The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-11-10

ing of a new born day''-we are again
atioat, steaming slowly between numel-
GUS islands of all shapes and sizes, which
remind us of a portion of the St Lawrence.
Some of the channels dividing the islands
by which the immense breadth of the Am
azon is broken are themselves like ample
rivers and are locally named as such:
While others are mere creeks. \ second
stop is made at the village of Taiaparco,
on the channel OF river of the same
name, which, though containing hardly a
dozen huts, is of Importance as being one
OF the chief centers of the rubber trade.
Here we find another crowd of nearly
naked blacks with the same monkeys, par
oquets and pottery to sell or more just
like them: and it may be as well to say
right here that this part of the scene is
exactly duplicated at every stopping place
along the rivers entire length, with this
difference only. that farther up the ven
ders are mostly women and children, who
appear to devote their lives to catching
such beasts, birds and reptiles rs passing
travellers are likely to buy, while the men
are of in the woods rubber hunting.
Since monkey keeping has become a lad
among fashionable ladies', it is great pity
| that most of those found along the Anna
ION will not bear transporting. Among
the smaller varieties, from tiny ones not
|
to golden armed moss monkeys aver
aging foot in length (not counting the
two or three foot long tail), are many that
would make the most intelligent and al
fectonate as we'll as the prettiest of pets,
though all are inclined to mischievousness
as sparks to fly upward. Again and again
| | have tried the experiment of transport
ing to the North those varieties that are
never found tor sale; but in spite of the
the greatest care, in cages lined with cot
ton wool, so as to exclude every breath of
of cold air, they invariably 60 to the mon
key heaven at the first approach OF winter
For days and days we steam slowly
along between fiat and mostly marshy
banks generally alligator infested, and
always backed by dense wall OF verdule
atiame with gorgeous flowers, Most
Amazonian travellers complain of the mon
otony Of a long voyage; but it has never
become so to us. Were there nothing to
look at but the splendid palms, it would
be enough to keep us profoundly interest
ed. Among a thousand varieties OF those
monarchS of the tropical forests, the assai
palm is most prominent, with it's crown
of plume like leaves and pendant punches
of berry like fruit. 50 compact is the
thiuket that YOU can seldom see into it
more than few feet, but the variety of
plant life is overwhelming great. How
ever much the early Friars may have
tibbed about the beasts and reptiles and
female warriors Of these regions of 70
nance, they have never exaggerated CON
corning the magnitconce OF the forests, -
simply because it is beyond the power of
mortal pen ol tongue to de them Justice.
Besides groves of towering palms that
look like vast halls set With Egyptian col
umns, there are even taller trees, spread
inc over the rest Il thick root which looks
like a vast green umbrella. There are
leaves varying III color from the lightcst
to the darkest shades of green, from pale
yellow to black: trunks smooth as glass,
ol ringed and turroWed all W and down.
III trimmed with a tangled network of
vines. ranging from green to grey, brown
to black. white to dull red. Bat the
great mass of forest. at least that cl0sc TO
shore. is composed OF tall Slim stems
crowded SO closely together rs to resem-
Bile a natural picket fence: the whole com
pletelY covered with the most splendid Of
chids and other brilliant flowers, "a pan
Drama unequalled throughout the great
round world.
Though village, are few and tar between
there are many water-side huts. isolated
or in groups and after the first few days
we cruise SO close to shore that we could
almost talk with their inhabitants. In
every east. the forest crowds the casa
close to the waters edge; and a description
Of one Amazonian ho ne will answer ion
all the rest, with the sole exception that
in those places which are sure to be sub
! merged during greater portion of the
year. the houses are set upon stills, SO t.
speak, on piles driven into the Shiny ooze,
! each with its little garden for the cultiya
! ton of mandioca elevated in the same
manner The frame is made Of slender
tree trunks. crossing each other at righl
angles. with palm leaves woven in inter
stices and spread on top for thatch; the
: oVelhanging roof covering a wide 0Het
porch extending across the front This
porch, which is as deep as a good sizeG
! apartment answers for kitchen, dining auo
sitting rooms, the interior being used only
to sleep in OF for shelter during severes1
rains The hard mud floors are always
Clearly swept and one fruitful source OF
dirt and disease which is found in the
the houses of our own poor, viz. beds ano
2 bedding, is lacking here the clean coo
2 hammock slung from the rafterS being the
E universal and only sleepinm arranu tment