territory, very difficult of access, at about the eleventh 
degree of southern latitude and 70% longitude and flows at 
first eastward, to the Bolivian boundary at 69°. From this point, 
the Acre flows first Northeast, with a constantly increasing 
northerly inclination, until it enters the Central Purtis at 8 2-3 
South latitude and 671% longitude. The small steamers run 
from this point to the junction with the Amazon and on to 
Manaos in six to eight days. 
In November more than 40 large and small steamers are 
despatched from Para and Manaos. They carry supplies for the 
rubber district and load, for the return trip, fine rubber and 
other caoutchouc varieties. Such steamers have, as a rule, a 
cargo capacity of 100 to 300 tons. The largest, taking as much 
as 500 tons, are at most 50 to 60 meters in length. | 
The journey from Manaos to the Purts, is usually accomp- 
lished in one day. The Purts is a stately river, which, in its 
lower reaches often attains a breadth of 1,000 meters and al- 
though it gradually narrows, it always retains, until its con- 
fluence with the Acre, a breadth of several hundred meters. 
The trip to that point takes, as a rule, 12 to 16 days and ex- 
cept for the last stretch of about three days, is open all the year. 
Here is the place called Cochoeiras, where there are rapids, 
which during the dry season of about four months, obstruct steam 
navigation on the Purts. The Acre, on the other hand, has a 
narrow but deep bed, is rarely over 100 meters wide and often 
contracts to 50 to 60 meters. In the dense forests, there may 
be seen, from time to time, clearings on the banks with the 
Baracaos that are the stations for the fine rubber business. Also 
occasional larger places of residence, villages and little towns, 
where longer stops are often made, are encountered. 
We first pass Antimary, at the mouth of a river similarly 
named. Then we soon reach Porto de Acre, a large residential 
place, where the steamers must have their papers passed and 
pay duties. 
This is the beginning of the Federal territory, which is sepa- 
rate from the State of Amazonas and is subject to the central 
government in Rio de Janeiro. Hardly a day’s journey up stream 
lies the little town of Empreza, with its picturesque houses em- 
bowered in foliage. It is the most important place on the lower 
Acre and the second largest residential town in Acre Territory. 
About three days’ journey up the river the town of Hapury 
is reached, which contains several thousand inhabitants and 
enjoys a considerable trade. It is the largest and most important 
town in the entire Acre territory. 
When at times in the river’s narrow water course there are 
a dozen large steamers lying and a lively business intercourse 
138 
