374 The Andes and the Amazons. 



created a new branch of industry, the production of fuel ; 

 and the question is frequently asked whether a steam-saw- 

 mill would pay. But there are two difficulties : it will not 

 do to keep large supplies on hand, for it soon deteriorates 

 in this climate, and lumbering will not leave a margin 

 while there is a custom-house at Para. The "Morona," 

 of 150 horse-power, burns nearly 500 sticks an hour ; and 

 the round trip of the little Eio Negro steamer from Manaos 

 to Santa Isabel and back, 1092 miles, consumes 30,950 sticks. 

 Coal at £3 a ton would be cheaper on the river than wood. 



The provincial duty on liquors is 25 per cent. ; on rub- 

 ber, 12 per cent. ; on fish, 5 per cent. ; on all other articles, 

 10 per cent. If exported, 5 per cent, extra is collected at 

 Para, besides fees. Rubber collected in Peru and Bolivia 

 pays no duty. Steamer freight between Manaos and Para, 

 on rubber, 25 cents an arroba; on coffee and cacao, 24 

 cents an arroba; on Brazil-nuts, 35 cents a bushel; on 

 brick, $20 a thousand ; cotton, 30 cents an arroba ; hides, 

 20 cents each ; crude piassaba, 25 cents an arroba ; sarsa- 

 parilla, 30 cents an arroba ; tobacco, 25 cents an arroba ; 

 boards, $3 30 per dozen ; beeves, $7 50 each ; horses and 

 mules, $10 each. Freights between Manaos and San An- 

 tonio, on the Madeira : on rubber and sai*saparilla, 40 cents 

 an arroba; cacao, coffee, dried beef, and tallow, 32 cents 

 an arroba ; Brazil-nuts in sacks, 35 cents a bushel ; hides, 

 25 cents each. To Hyutanahan, on the Puriis, the tariff is 

 about the same. 



The produce of the Rio Negro and Solimoens does not 

 stop at Manaos, but goes directly to Para, and must be 

 purchased there. This is owing to the fact that Para mer- 

 chants have pnt the producers under obligation, so that 

 producers up the river can not sell at an intermediate 

 place. But Manaos is determined to become independent 

 of Para; and the project of a through line of steamers 



