
forest gave us an opportunity 10 contemplate .he
solitude and to feel, almost physically, the awful
loneliness OF the place. cicada chirpng now anu
then and the OCCASIONAL chatter OF flock OF paro-
quets disturbed from their roosis by the rattle oil
the anchor cham Alone broke the dead ST.
lerce. When the camor died away no sound
OF bird groW OF beast gave evidence that lie ex
listed in tho deuse verdure. The sun went down as
ship there, with the almost instant dark
ness camo ha. indie scribable feeling Of utter desola
t0n that the most cheerful experiences when no
Is surrounded by the miess distances Of nature, DC
they OF desert, sea or forest
Tho return Of the leadsnen and the shrill whistle
Of tho beaswain calling all hands TO up anchor soon
drove such thoughts away, aud IN u lev moments tho
vessel emerged from tho living green In winch she
had been enwrappoa iaio tho broad and swiftly fow-
ING channel OF europa She now steamed ahead rap
Idly, tor the course was clear and the water Deep
In lew hours the beauiiu Islands OF Jurutahy Paca-
ruby and BaGuia were passed ana Tho town oi
Gurupa perchad ON bank OF red clay Ut tho mouth
OF the Xlngus caine into view. As time was now OF
great importance he ship sped past the inviting aud
Clean looking village without stopping, and pursued
her up the last stretch OF tnis outet Of the
Amazon
The distance from shore to shore was now 80 greas
that when the main Amazon was reached II seemed
no broader than its branch This comparative mar.
is caused by the presence OF large Island
the Para Channel Wnen this was passed the mighty
showed itself IN all Its grandeur II IS here
not as yet, been accurately determined, but which
showed no bottom ~ twenty fathoms. LIS color Is
derived from the white or muddy rivers ina. now
into it. the clearer streams Of such a1uents as Tho
Xingno, Tapajos ana Negro being absorbed ~ Inc
greater volume OF The turbd branches. On IT'S sur,
face doal many islands, some OF the extent OF hall
aero or These floating gardens--ior such they
really formed by trees. which, alter
isc,ec together in natural rata On them
grasses grow and seeds take root that
II course Of time vegetation spring; up %G'G ca
were Its roots planted IN more stable soii me
river bears lis bosom not only these masses OF
Roots and trunks Of palms, dead and soggy logs OF
other trees known only TO the botanst and the ma
tree ferns knots Of tangled creepers and NOSES and
all the debris OF the vast forest That overhangs It's
banks Tor the thousands Of mites OF It's course.
On both sides oil The river the forest makes the
bank There Is seemingly no break IN us continuity
1t crecps to the waters edge and into The very stream
and the Amazon 1ows on as though restrained 10 its
course only by the eary wall Many islands dot its
surface. Some of these are large but most arc mere
spots OF green upon the yellow expanso. None are
cnlt,vated All are covered by mass OF verdure SO
dense that IL viii not permit even landing
to be made. Flowing into the river at short DIS
tances are little creeks, outlets of lakes or tho
openings Of iga,ipes which lie inside the banks and
which are navlgable tor long distances. Now and then
river quite but not largo enough 10 have
found q place on any OF The Brazilian charts, makes
It's Appearance and the succession Of islaud creek
There little interest the tourist on the ANA
zon besides the natural beauties OF IT'S course But
few steamers are seen The craft that Ply the river
Occasionally a canoe or the clbcrta of trader IL
passed. or log crowded with gulls sitting IN solemn
generally the monotony OF forest and is un-
broken the song OF the leadsman and the whri
OF the propeller x,c,x,, ns.urrp
Steaming against the current is slow work, unless
the engines are worked 20 their maximum power
cause was not deemed advisable, and only three
knots hour against the land were made. Even tni
shortly after leaving Gurupa the engines were dis
abled and complete stoppage OF the expedition
threatened. In Attempting to back, after havIni
stopped the purpose OF sending boat to schooner
thai was being towe0 down Hom San Autonio crasl
was heard, and the Demonstrating intelligence came
from the engine room that the bolts holding tht
brasscs and cap 10 the crank pin were broken and
that the connecting ROD was bent This was quite
enough 10 cast gloom over every one. At any TIME
III dan n blu liz
the middle of the Amazon, hundreds OF miles away
from oven the limited facilities OF Para, IT was more
than Encouraging. The bolts that had broken were
screws Of OF three inches damcter and the con
meeting rod wrought mass weighing nsarly
| q ton. There were duplicates OF The screw bolt
board and no iorge, excepta small one used by TN
blacksmith, IN which the rod could be strengthened
IL maxim, however In the service. that s1yth,hl
can be done on board OF q man-owar, and afier tn
| shock had passed all hands went to work 10 repa
| damages. inc engine, fortunately, is q COMPOUND
| one, and hence, by dsconnecting the high from th
low pressure cylinder, motive power was obtained
| whirh was sufficient 10 drive the vessel ahead at
speed sufnclent barely TO stem tho current Tn
the engine and for the time the ship was urne'
into floating machine shop. The main obstacle
| completing tho repairs tho bent connecting rod
| but Ivy means OF in extemporized forge and power
| fuI hydraulic jack, the Immense mass was al las
| Strengthened sufficiently 10 allow It's return 10 ~
place Then the steel screws taken out, turne'
END Tor end and replaced slots being cut TO rcpac
The nuts, which no longer would take ny ines
| means the engine was put again IN working order
In less than live days connections were made ana tn
Enterprise was ready 10 steam anead ~ full power
| required.
4 SECOND DISASTER.
| Tho general Joy over the repair was, however
destined TO be OF short DURATION for the next day
| the engine turripg slowly, another crash an
| nounceu that q second disaster had arrived Thf
time tho bulls had broken In such way that their re
pair was absolutely impossible. Tho connecting ro
stood the strain without bending, but the circu
latiug pump rod had given way and pther damages
| had occurred The engine was ngan disconnected
and the Enterprise, us though Determined not 10 b.
stopped went slowly ahead propelled only by the hgi
| pressure cylinder.
Inc trip promised TO extend itsclf indefinitely
for al the rate which the ship progressing,
| was evident tnan san Antonio could not DO roacne
before the waters OF tho Madeira had fallen AMER
! ingenuity, however, came 10 the rescue. ny
complex device suggested by Assistant Engineer al
| ter Shewell United States Navy, the condcnsc
| was changed from q surface 10 n iet; vacuum
| seventeen inches was obtained, anu tho ship wa
| enabled, crippled ~ she was, 10 steam ahead ~
rate oil eight Knots per hour All was well AGAIN; 10