The evening times., 1899-05-18

tion, the Wilmington proceeded toward
Yquites. In the Maranon River compare
lively little driftwood was encountered.
only grass and light pieces OF wood being
observed.
THE banks of the Maranon, where there
is high land enough to be above high wa
ter. is more thickly settled than in the
lower rivers. and the character Of the peo-
pie changes from Portuguese and Brazilian
Indians TO Peruvians and Peruvian Indians.
1t is also observed that cattle ranches on
which are raised beef and sheep were
much more frequent than lower down. be-
low Manaos One Of the first needs Of the
Amazon valley is meat foods. and the up
per regions seem to be in better shape in
this respect than those lower down. The
city of Manacs containing 10000 people.
is often without beef for two weeks. and
they expaiin this scarcity by saying that
last year. owing to an unprecedented rise
in the river. a greater portion of the cat
tie in the valley was drowned, but learn
ed upon further enquiry that this scarcity
had always existed. but was more keenly
felt now than formerly. owing to the rapid
increase in population in Manaos. The city
of Para with 10000 people. is fed by cat
tie brought from Argentine. 1900 miles
away. There is almost an equal scarcity
Of vegetables in the valley. consequently
the prices for these two staples OF meat and
vegetables is very high. There is fine
opening for energetic and healthy people
to take up this line Of business from Para
to YQuites.
1T has been found that the distance
given in the sailing directions are in er-
ror as follows: From Para to Manaos.
given as S55 miles. should be increased by
55; from Manaos to Tapayinga, by 81:
from Tapayinga to Yquites. by 30 miles,
all due to the changes in the channel from
time to time, and these correct distances
will apply only for two or three years:
consequently. in making the trip from Para
to Yquites, the Wilmington has steamed
q, 600 miles up the Amazon and its tribu-
taries. against an adverse current averag-
ing for the entire distance about three
knots. Referring to same page OF sailing
directions. some Of the towns entered
thereon as existing do not now exist, and
others take their places. These towns ap-
pear to be as changing as the river itself.
but the pilots. keeping run of the old sites.
pointed them out as the Wilmington pro-
ceeded up the stream.
II shall remain at this point not ex-
ceeding three days, then return to Manaos,
stopping en- route at such places as may
be deemed advisable for few hours to
take fresh provisions and to pick up such
living animals as can be had, in accord
ance with the Departments instructions.
= InteSS otneTWise luStTuctou. upoh Teturu
to Manaos l shall NIL up with coal. il OBJ
tainable, obtain Madeira River pilots. and
proceed to San Antonia, the head Of navi-
cation on that river. I expect to reach
Para. concluding the Amazon cruise, be-
tween the 5th and 10th Of May.
"The usual oniciai calls will be made
upon the Peruvian officials here. and
friendly feelings will be conveyed through
them to the central Government. congrat-
ulating the Republic upon the magnificent
water highways lying at their doors for
the transportation Of its Eastern Andean
products. There have peen a few cases
of mild form of malarial fever among the
ships company within the last ten days.
but as it yields readily to quinine treat
ment, anticipate no trouble from this dis
ease incident to these waters. Otherwise,
the health Of officers and men continues
good"