BOUNDARY LINES. 



175 



The Indians built large wooden houses, cleared the land, and raised an 

 abundant crop of rice, superior to that of Bengal. 



From the size of the streams which empty into the river Otuguis, 

 their slow, steady current and deep water, Mr. Bach considers that a 

 steamboat could come up from the ocean to these rice lands, but neither 

 he nor Mr. Oliden could descend to examine, partly from the fear their 

 Indians had of the savages, and want of knowledge in the management 

 of canoes, which they did not use like the Brazilian Indians. Mr. Oliden 

 gave up his residence, returned to Sucre, and finally to Buenos Ayres, 

 through the Argentine confederation, leaving his valuable lands and 

 their productions to the Indians, who live an easy life, in plenty and in 

 an hospitable climate. 



There is dispute at the present day between the Brazilians and Boli- 

 vians with regard to the boundary lines between their two countries. 

 Bolivia claims to the middle of the Paraguay river ; but one of the 

 Brazilian commanders observed to a Bolivian that the Brazilian govern- 

 ment claimed as far west as the cattle of Brazil roamed, so that it is 

 rather a difficult question to determine exactly where the initial point 

 shall be, and then whereabouts a line could be drawn. 



By treaty between the Spaniards and Portuguese, made more than a 

 century ago, the southern initial point was marked at the mouth of the 

 Jaurti river where it empties into the Paraguay ; thence in a straight 

 line to the nearest point on the Guapore or Itenez, should be the eastern 

 boundary of the territory of Bolivia, which certainly makes the middle 

 both of the Paraguay and Guapore, or Itenez, the division line between 

 the two countries. The question was not, however, of much importance 

 formerly either to Brazil or Spain, but now, as the South Americans are 

 beginning to awaken to the importance of commerce and steamboat 

 navigation, the Bolivians raise the question how far they are entitle 1 to 

 these natural communications and necessary outlets. This is a matter 

 of interest to Bolivia ; for if she gives up a right to the Paraguay river, 

 she has nothing on her southern border to fall back upon, except the 

 river Otuguis, which may not be navigable. After the Paraguay leaves 

 Bolivia and Brazil, it then flows over the soil of Paraguay and the 

 Argentine confederation. Each claims the ownership of the navigable 

 waters at the head of the La Plata, which God made for all. 



We began to descend the great ridge of mountains to the northeast, 

 with a hope that we may not be obliged to retrace our steps. The 

 moment we touched the brow of the mountain, a thick fog-bank stood 

 before us, thrown up like a great fortification. The wall was distinctly 

 marked along the ridge, while on the southwest side the sun shone 



