74 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



Meanwhile the qiiestion at issue is solving itself in a practical way. The 

 district, till lately a wilderness without appreciable economic value, is already 

 well known from the explorations of Coudreau, and its natural resources have 

 awakened the cujDidity of its northern and southern neighbours. The population, 

 estimated at no more than 1,500 at the proclamation of the ephemeral republic, had 

 increased twofold within the next six years, and the annual trade already amounts 

 to £t)0,000. 



The coast steamers, calling at all the ports around the South- American sea- 

 board, have not yet made their appearance at any point between the Oyapok and 

 Mapa estuaries ; but a brisk trade is carried on by the so-called tapouyes, small 

 craft so named from a local Indian tribe. These vessels, ranging from 5 to 15 

 tons, are all built by the natives, for in this respect the independent tribes are 

 more industrious than the inhabitants of French Guiana. The little harbours of 

 the estuaries, being obstructed by bars, are inaccessible to large vessels, although 

 nature has here provided the best anchorage on the whole of the seaboard between 

 the Orinoco and the Amazons. Such is the deep Carapaporis channel, which 

 flows between Maraca Island and the mainland, and which at some former period 

 approached nearer than at present to the Araguari estuary. This harbour of 

 refuge in the midst of the dangerous waters exposed to the bores rushing up the 

 neighbouring estuaries may yet become one of the most frequented roadsteads on 

 the Atlantic coast. 



The people of Counani have not yet begun to work the auriferous alluvia of 

 their river valleys ; but their extensive savannas enable them to raise large herds 

 of cattle. According to Coudreau, as many as 18,000 oxen find good pasturage 

 in the district between the Oyapok and the Araguari. Stock-breeding has even 

 extended beyond the mainland to the hitherto unoccupied Maraca Island. 



The fisheiies also are very productive, the lakes teeming with the piracuru, 

 which is cured for the markets of Cayenne and Para. The fishers also harpoon 

 the manatees, capture turtles, and extract an excellent fish-glue from the ma- 

 choiran. Rubber and other valuable gums are collected in the surrounding wood- 

 lands. 



Inhabitants. — Recent Progress. 



About t\vo-;hirds of the inhabitants are of Brazilian origin, and consequently 

 generally speak Portuguese ; nevertheless, all understand the Creole-French of 

 Cayenne, which has borrowed several Indian words. The remaining third consists 

 of Portuguese, Martinique islanders, and French Creoles, besides the Indian half- 

 breeds, who till recently were the exclusive inhabitants of the district. These 

 are known by the collective name of Tapuyos, a word which in the Tupi or 

 " general language " of Brazil has the meaning of " stranger," or " enemy." 

 It is now commonly applied indifferently to all the sedentary Indians on the 

 banks of the Amazons, and even to the half-castes of all races, whose mixed 

 descent is betrayed by the colour of their skin. 



Political pressure is felt especially on the Brazilian side, where the military 



