31 S THE LOWEK AMAZONS. 



incut of tlic occnii, -whose currents liave worn away the 

 nortlieastcrn portion of the continent. Hence he woukl 

 call the Para estuary one of the outlets of the Amazons, 

 and would obtain one hundred and eighty miles for the 

 widtli of the river at its mouth. Rejecting the Para es- 

 tuary, we have left a width of one hundred and fifty miles, 

 wiiich is, at least, the smallest estimate that can be given 

 as the breadth of the Great River. 



The last day of the year we arrived at Para, or Belcm, 

 as sometimes called.* The city stands upon the right 

 shore of the broad estuary of Para, seventy miles from 

 the Atlantic, and sixty miles south of the equator. A 

 dense tropical forest crowds upon the city, and half buries 

 the outskirts beneath its encroaching vegetation. Para was 

 founded in 1615, and now comprises a population of above 

 thirty thousand mixed Negroes and Portuguese. The In- 

 dian element, which so largely predominates in most other 

 Amazonian towns, is here sparingly represented. A small 

 number of American and English residents infuse com- 

 mercial life and enterprise. Para is destined to become 

 the first city of South America. It is the centre toward 

 which gravitate all those commercial interests springing 



* The following estimate of distances was obtained from the Ama- 

 zonian Steamship Companies. The towns left blank wc have added, as 

 they arc also stopping-places of the steamers : 



From Para to Breves 150 miles. 



" " " Gurupa 252 " 



" " " Porto de Moz 



" " " Almeyrim 



" " Prainha 375 " 



" " " Monte Alegre 



" " " Santarcm 466 " 



'* " " Obidos 535 " 



" " Villa Bella G26 " 



" " " Serpa 756 " 



" " " Manfios 872 " 



