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204 THE GENESEE FARMER. 



lands on the eastern water-shed of the Andes present at their varying elevations, a wide 

 range of chmates within the limits of easy travel of a flock of sheep. The great success 

 that has hitherto attended this branch of husbandry under rude management, and while 

 the governments have been almost constantly engaged in wars, would seem to leave no 

 room to doubt that, under more favorable auspices, with security for life and property, 

 with steamboats on all the navigable rivers, and steamships in all seaports, the business 

 of wool growing, or cattle breeding and rearing, may be carried on a-t an enormous 

 profit. Silver to the amount of two thousand million dollars has been taken from the 

 mmes in the Argentine Provinces. Of the six nations whose territories are mainly 

 drained by the Amazon, all but Brazil have invited the commerce of the world to ascend 

 that river and trade with them on the most favorable terms. The Legislature of Peru 

 has placed $200,000 at the disposal of the executive power to organize ten-itories on the 

 head waters of the Amazon, and a decree has just been published removing all duties 

 on goods of whatever kind imported into the ports of Nauta and Loreto, and a hon:v3- 

 stead of four fanagadas of land is to be given to every immigrant, to whom is also 

 guarantied freedom of religious worship. Brazil controls the mouth of the Amazon, 

 and has not yet consented to the free ingress and egress of the commerce of the 

 republics drained by this river, which is said to be one hundred and fifty miles wide 

 where it empties into the Atlantic. New Grenada, Equador, Peru, and Bolivia, are 

 largely interested in opening a free passage down to the ocean ; and the monopoly or 

 tribute exacted by Brazil must be of short duration. 



The agricultural wealth of that continent is not at all appreciated ; but the time has 

 arrived when a new order of emigrants, with their common schools, their Protestant 

 churches, their steam presses, steamships, and steam locomotives, is to be extended over 

 South America, Well does Lieut. Maurv of the National Observatory say : 



"A spirit has gone abroad there, and it is upon the waters of the Amazon. A little more than 

 two years ago the federal government selected a gallant officer of the navy, who was at that time 

 serving in the Pacific, detached him from his ship, first for special service in Lima, and afterwards 

 directed him to explore the Amazon from its source to its mouth ; to sound its depths ; and to 

 guage its capacities, present and prospective, for navigation, trade, and commerce. 



"That expedition has returned; and Lieut. IIerndon, the officer in eliarge of it, appreciating the 

 importance of placing the information collected by him before the public without delay, has already 

 submitted his report to the government. It has been transmitted to Congress, and that body, rightly 

 conceiving it to possess a high degree of interest, has ordered a large naraber of extra copies. The 

 party consisted of but two officers. 



"Count D'OiiSEY, a French officer, had, when engaged in an exploration of the same region, been 

 mui'dered but a short time before; yet, notwitlistanding this, the American officer, when he arrived 

 in sight of the great water-shed, determined, with the go-ahead spirit of his countrymen, to divide 

 the party — to send his companion, accompanied by a young American sailor, whom ho had enlisted 

 in Lima, into Bolivia, and down the Madeira; while he himself, with no one but a Peruvian, and 

 sneh of the natives as he might pick up by the way, to accompany liim, resolved to undertake the 

 main stream itself Thus accompanied, he descended that river on rafts and in 'dug outs' through 

 a distance of three thousand five hundred miles, and found it navigable for vessels of the largest 

 class from the sea to the Andes. 



"That expedition has stirred up the people in the Spanish re]Miblics of the Amazon. The Presi- 

 dent of Bolivia has taken the load in tJie matter, and proved himself a statesman of the first order. 

 He has thrown the Amazonian provinces of that republic open to the commerce of the world: he 

 has proclaimed the freedom of the seas for tlio Amazon and its tributaries, and has offered a prize 

 of $10,000 to the master of the first steamer that arrives there from the ocean." 



From the Atlantic to the Andes is 3,000 miles, in nearly a direct line due west; and 

 the Amazon is navigable for large vessels all the way. Colonies of emigrants will 

 soon be organized in the Middle States for settlement in Bolivia, where a cordial welcome 

 is likely to greet their arrival. Exploring agents will soon be in that country and in 

 the contiguous republics, to see wha-t can be done in sheep husbandry, stock-growing, 

 tillage, cutting timber, collecting dyestulfs, drugs and medicines, and buying sites for 

 cities, villages, and manufacturing towns. 

 -| K We should be much better pleased to see wool growing greatly extended in this ^ r 



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