The National tribune., 1898-04-28

f......--: history, mongrels-men of mixed
blood. combination of Indian, negro,
and Portuguese does not produce choi =
specimens of the human race. Anybody,
however, can read about SantareEl, or see
pictures OF it, If they choose. The object
here is to give information not easily ac-
cessible, in fact very generally unknown;
therefore / will suppose that all our prep
arations have been made, and we are
ready to start again.
Taking a last look from that eminence
where an old ruined Portuguese fort stands.
one who can see more than what appears
upon the surface OF things may behold
something that has no true parallel IN
any one place on earth.
South and west from where the Tapaios
enters the Amazon, extend immense
elevated plains the highlands of Brazil
destined hereafter to be great in history
despite all present drawbacks. Under
meath comparatively thin layers OF SOIL
lies a vast sheet OF granite, old as the
world. Between primeval ages and this
present time nothing intcrveneS. Looking
towards AmaZonia, everything is new, put
has no future place in the annals OF man
kind. lncalculable as are the periods dur
ing which its rivers have made the country
through which they flow, this counts put
as yesterday when compared with that OF
the other tracts duration.
Here the newest and most ancient IN
nature lie side by side upon an uneGualled
scale; but while the latter seems full OF
promise, there is more hope of the Sahara
itself becoming populous and prosperous.
than that the sea of forest in front and
northward OF Santarem will ever be peopled,
or possess any human interest otherwise
than as the home and last refuge OF race
that failed.
As il was our intention to make pre-
Eminary tour along the TapaloS River,
of those halayCif1rC we intended to
embark on the Amazon were stored, with
one Jose Munllo TO take care of them, IN a
house that was rented upon first coming
TO these parts. We paid 1000 reis, or
about 81 a month, for it, and were much
more comfortable there than if staying at
any public establishment.
This part of our journey was made on
Land, and, therefore, mules or horses were
necessary, together with some attendants.
Nothing could have been more easily ac-
quired than the first; but servants were
infinitely hard TO get All liberated slaves
and natives disdained TO hire themselves,
and at last we started off with four vag-
rants unmatchable for worthiessneSS, al
though they did not exhibit those active
and energetic vilainies by which our late
associates were distinguished.
Near Santarem the country is open, I'M
dulating, and often hilly. Its surface is
overspread with delicate, hairy grasses,
looking beautiful during wet weather, but
unfit Tor forage. Single trees grow sepa-
rately here and there, or cluster in small
groves, showing a great variety Of species
for their limited extent. Complete solitude
reigns throughout the entire region.
There are a few wretched settlements
four or five miles out from Santarem; but
beyond that, nothing alive Is met with ex-
cept nature $ wild deniZens. These do not
change with successive seasons nearly so
much as this prairie-land itself which as
droftUbt sar a. hf1p mt iS lay
fresh with verdure scOrched into a dry,
yellow stubble intermingled with fallen
leaves-althoueh IL should be said that,
owing TO occasional showers, there is no
such general dearth of foliage in dry
weather as many other tropical countries
display.
Besides some refreshment from rains.
the trade wind blows steadfastIy and for
ever across these uplands Of Brazil To-
wards February, however, its regularity
ceases. Violent squalls come cut of the
west, and sudden gales, most frequently
occurring al night, burst upon the coast.
This IL - pleasant climate, nevertheless,
and by no means an unhealthy one-be-
ing strongly contrasted in that respect with
those fever-stricken forests which await
us later on.
There was nothing TO stop or stay our
tourney south. No villages where our men
could get drunk; no peril Of hostile say
ages, or dangerous wild beasts Natures
great unwritten book" lay open for US to
read in reace.
This rivers shores are clothed with a
fringe OF forest, broken here and there by
cliffs of bare clay. The Tapajos also forms
numerous iniets along its banks and a
whole chain of little pond-like lakes near
by. They are inundation formations; but
do not dry up 10 any very great extent, and
while existing seem always full of wading
birds and water fowl of many varieties.
Bright hued flowers blcomed, splendid
air-plants festOoned the trees, and in this
luminous air the great stream with its long