Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-07-14

Y [ HAS rarely been my privilege to
penetrate into more primitive re-
gions than the headwaters of the
Orinoco, or into a land of greater
promise than is found along the
upper reaches of the Gy Parana, bet
ter known as the Rio Machado, writes
Leo E. Miller in an interesting article
on the rubber regions of South Amer
lea, in the India Rubber World. The
Gy Parana, it might be well to state,
is one of the largest affluents of the
Madeira For many years its lower
course has been known to adventur-
Gus seekers of orchids, rubber, and
other natural products, all of which
have been yielded in abundance; but
it is only within the last few years
that the course of the upper river has
been thrown open to navigation OF
any kind Even now only an occa-
sional dugout ventures beyond the
zone of pestilence and rapids into the
land of hostile Indian tribes; but the
way has nevertheless been opened,
and within a comparatively short time
this region will be giving up its fair
quota of the natural riches that lie
hidden in the vast, untrodden wilder
ness.
The Orinoco is, no doubt, better
known by name than the Machada,
and at present it must suffice to give
merely a vague idea of the remoteness
of its hinterlands by citing that it re-
uuires approximately three months Of
travel from Ciudad Bolivar, 240 miles
from the mouth of the mighty river,
to reach the rapids of Guajaribo, far
above the mouth of the Cassiquaire;
beyond that point the river is wholly
unknown.
At Senior Paraquete's Barraca.
On February 2S, 1913, I stopped at
the barraca of one Senior Paraquete,
far up on the Orinoco, beyond the
mouth of the Ventuari The main
building stood on high bank 30 feet
above the river, and was occupied by
Senior Parauuete and his assistants
Several large rooms were used as
venta or store and fair stock OF
provisions and merchandise was car
ried. On one side was the camp OF
the full-blooded Indian employees
Mauuiritares from the regions Of the
Cunacunuma, who lived in small palm
leaf huts with their families. On the
other side stood long, matched build
ings. open all around, with scores OF
hammocks strung from the posts and
beams: these were the quarters of the
natives-Venezuela and Zambos. In
the rear. and some distance away
stood the smokehouses, completely In
closed with palm leaves except for one
small door opening. Trails led into
the forest from a number OF points
and numerous dugouts tied to the
landing indicated that work was also
prosecuted on the other side of the
river. Often, especially In the case
of the Indians, man and wife worked
together.
Old-fashioned methods are employed
entirely. The trees are girded VIII
strips OF palm pitch at the base whici
, intercept the latex and defect 1t int
a folded leaf placed underneath. Thu
system is rather wasteful and inju
rious to the trees. There is no fixe'
rule or custom for tapping the trees
, the men hacking into the bark at ran
; dom. but occasionally the herringbon
, pattern of cut is used. Each man ha
two routes. and endeavors to hav'
from 900 to 500 trees on each, seldom
more. often less, according to thu
, abundance OF the rubber trees In tn
. locality. He takes one trail one day
and the other the next, thus permit
ting the trees to rest on alternat
days. II it rains, the days catch
spoiled as latex mixed with water l
worthless.
The milk was weighed as brough
in by each man at midday and cree
tied to his account; In the afternoo
, the whole force repaired to the smoke
house to work up the days catch. !
kind Of wood called Mazarandul
: used exclusively for the smudge; 1t
: OF a deep reddish color and grow
plentifully along the river.
Transportation Is Costly.
, The cost of transportation betwee
the Upper Orinoco and Ciudad BOLIVIA
is enormous. In the first place, tn
distance is very great and the river
!. full of rapids, necessitating long owe
land portages; all provisions have I
be brought up, and the crude produC
has to be taken back down; there
. always a great loss both ways froI
: theft and wreckage, and as there
! no regular system of navigation b.
yond the mouth of the Apure, the diff
: culties encountered in securing boat
and crews are tremendous.