TRANSACTIONS 'OF THE SKCTIONS. tA 



it ruiis than all the attempts of the last three hundred years. Thus the whole of the 

 IrSne Republic would have an active commerce with that of Bolma, which would 

 be furnished with all the products of the world, and m return would give her own. 

 feS TnhabHants of the^astern side of Bolivia it would be more advantageous to 

 make their purchases at Buenos Ayres rather than at any port on the PacAc be- 

 Susethy would be able to reach Buenos Ayres more conveniently, and quite at 

 S ease and be certain of finding there everything they wanted, and cheaper than 

 n the ports of tL Pacific, the number of vessels which arrive at Buenos Ayres 

 beinfso much greater. The traffic in gold and silver can only be carried on bene- 

 ficaUv from the ports on the Pacific, but all merchandise of any bulk is most ad- 

 vanta^eousW trans^ported by the rivers, and generally where the property goes there 

 goes the owner also. The foreign trader will always prefer the river Plata, and be 

 Content wiTh half the gain which he might make in such places as Arica and Lamar, 

 as the reTurns would be so much quicker as to make him ample amends It may 

 be said that by means of the new canal by the river St. John and lake Nicaragua 

 an acte commere may be established with Bolivia by means of Puerto Lamar but 

 a vessd from Europe or from the United States of America would reach the river Plata 

 as soon as it couW the mouth of the river St. John. This canal wi 1 enter the 

 Pacific in about 11° 30' N. latitude, from whence a new voyage is to be com- 

 menced fm Port Lamar, during which time the cargo, which may be shipped to Buenos 

 Avres direct, will have been placed on board the steam-boat and arrive much quicker 

 at^Sant^Annror Chuquisaca. Some people imagine that Bohvia ni.ght have an 

 active commercial intercourse by means of the river Bini or Rio Grande, branches 

 of the SSit Maranham; but in the first place, the distance is much greater from 

 ?L th?e provincerS'La Plata. Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Chiquitos and even 

 Moxos • secondly, these rivers run through deserts and countries inhabited by 

 ™es' and filled with clouds of insects and other things wh^ch torment mankind, 

 and the alrbreathed in such voyages is pestiferous; thirdly, the greater part of the 

 vearitrans, and immediately' after a shower the sun bursts forth with such ex - 

 Jessive power as to open the upper works of the vessels, and before they could 

 5each the mouth of the Maranham great part of their cargoes would have perished 

 Now if all these difficulties are attendant on the descent of the river, how much 

 would they be increased in the ascent, which would require double the time; and 

 wha human frame could stand such a trial? for the heat being excessive to begin 

 with wSd be increased as the voyage was prolonged, the navigation bemg con- 

 Snued under the equator, so that none but the most hardy Indians could support 

 J wherearthe descent of the rivers to Buenos Ayres would have exactly the contrary 

 effert as a more genial climate would be approached with extraordmary rapidity. 

 The river Vermejo is navigable nearly as far as Tarija, and which, by means of its 

 branches, brings us in contact with Jujuy and Salta, which was ascertained by Don 

 Francbco Gavfno de Arias in 1789, Don Juan Adrian Cornejo in 1790, and Don 

 Pablo Soria in 1827 ; they all three descended the nver, and reached the Paraguay 

 without difficulty, the first in February, the second in May and June, and found 

 S less than th^ee varas of water. The advantages which the free navigation of 

 this river would be to the Argentine Republic are incalculable, for a steam-vessel 

 would be able to reach Oran in twelve days, or even perhaps nearer to Tarija. What 

 a stimulus would this be to cultivate the rich territory of the three provinces Tarija, 

 Salta and Tucuman ! and these would have a direct interest in the tree navigation of 

 the Vermejo" as they all border on the said river, and they now produce nee sugar, 

 grain ind go, cofFeJ. wax, honey, tobacco, woods of all sorts, dyewoods, leather 

 Ss skins, &c.; but these articles are abandoned, although not for want of 

 h nd . because in those provinces very good Indians are to be had. who come from 

 Chaco of their own free will to work for moderate wages The province of Paraguay 

 alone is capable of producing an enormous quantity of tropical products, besides 

 many other important and useful articles ; and as soon as ever person and proper y 

 become respected and secure, there will be no want of individuals "^^ady to engage m 

 so lucrative'a business as steam-navigation will aflford.j^ ^"^/-'^-^^ 3\^J^///, •' "^J 

 known and almost abandoned will be enlivened by a brisk trade, and the territory 

 through which they run will acquire a very increased value owing to their quick 

 and efsy communication with the sea. It would also be to the interest of Bi^il to 

 allow the products of that country to be exported from one or two ports of Mata- 

 groso situate on the Paraguay. 



