File:Exploration of the valley of the Amazon (1853) (14781338221).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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hich the bark is keptdry. The tree is*felled by an axe, the bark stripped ofl, dried, madeinto small bundles, and carried on the backs of men—who are generallymestizos—to the nearest point at which a mule may be brought. This life is one of great hardship; the workmen are often caught inthe forest without a supply of provisions. In case of fever, however,they are well supplied with quinine; but many of them die. Theclimate is very changeable; a cold, heavy rain falls, alternating withthe rays of a tropical sun. Leechler pointed out the cinchona trees;the cascarilleros distinguish them at a distance by their bright-coloredleaves; very smooth and light green, with here and there a yellowishleaf. Standing on one side of a ravine, the men count the value of theopposite side, or they climb to the tops of the loftiest trees and surveythe country around. The forest trees here are very valuable for theirvarieties of ornamental woods. Leechler undertook also to give me an *: f- •f .1 f \
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PERUVIAN PIONEERS. 45 idea of tlie number of beautiful and valuable tiger-skins to be found intbe bushes. I bad been thinking of the water-power dashing by us fora saw-mill; when, before going to sleep, he said, Cover your head, sir,at night; for the serpents here are very large. These are productionsnot always enumerated in a commercial list. At 5 30, a. m., thermometer, 49® ; temperature of stream, 49°. Clearmorning. The road was much obstructed by bamboo, and in a very badcondition. We have to halt and repair the road, or cut away the brush-wood ; the wet branches keep us damp; now and then a mule ahead runsinto a bees nest, w^hich sets all into activity. Our mules plunge into greatmud-holes, and are fretted among the roots of the trees. At mid-day,thermometer, 74°, showing an increase of 20° since yesterday at thistime. The country is rough; the hills completely enveloped in foiesttrees. The descent is still great. Arriving at the house of a squatter,we put up for the night. C

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