The morning call., 1893-05-21
WHITE INDIANS.
A Tribe Known to Exist on the Banks
of the AnlaZOn.
journal GeographIqu

Journal Geographique.
There exists at the AK seminary, in the
French department of Bouches-du-Rhne
Latin manuscript containing the descrip-
tion and itinerary of an ancient Journey
performed by Jesuit missionaries from the
River Orinoco 10 the River Plate, through
South America. Father Nicolino, Brazil
ian, while studying at AK, found in the
document referred TO the description OF
vast plains to the south OF the Tumuk-
Humak range, and of British. Dutch anu
French Guiana in the Amazon Valley.
In this manuscript tribe OF white
Indians is spoken OF, which was also found
there by NJ. Couireau in 1880. Guided by
the AK manuscript, Father Nlcoilno
started on November 20, 1876, from the
lower Trombetas or Oriximna. the afffuent
of the Amazon above Obidos, got view
of the plains at the base Of the Tamuk-
Hamuk on January %, 1877, but did not
find any Indian village. ami had to turn
back for the lack OF provisions.
He tried to return the following Octo-
ber, traversing the forests. but was again
obliged to retrace his steps. In 1882. while
engaged in a third expedition, Father
Nicolno died of yellow fever. The River
from betas beyond the confluence of the
Kuminyan is very little known. Within
the last twenty years some five or six eX-
peditions, besides those we have men,
Li0H6u. SGT Out lIuHi ODluUS " 6AptuIG II,
but never returned. The River from
betas appears TO be formed by the conflu-
ence of two considerable systems, one 30
the northwest, the other to the northeast
The higher system, that to the north
west, was explored in 1886 by NJ. Henri A.
Coudreau. starting from the Rio Branco
(confiuent to the Rio Negro. The furthest
branch is, in this direction, the Kurukuri.
An aff1uent almost parallel with Kurukuri.
the Apiui, connects the Trombetas, and
therefore the Amazon Valley, with the
Essequbo. which runs northward and, as
is we'll known. discharges near Demerara,
as in like manner the RIO Negro, the next
largest af1iuent TO the Amazon, communi-
Gates further west with the Orlnoco by
means of the Casiquiare.
In 1890, a vast overflow of the Amazons
devastated the plains whereon the cattle
of the Obidos district are reared. The
government of the Brazilian province of
Para thought at that time to rediScOver the
means of communication with the plains
found in ancient times by the Jesuits. and
it dispatched an expedition under the En-
gineer Goncalves TOcantins. On October
g. 1890, the expedition set out from Obidos
to reach the mouth of the River TromDetas,
ascended the river as far as the mouth of
Kuminyan (he Portuguese, Spanish and
Braz liam orthography is Cimina, Cumin-
han and Crmina).
The first section of the Kuminyan is OF
almost impossible navigation on account
of the rocks and waterfalls, whereon the
expeditions canoes were broken up.
They then journeyed through the forest
until able to construct canoe from the
bark of the Tapari tree. In this they
travelled by way of the Urukuriana IAN
affluent of the left margin of the Kumin-
YAM for period of ten days. The banks
of that river were covered with dense
forests, and colossal trees which had fallen
CT a tltrt 70 ha
cut away with hatchetS to enable the ex-
pedition to advance.
AS fever began to assert itself the ex-
pedition returned as far as the Kuminyan,
which it continued to ascend. Then il
was that, on the left bank. thew saw an
Indian village, the inhabitants of which
fled as they approached. When it re-
turned the presents had been secured, but
the Indians continued hidden. In the
village there were tools, evidently OBJ
tanned from the Dutch colony of Surlnam
to the north.
On November 1S the expedition atlength
arrived at the sought-for plains. Adjoining
The kumlnyan and arising 1000 feet above
1t was hill, from the summit of which
could be seen grassy plains, free of forest
tor great expanse. TO the north of the
Iumus-Humak Mango was seen to stretch
east and west. To the south the forest ex-
tended as far as the Amazons, and east
ward the plains seemed boundless.
SENIOR Tocantins judges them to stretch
as lar as the rivers Aporuna, Arapuari.
Auspa and Oyapok-that is, as far as the
slopes whence rivers flow direct into the
Atlantic. Westward, also, the confines
couid not be discerned and Senior Tocan-
tins believes The plains to stretch beyond
the Rio Braneo. On these highlands
several treeless but grassy hills rise. The
entire plateau is watered by numerous
streams.
At this point the Kuminyan is $40 feet
wide and is perfectly nayigabe. being in
of Senior Gonealves Toeantin' tourney
northeriy winds were prevalent, the eli
mate way temperate and, TO ali appear
ance salubriouS The plains appeared to
be suitable for the rearing of enormous
herds OF cattle.