Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

nations, and can only be navigated by ships
carrying the Brazilian flag, unless negotia-
tions have been made by treaty, granting
certain privileges in that direction.
Great Country to Open Up.
When one remembers that there are up
ward of $4,000 miles of steam river naviga-
tion in the Amazon Valley, less than :, 600
of which are included in the main stream,
the Importance of the restriction will be-
come apparent. All of the tributaries are
navigable for the largest boats. Among
these may be named the Tocatins, nearest
to Para, which extends southwardly to an
undeveloped region for nearly ], 900 miles
Above this the clear waters of the Topajos
from the mountains of the far southwesterly
interior enter the Amazon at the American
colony of Santarem. The Madeira is navi-
gable for 800 miles to the great falls, where
canoes take cargoes to the interior of
Bolivia. The Negro, on which Manaos is
situated, extends in a northerly direction,
its numerous tributaries reaching into
British Guiana, Venezuela and Colombia
The PurIs Is said to be wonderfully rich in
undeveloped rubber, and is navigable into
Bolivian territory.
The Javary is the dividing line between
Brazil and Peru, and is becoming one of the
most prolific sources of good rubber, of q
fine quality, as also the Jurua, into all of
which it will be necessary to navigate to
collect rubber and distribute supplies As
a matter of fact, but little crude material is
handled on the main river.
independence of Brazilian States.
1t is one of the curious features to an
American traveller on the Amazon to find
that each State government is sovereignty,
so that vessels going from one State to an
other are subjected to all the restrictions as
if coming from foreign port Another of
the difficulties attending this navigation is
that the Brazilian laws require all vessels
CARRYING their flag to be oficered and
manned exclusively by citizens of Brazil.
We are all children of q larger growth,
sometimes, but native Braziliero, how
ever old or experienced he may become, al
ways remains boy in his way of conduct
ing business and when vested with little
brief authority as a commandante of q ves-
sci, he makes a veritable Pinafore on his
ship. Generally, the average citizen has
but q faint onception of the rights of
others; with him public Office
is not public trust, but solely a private
for personal gains There are
well authenticated illustrations to prove
that captains of Amazon steamers have |
thrown overheard or landed in the woods a |
cargo that was either shipped by an enemy |
Or consigned to some one who had probably |
offended his mother-in-law. They exercise |
absolute tyranny in ali things, and will |
AXE only such passengers as are personally |
agreeable to themselves or their friends.
How Love Makes Passengers Swear.
When once beyond the reach of the En-
,lish managers at Para the commandante of
! boat goes through the country like con-
lueror on board a man-of-war, treating his
as so many slaves or captives
Probably they come by this, because in the
ears past their principal passenger traffic
vas confined to half savage Indians, the
ficers failing to advance with the civiliza-
ion that has crowded around them. 1t
ever occurs to the commandante of an
Amazon boat that a passenger who has paid
is fare and received contract ticket could
ossibly have any rights which he is bound
D respect
No matter how urgent may be the busi-
ess if the captain should as frequently
ccurs, be in love with a pretty halt-breed |
irl living in hut on the banks of the
ver, he will anchor the boat outside for II
D % hours while he goes ashore and makes
we to his inamorata, and the passengers
ght mosquitoes on board and swear because
ley are not allowed to go ashore too.
his is not SO much the practice as formerly. '
ueEe are Always exceptions, anu am glau
} be ableTo record these illustrations from 8
lie words ST our own commandante, who is +,
ldeed a notable and honorable exception
} the rule. l am particularly fortunate in J
aving sailed under Commandante Carlos S
erreira, Portuguese Navigator. who is 8
known the length of 1000 miles s
the Amazon as not only the most COM +
etent, but the most courteous officer in the
mazon Company's service.
j. ORToN KERBEX