EETUEN TO MANAOS. 



255 



upon the nature of this Amazonian valley, its physical con- 

 formation, its origin and resources, its history past and to 

 come, both alike obscure, both the subject of wonder and 

 speculation. Senhor Tavares Bastos, although not yet thirty 

 years of age, is already distinguished in the politics of his 

 country, and from the moment he entered upon public life 

 to the present time the legislation of the A^nazons, its 

 relation to the future progress and development of the 

 Brazilian Empire, have been the object of his deepest 

 interest. He is a leader in that class of men who advo- 

 cate the most liberal policy with regard to this question, 

 and has already urged upon his countrymen the importance, 

 even from selfish motives, of sharing their great treasure 

 with the world. He was little more than twenty years of 

 age when he published his papers on the opening of the 

 Amazons, which have done more, perhaps, than anything 

 else, of late years, to attract attention to the subject.* 

 There are points where the researches of the statesman 

 and the investigator meet, and natural science is not with- 

 out a voice even in the practical bearings of this question. 

 Shall this region be legislated for as sea or land ? Shall 

 the interests of agriculture or navigation prevail in its 

 councils ? Is it essentially aquatic or terrestrial ? Such 

 were some of the inquiries which came up in the course 

 of the discussion. A region of country which stretches 

 across a whole continent and is flooded for half the year, 

 where there can never be railroads or highways, or even 

 pedestrian travelling to any great extent, can hardly be 



* The most accurate information upon the industrial resources of the Valley 

 of the Amazons may be found in a work published by Senhor Tavares Bastos, 

 on his return to Rio de Janeiro, after this journey, entitled " 0 Valle do Ama- 

 zonas — Estudo sobre a livre Navega^ao do Amazonas, Estatistica, Produc9oes, 

 Commercio, Questoes Fiscaes do Valle do Amazonas." Rio de Janeiro. 1866. 



