The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-05
Our Qolio.
THE MIGHTY AMAZON.
the River that Drains Brazil.

Not unworthily, indeed, the Amazon
has been termed "Thc Mediterranean Of
the New World" Only after floating
days upon days over its majestic tide does
one reach conception Of its vastness. 1t
is in fact an immense water basin, rather
than river or system of rivers, that
drains the best portion of FIVE republics
and of colossal empire. The area actu-
ally covered by the waters Of the Amazon
is estimated at 10000 square miles, and
this figure increases at least by fourth
during foodtime, or as it is called there,
the wet season. Tho channel through
which the Amazonian waters flow for over
600 miles is so deep as to have suggested
to the wondering imagination of the ear
lier navigators only one epithct-fathom'
less. At Obidos its depth is forty faith
oms; at other points it reaches the marvel
Gus depth Of seventy fathoms. Half a
million of cubic feet Of water pour every
second through the narrows at 0bidos,
and with such force does the Amazon en-.
ter the ocean 600 miles below, that fresh
water may be lifted from the bosom of the
Atlantic at a distance which renders it
impossible to descry land on any side.
Eighteen Of its tributaries are themselves
rivers of the first magnitude, and several
Of these are over 800 miles in length.
"But vast as are these tributary streams"
fitly remarks Orton, "they seem to make
no impression on the Amazon; they are
lost like brooks in the ocean" The Ma.
dcira alone, with its great aflluents Ma
more, Benz, ltenez and Gaupore, carries
at mean level over 100000 cubic feet of
water per second through On extent of
over 5000 miles; yet this huge contribu-
ton is imperceptible half way across the
river "The Mississippi poured into it at
its mouth, says Col. George Church,
would not raise it six inches" Within
the boundaries of Brazil alone, the ANA.
zonian network Of rivers, canals and lakes
offers $1,000 miles Of steam navigation.
Twelve thousand miles arc actually ira.
versed by the vessels of the Amazonian
Navigation Steamship Company and other
steamers. The basin Of the Amazon is
twice as large as the Valley of the Mis-.
sissippi, and "would hold forty-nine coun.
tries the size Of England" The natural
wealth of the country for over 100000
square miles is in proportion with the
magnitude Of the river The fora of Bra
zil is as rich as any in the world, and as
far as concerns the medicinal alimentary,
ornamental and industrial uses of the veg.
etable kingdom, has no rival. The min
eral wealth of the country is seemingly
inexhaustibe; the land yields almost cv.
cry product from the diamond to the least
valuable metal. Bates and AgassiA have
related what wonders Of animal life arc
seen along the Amazon. The latter, speak
ing of fishes only, says the river nourshes
twice as many species as the Mediterra.
mean, and larger number than the Allan
tic, taken from pole to pole. No less cause
of wonder is the intensity with which life
itself Is manifested in these waters. "All
the rivers of Europe" ho says, aunited,
from the Tagus to the Yolga, do not nour.
ish $50 species Of fresh water fishes; a
little lake near Manaos, oallod lake Hyan.
uary, the surface of which hardly covers
800 square yards, contains moro than 200
distinct species, the greater part of which
have not been observed elsewhere. - Cor
respondenee ~ T. Tribune