2 



PARA 



pleasantly with the unceasing turmoil to which we had 

 been lately accustomed on the Atlantic. The immensity 

 of the river struck us greatly, for although sailing some- 

 times at a distance of eight or nine miles from the eastern 

 bank, the opposite shore was at no time visible. Indeed, 

 the Para river is 36 miles in breadth at its mouth ; and 

 at the city of Para, nearly 70 miles from the sea, it is 20 

 miles wide ; but at that point a series of islands com- 

 mences which contracts the river view in front of the 

 city. 



It will be well to explain here that the Para river is 

 not, strictly speaking, one of the mouths of the Amazons. 

 It is made to appear so on many of the maps in common 

 use, because the channels which connect it with the main 

 river are there given much broader than they are in 

 reality, conveying the impression that a large body, of 

 water finds an outlet from the main river into the Para. 

 It is doubtful, however, if there be any considerable 

 stream of water flowing constantly downward through 

 these channels. The whole of the district traversed by 

 them consists of a complex group of low islands formed 

 of river deposit, between which is an intricate net-work 

 of deep and narrow channels. The land probably lies 

 somewhat lower here than it does on the seacoast, and 

 the tides meet about the middle of the channels ; but the 

 ebb and flow are so complicated that it is difficult to as- 

 certain whether there is a constant line of current in one 

 direction. A flow down one of the channels is in some 

 cases diverted into an ebb through other ramifications. 

 In travelling from the Para to the main Amazons, I have 

 always followed the most easterly channel, and there the 

 flow of the tide always causes a strong upward current ; 

 it is said that this is not so perceptible in other channels, 

 and that the flow never overpowers the stream of water 

 coming from the main river ; this would seem to favour 

 the opinion of those geographers who believe the Para 

 to be one of the mouths of the King of Rivers. 



The channels of which we are speaking, at least those 

 straighter ones which trading vessels follow in the voyage 

 from Para to the Amazons, are about 80 miles in length ; 

 but for many miles of their course they are not more than 

 100 yards in breadth. They are of great depth, and in 

 many places are so straight and regular that they appear 

 like artificial canals. The great river steamers which 



