Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-27
Her Remarkable Exploration Voyage up
the Great River Amazon.
REPORT OF COMMANDER TODD
Protecting Rubber Trees From
Destruction.
A GREAT SCARCITY OF FOOD PRODUCTS

miles uD Iub TINtTs luNtsblShb'a hiib |
topography and natural resources of the
country: made a collection Of animals
for the Geological Park in Washington,
and secured u series of photographs of
the towns along the river, the natives
and the most important features and
scenery. Commander Todd's report is
very lengthy, and includes reports from
his subordinate officers, who were Oh
trusted with special Investigations.
The valley of the Amazon. according
to Commander Todd, is an immense
area of low lying land, interspersed
with innumerable waterways which,
during the rainy season, from May to
December, overflow almost all of the
intervening country. The towns, of
which there are few of large populn-
ton, are built on the higher bluffs
along the river, and at certain points,
where tho country is above the average |
high water level, there are small plan
tations where cocoa, grain and vegeta- |
bles are grown for local consumption.
Nearly all of the native houses rs far |
west as the Peruvian line are built |
upon piles to raise them above the
flood level.
The valley, strange as it may seem,
does not produce food stutfs sufficient
foreign residents of all the large towns
rely largely on canned goods and other
imported foods for subsistence.
The climate was found to be oppres-
sive and humid. The annual range of
the thermometer is from ~ to % de-
grees, and the whole valley is the seat
Of tropio malaria, which is exceedingly
dangerous to unacclimated visitors
Great care was taken of the health OF
the men on shipboard None of the
officers or men was allowed to remain
on shore at night. The result was the
health of the ships company was good
throughout the voyage, only few
cases of mild malaria developing.
1t was found necessary to engage
river pilots for alomst the whole voy-
age. This service was expensive, but
efficient, as the ocean going steamers,
which ply up the river as far as
Manaos, have fine corps of pilots,
who are familiar with the changes of
channel that come with every high
water. The Wilmington grounded but
once on the whole trip Of 4, 100 miles,
and returned to Para in condition to
proceed Immediately to sea.
The treatment of the United States
vessel and her officers by the local au-
thorities was courteous throughout,
although at one point in the Peruvian
section of the Upper Amazon whole
military post, composed of six men,
fed to the bush on the appearance of a
an-of-war, and it was with difficulty
that two of them could be induced to
return long enough to accord the Will
mlngton official sanction to proceed up
the river to lquitos. This city was the
fartherest point reached by the Will
mington on her long inland voyage.
although she might have proceeded
about 400 miles further had there been
supply of coal accessible.
The most important city along the
river above Para is Manaos, close to
the junction of the Rio Negro and the
Amazon. This is the seat of govern.
ment Of the State of Amazon, and has
population of between $4,000 and
10000. 1t is the distributing point fol
the immense trade of the interior
Amazon basin, and seems destined tt
grow In commercial Importance. 1t il
here that the ocean going steamer
transship their cargoes to the smalle
river boats, by which they are dis
tributed along the Madeira, Purus
Jurna, Japara and Rio Negro. TIL
town does an important trade in rubber
cocoa and dye stuffs from the interior
and is looked upon by Commander Tod
as an important post for our consula
service, in view Of the opening fo
American imports.
The difficulty in securing coal sue
gested also that this was good oper
ing for American enterprise. Puca
hontas coal brings $40 ton laid dow
at Manaos. Further up the river NapC
beyond the city Iquitos, in Peru, it
said there are gold deposits, which al
worked by the natives. No one OILS
has ever worked them, so far as can /
ascertained, and their extent is purcl
speculative. 1t is said also that ther
are large deposits of coal on the easter
slope of the Cordilleras, but at presei
no attempt is made to work them.
Commander Todd says that tho OF
product Of Importance in the who
valley of the Amazon is rubber, al
the status of this industry is seriol
problem, which he was unable to sol
with the limited time at his dispose
All of the river towns are depopuat
at certain seasons, when the inhabitan
go in their canoes into the network
tributary streams to collect the rubb
from the wild trees. No systematic 0
tempt is made at cultivating tho rubb
trees, and the methods employed by t
Indians kill all the trees operated
zach season. There is q comfort
belief extant among the people that t
supply of rubber is ineXhaustible a
that the trees cover the whole OF t
Amazon Valley. The officers of (
Wilmington learned enough on t
subject to feel sure that there arc
immense forests of rubber trees, a
that they grow singly or in SIN
groups close along the banks of I
streams. The trees closest to the wa
are being rapidly destroyed, and how
inland they may be found no one kno,
Commander Todd suggests that
would be the part of prudence for
governments of the various States
the Amazon Valley to take measu
for preserving the forests and GU
waiting the trees in plantations in or,
to guard against the serious rest
which would follow sudden cola
of this great industry.
The animals secured by the
mington for the National Zoo at Wa
ipgton include a two toed sloth
peocary, three agoutis, or small groi
hogs, South American tapir, n ha
eagle, one coati, one tiger cat, mac
two DEATHS head monkeys, one nj
monkey, one bowling monkey,
macaco monkeys and number
parrots. Several of the animals cit
died or escaped on the trip down
river. The remainder have been ship
to Washington.
The most violent explosions of Cougl
are stopped by Hale's Honey of Horeho
and Tar 70 :.