On the Navigation of the Maraiwn or Amazons. 48 



whilst reading, almost fancying myself embarked on board the 

 river-craft between the Rio Negro and Para. 



What is now the state of communications, &c. on the Missis- 

 sippi might, in the course of a few years, be effected on the Ma- 

 ranon. I have visited professionally the East and West In- 

 dies, and the countries on the Pacific, and a strange sort of for- 

 tune, added to a sense of duty and desire of distinction, brought 

 me down the Maranon from its sources to its mouth. From 

 what I have seen, I do not hesitate to say that the countries 

 through which the Maranon runs, especially the immense pro- 

 vince or region of Para, are naturally the richest in the world 

 in vegetable productions. In descending the river, and before 

 reaching the Rio Negro, we landed daily to cook. Sufficient room 

 could scarcely be got for making the fires, without clearing 

 away plants, in general valuable in commerce, for instance co- 

 coa, various dye plants, sarsaparilla, indigo, vanilla, spice plants, 

 and many others, the properties of which are still unknown ; 

 and it is almost needless to say, that coffee, sugar, and other 

 tropical productions, not excluding cotton, might be cultivated 

 to any extent. 



There is at present no steam-communication on the Maranon, 

 and it appears extraordinary that a country naturally so rich, 

 and affording such facihties for communication, should be the 

 last to be made available. During the time that Brazil, like the 

 Spanish provinces, was kept in a state of blockade, arid pro- 

 hibited from European communication, the British Government 

 are said to have avoided pushing communications which the con- 

 nection between Great Britain and Portugal might possibly have 

 enabled them to form, up the Maranon, lest a road should also be 

 opened for other nations. Now that the country is comparatively- 

 thrown open, it is neglected by England, whilst France and the 

 United States reap the principal benefit. If, however, the West 

 India islanders were to fulfil the threats they hold out, of sepa- 

 rating from the British Government, it would soon be found that 

 they would be undersold and superseded by produce from these 

 regions, for it is undoubtedly the protection and advantages given 

 to West India produce that at present enables them to com- 

 pete; and, although the proprietors of West India estates would, 

 in such a case, certainly suffer, it is perhaps a question whether 



