192 VOYAGE DOWN THE EIO NEGEO. 



its location, one of tlie largest and most impoi-tant in the 

 Amazonian Valley, and that the structure is being adapted 

 to the probable exigencies of the future. 



Manaos possesses what is rarely to be found in the 

 heart of the Amazonian valley — a water-fall. So level is 

 this great plain, that the sound of falling water never 

 comes to the ear. The voyager upon the sluggish current 

 of the Lower Rio Negro longs for the sight of clear, lea2:)ing 

 water. At Manaos he can have this desire gratified, dur- 

 ing certain seasons of the year. A short walk of two miles 

 over a forest-path brings you to a little cascade. We say 

 it may be seen only during a portion of the year, because, 

 as the falls are scarcely ten feet high, when the Amazons 

 rises, they are, as Agassiz expresses it, " drowned out." 



In our rambles though Manaos on the day of our arri- 

 val, Ave were not a little surprised to be accosted by a 

 gentleman in English. He was the owner of a large es- 

 tate upon the soutjiern bank of the Rio Negro, and from 

 him we learned that a party of half a dozen Americans 

 had recently arrived in the place. They were Southern- 

 ers, and prominent ex-Confederate officers, who had emi- 

 grated to Brazil, where, with slavery for their corner-stone, 

 they purposed founding a colony. Dr. Dowsing, the leader 

 of the expatriated party, had obtained for this purpose a 

 grant of land from the Brazilian Government, wherever in 

 the Amazonian Valley he might choose to locate. Others 

 were expected to join them from the States as soon as a 

 site should be selected for a settlement. The Rio Branco 

 had been, at first, decided upon, but some considerations 

 had led to a change of plans, and they were now prepar- 

 ing to ascend one of the southern tributaries of the Ama- 

 zons. 



From this company of Americans we learned that the 

 Quito party of our expedition had, two weeks before, 

 stopped ?.t Manaos upon their way down the Amazons. 



