222 Mr. Alexander Siemens [May 15, 



at the back of tlie forest stretching out to the hills, where the forest 

 recommences. 



In such a country no land communication of any sort can be 

 attempted, as the tropical vegetation and the annual inundations of 

 the rivers destroy everything that man places in the way of the 

 natural forces. By water, on the other hand, the intercourse between 

 all habitable parts of the country is easy and expeditious, since 

 steamers have been introduced in the year 1853. At that time the 

 journey from Belem to Manaos was shortened from forty days to eight 

 days, and at present the ocean-going steamers, which do not call at 

 the intermediate places, accomplish the distance in three days. Belem 

 lies on a branch of the Para river called Guajara, which unfortunately 

 does not share the characteristic shape of the Amazon and the furos, 

 but forms a rather shallow basin in front of the town. The clothing 

 of a good many inhabitants seems better adapted to a colder climate ; 

 it is only the airy costume of the ladies, and still more the absence cf 

 any costume on the children, that betrays the tropical climate. The 

 harbour of Para is very full cf shipping, and the general build of the 

 steamers is well adapted to navigate the broad waterway of the main 

 river, as well as the smaller and shallower affluents, which become 

 more and more inhabited from year to year. A number of these 

 steamers, from a small tug, such as accompanied the cable steamer, to 

 the ocean-going vessels, were photographed from time to time, and 

 the views taken show at the same time something of the general 

 features of the landscape. 



As the cable steamer could not approach close enough to Pani, the 

 shore ends were laid with the help of a bargo and a tug, without any- 

 thing occurring that need be mentioned. By the same means the 

 sections from Para to Pinheiro and from there to Mosqueiro were 

 laid, the large steamer laying the section to Soure across the Para 

 river. Tliese three places are much resorted to by the inhabitants of 

 Para for their healthy situation, and because they imagine that salt 

 water reaches at least Soure. The forest encircles all the houses, but 

 the proximity of the sea, and the breeze blowing regularly every 

 afternoon, make all these places extremely comfortable. At Soure the 

 ss. " Faraday " was anchored at a convenient distance from the shore, 

 so that the shore end might be landed direct from the ship, and as 

 long as the tide was rising this plan appeared excellent. By the 

 receding tide, however, a whirlpool was formed with the ship lying 

 right across the centre, and when it had been turned seventeen times 

 in one hour the captain was tired of it, and moved the ship to a safer 

 anchorage. 



Another branch of the cable was laid from Para to Cameta on the 

 River Tocantins, which is 1200 miles long, but unfortunately has 

 some rapids not far from Cameta, which cut off the navigable upper 

 portion of the river from direct communication with the general 

 Amazon system. Cameta boasts of a fine old church and a number 



