RETURN TO MANAOS. 255 
upon the nature of this Amazonian valley, its physical con- 
formation, its origin and resources, its history past and to 
come, hoth alike obscure, both the subject of wonder and 
speculation. Senhor Tavares Bastos, although not yet thirty 
years of age, is already distinguished in the politics of his 
country, and from the moment he entered upon public life 
to the present time the legislation of the Amazons, its 
relation to the future progress and development of the 
Brazilian Empire, have been the object of his deepest 
interest. He is a leader in that class of men who advo- 
cate the most liberal policy with regard to this question, 
and has already urged upon his countrymen the importance, 
even from selfish motives, of sharing their great treasure 
with the world. He was little more than twenty years of 
age when he published his papers on the opening of the 
Amazons, which have done more, perhaps, than anything 
else, of late years, to attract attention to the subject.* 
There are points where the researches of the statesman 
and the investigator meet, and natural science is not with- 
out a voice even in the practical bearings of this question. 
Shall this region be legislated for as sea or land ? Shall ,. 
the interests of agriculture or navigation prevail in its 
councils ? Is it essentially aquatic or terrestrial ? Such 
were some of the inquiries which came up in the course 
of the discussion. A region of country which stretches 
across a whole continent and. is flooded for half the year, 
where there can never be railroads or highways, or even 
pedestrian travelling to any great extent, can hardly be 
* The most accurate information upon the industrial resources of the Valley 
of the Amazons may he found in a work published by Senhor Tavares Bastos, 
on his return to Rio de Janeiro, after this journey, entitled " O Valle do Ama- 
zonas Estudo sobrc a livre Xave^ao do Amazonas, Estatistica, Producroes, 
Commcrcio, Questocs Fiscacs do Vallc do Amazonas." Ixio de Janeiro. 1866. 
