Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-02-01
OF THE SEA
ISLANDS THAT FoRM AND
sLooM AND PERISH.

~NMNo%A@ "a AN&sE1-
Along the great rivers Of South Amer
lea are To be seen what Id many
would seem Incredible = Coating in
graceful melton Ga the rising and fall
ing waves beautiful green islands Gov
cred with trees and flowers, alive with
hundreds Of birds and strange combi-
nations OF terror stricken animals.
Floating islands are generally the re-
suit Of the overlooking and the wash
Ing away Of river banks. Others IRE
formed by the twisted roots Of the bog
rnsh and matter trees which year aft
err year have drIfted slowly down the
streams, forming solid mass or raft
upou which d gradual deposit Of yege-
table mold ii formed and fitted for the
luxuriant growth Of plants. Still 9th
ers are formed BY aquatic plants, with
large. nat leaves. like lily pad, which
become a mass Of solid matter hoated
by the autumn foods down the rivers
and eventually out into the open sen.
where they are soon dashed to pieces
and destroyed
Along the Amazon. lilo de La Plata
and their tributaries wonderful sights
are frequently seen ON the hundreds OF
floating islands as they gracefully pass
by, driven By the wind and current on
their seaward journey. sometimes
measuring nearly mile in length,
about hundred feet wide and four to
six feet In thickness. the greater por-
ton OF which ~ under water. Amid
the dense foliage the observer win be-
hold numerous tropical animals In
strangely mingled companionship
croeodiles monkeys. storks wildcats
and snakes assembled together as one
family and regarding one another with
hostility and mistrust Parrots and
squirrels are frequent passengers. and
In this odd way OF travelling. sometimes
thousands OF miles. they find them
selves transported to new and strange
localities far from their native homes.
Great aiarm Ia sometimes caused
among the inhabitants or the towns
and villages along these rivers By
strange and ferocious animals prowl-
Ing about the streets, having been
washed ashore during the night One
OF the most remarkable passengers
aboard one or these natural floats was
q small Indian boy found drifting on
en- island near Buenos Ayres. How
long he had been drifting or how he
happened to be there could not be
found out but he had nearly sue
cnmbed from hunger and long expo
sure
Floating islands are also the means
OF various seeds and rare plants being
carried to foreign soil thousands OF
miles distant from their starting place,
but often only to fade and perish from
the extreme change OF climate
Not alone to South American rivers
are these ..homeless wanderers. as
they are sometimes known, common.
but In Africa, On the Kongo, are found
| floating isles green with foliage. bril-
liant with lowers and covered with
birds Of gorgeous plumage, being watt
| ed along b. the wind, sometimes sink
ing from sight. sometimes rising on
the crest OF a wave like duck I'm the
wake Of boat On the Mississippi nre
/ found numerous islands that float. The
existence OF vast forests bordering the
banks account for this phenomenon, as
the gradual wearing away of the earth
causes sections Of the mainland TO be-
come disconnected and to slowly pro-
coed down the river, frequently block
aiding the channel, 80 that in many
places d safe passage il impossible.
One OF the largest Of these floating
islands ever known on this greatest
American river was ten miles Ia
length. 200 yards vide and about eight
feet deep, rising and falling with the
wafer. yet covered with luxuriant trees
some sixty feet IN height This great
island 80 INSTRUCTED the river thar the
state or Louisiana had 10 take steps to
dispose or the raft and open naFlga-
ton. which required the space OF near
i ~ feur years 20 complete.
History tells us that islands made
from reeds which were not only m0v-
cd about By the wind. but by oars,
1 were the means If the escape of many
M0AAE&M N4AA1&A@ 0MEaAl& Tie MAtA1I1AAE1c
wars. Indian legends are full Of inter
esting stories Of the marvellous es-
eapes Of fugitives on camelotes,
| which were floating islands composed
Of green RAILS of canes OF brushwood.
\ The wpnar0ns floaEing gardens 0f
Mexico, though little heard or today.
were At enc time famous for their
great beauty A foundation made OF
s0rt 0f wickerwork which was over.
spread with clay, manure and rich
mold was formed IN such a way as to
fi0at. upon which make, vegetables
and other useful plants were raised.
Il ID said that at one time the city OF
Mexico received an ample supply at
fresh vegetables from these floating
gardens.
Many Ut the gardens were large
enough for d tree and little hut which
sheltered tie farmer from the sun and
rain. while 10 others. not being SUN
eiently large ID bear the weight Ill man.
the farmer was compelled 10 row IN i
boat and from a attend 70 bis daily la
bOFs. Calenmbers ana mel0ns were
among the most successful crops Nj.
4 meEons flowers and odorIferous nlanfs