124 



AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



1850 the yellow fever made its first appearance, struck down two-thirds of the 

 inhabitants, and drove the rest to seek safety in flight. 



Since then Para has made astonishing progress, the population increasing more 

 than sixfold and the exchanges over tenfold in four decades. All the retail busi- 

 ness and a considerable amount of the foreign trade, as well as several of the 

 industries, are in the hands of recent Portuguese immigrants, who here display a 

 great spirit of solidarity. 



Although over 60 miles from the sea, the channel at Para is still 23 feet deep, 

 "iving access to large vessels, which here ship rubber (the finest in the world), 

 cacao, hides, drugs, Peruvian straw hats, and other produce, in exchange for 

 preserves, breadstufPs, and European wares of all sorts. Most of the exchanges 

 are with the United States, England, and France in the order named. 



Round about Para are several little trading places, such as Vigia, at the 

 entrance of the estuary ; Salinas, on the white cliffs facing seawards ; Bragança, 

 farther east, a watering place now connected by rail with Para ; Cameta, on a 

 hio-h bluff west of the Tocantins, which is here five miles wide. 



