File:Exploration of the valley of the Amazon (1853) (14597812100).jpg

Identifier: explorationofval00hern (find matches)
Title: Exploration of the valley of the Amazon
Year: 1853 (1850s)
Authors: Herndon, William Lewis, 1813-1857 United States. Navy Dept Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862 Mann, Horace, 1796-1859 Gibbon, Lardner
Subjects: Amazon River Valley -- Description and travel Brazil -- Description and travel Peru -- Description and travel Bolivia -- Description and travel America -- Discovery and exploration
Publisher: Washington, R. Armstrong (etc.) Public Printer
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

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htare very curious in appearance. As the men forced the canoe through the narrow rapid channel, theyshouted the news that Forte do Princvjje da JBeira was in sight. Wecould see the flag-pole and the upper bastions. Its situation was com-manding. A steamer of less than six feet draught could ascend to theserocks, which are four miles from the fort, but no farther at this season,of the year. The rocks are so low that many of them are overflowedduring the rainy season. The crew had some difficulty in forcing thecanoe up among the rocks; the current rushed through narrow channelswith great force. As we neared the fort our small American ensign was supported bya Cayavabo arrow in the stern. We see soldier people rushing aboutas though they had been suddenly awakened from sleep or surprised.A canoe came down to meet us with two armed ne^^ro soldiers; one ofthem politely gave his commanders compliments to me, with the requestthat we would keep off. As this appeared warlike, I sent my compli-
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NEGRO SOLDIERS. 273 ments to the commander that we would remain by the rocky island inthe middle of the river until he read a letter from the Brazilian ministerplenipotentiary in Bolivia, which I sent him by the negro sergeant.Two old bald-headed negroes came, by order of the commander, to in-quire if we had any cases of smallpox on board, saying, if not, the com-mander invited us to land at the fort. One of these negroes, fullysupplied with smiles and white teeth, was the surgeon of the post; theother, with broken spectacles, was the armorer, who, together, seemedto be the health officers of the post. We had never seen people quiteso black. As we landed, a young negro lieutenant in the emperors army cameto meet me, and offered, in the most polite manner, to escort me to ahouse in town. There was a shed in sight on the bank, which was theguard-house. As we passed, there was so much pulling at white trou-sers and blue jackets, it was evident the negro soldiers had been hur-riedly dress

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