the french expedition which has been engaged for the last three years in exploring the interior of south america, has at length reached lima, from which place count castelnau has transmitted a detailed report of his journey, to the french minister of public instruction.[19]
this expedition is by far the most important that has yet been sent out for the exploration of south america, and has already traversed a large portion of its central parts, little known to geographers. their first journey was across the country from rio janeiro to goyaz, on the head waters of the river araguay (lat. 16° 11' s. long. 50° 29' w.) which river they descended to its junction with the tocantiu, and then returned by the last named river and the desert of the chavantes.
they made another journey to the north of cuyaba, to explore the diamond mines, and examine the sources of the paraguay and arenos. in the next journey,[20] the particulars of which have just been communicated from lima, the expedition descended the rivers cuyaba and san lorenzo to paraguay. during this voyage they entered the country of the guatos indians, one of the most interesting tribes of the american aborigines. "the features of these indians," says the count, "are extremely interesting;—never in my life having seen finer, or any more widely differing from the ordinary type of the red man. their large, well opened eyes, with long lashes, nose aquiline and admirably modelled, and a long, black beard, would make them one of the finest races in the world, had not their habit of stooping in the canoe bowed the legs of the greater number. their arms, consisting[28] of very large bows, with arrows seven feet long, demand great bodily strength—and their address in the use of them passes imagination. these savages are timid, nevertheless, and of extreme mildness. by taking them for our guides, and attaching them by small presents, we were enabled to explore parts wholly unknown, of that vast net-work of rivers which they are constantly traversing." in paraguay the party met a tribe of the celebrated guaycurus nation. these people are eminently equestrian—transporting their baggage, women and effects of every kind on horseback, across the most arid deserts. they are mortal foes to the spaniards, and a terror to the whole frontier. they wear their hair long, and paint themselves, black or red, after a very grotesque and irregular fashion; the two sides of their bodies are generally painted in a different manner. "their chief arms are the lance, knife, and a club, which they throw with great precision at a full gallop. their hats are made of hides. each warrior has his mark, which he burns with a red hot iron on all that belongs to him—his horses, dogs and even wives. one of the most atrocious traits in the manners of this people, is that of putting to death all children born of mothers under thirty years of age."
after traversing the country between paraguay and brazil, the expedition proceeded north by the river paraguay, and passed the mouths of the san lorenzo, where it entered the great lake gaiva, and from thence the greater lake uberava, the limits of which could not be traced, being lost in the horizon. an indian told the count that he had travelled for three whole days in his canoe, without finding its extremity, which supposes a length of twenty-five or thirty leagues. this great inland sea is unknown to geographers. at villa maria a caravan of mules awaited the travellers, when they entered the desert or gran chaco, as it is called, and proceeded to the town of matto-grosso, which is considered the most pestiferous place in the world. out of a population of[29] 1200 souls, there were found but four whites, of whom three were officers of the government; all the rest was composed of blacks and indians of every variety and color, who alone are able to support this terrible climate.
from this place the expedition proceeded to santa cruz of the sierra, where they found bread, of which they had been deprived for two years; after a month's repose, a journey of eight days brought the party to chuquisaca, in bolivia, and from thence by potosi to lima.
the results of this expedition are already of great interest. it will make known people, the names of which were unknown to geographers. rivers which appear on our maps are found not to exist, while hitherto unknown rivers and large bodies of water have been discovered. many geographical positions have been determined, and the particulars of the trade which is extensively carried on in the centre of this vast continent by means of caravans of mules, are made known.
m. de castelnau has paid particular attention to the productions of the country, with a view of introducing such as are valuable into the french colony of algeria. large collections in natural history have already been received at the museum in paris; observations on terrestrial magnetism and meteorology have been made, in fact, no department of science seems to have been neglected by the expedition, which will reflect great credit on its distinguished head, count castelnau, as well as on the french government, by whose liberality and zeal for the promotion of science it has been supported.
from lima, count castelnau intended to prosecute further researches in the country of the incas, after which he would proceed to the amazon river.
peru. some interesting remains of the ancient peruvians, have lately been brought to light in the province of chachapoyas, about five hundred and fifty miles north of lima and two hundred and fifty miles from the coast. the particulars of these ruins were communicated by[30] se?or nieto to the prefect of the department.[21] "the principal edifice is an immense wall of hewn stone, three thousand six hundred feet in length, five hundred and sixty feet in width and one hundred feet high.[22] it is solid in the interior and level on the top, upon which is another wall six hundred feet in length, of the same breadth and height as the former, and like it solid to its summit. in this elevation, and also in that of the lower wall, are a great many rooms eighteen feet long and fifteen wide, in which are found neatly constructed niches, containing bones of the ancient dead, some naked and some in shrouds or blankets," placed in a sitting posture.
from the base of this structure commences an inclined plane gradually ascending to its summit, on which is a small watch tower. from this point, the whole of the plain below, with a considerable part of the province, including the capital, eleven leagues distant, may be seen.
in the second wall or elevation are also openings resembling ovens, six feet high, and from 20 to 30 feet in circumference. in these, skeletons were found. the cavities in the adjoining mountain were found to contain heaps of human remains perfectly preserved in their shrouds, which were made of cotton of various colors. still farther up this mountain was "a wall of square stones, with small apertures like windows, but which could not be reached without a ladder," owing to a perpendicular rock which intervened. the indians have a superstitious horror of the place, in consequence of the mummies it contains, and refused to assist the exploring party, believing that fatal diseases would be produced by touching these ghastly remains of their ancestors. they were therefore compelled to abandon their researches, though surrounded by objects of antiquity of great interest.[31]
mr. chas. frederick neumann, a distinguished oriental scholar of munich, has lately published a work "on the condition of mexico in the fifth century of our era, according to chinese writers." it purports to be an account of that country, called fu-sang, in the chinese annals. de guignes, in his celebrated work on china, supposes that america was the country referred to, while klaproth, on the contrary, believes it to be japan.
it is stated in the english papers[23] that an expedition, which promises the most important results, both to science and commerce, is at this moment fitting out for the purpose of navigating some of the great unexplored rivers of south america. it is to be under the command of lord ranelagh; and several noblemen and gentlemen have already volunteered to accompany his lordship. the enterprising and scientific band will sail as soon as the necessary arrangements are completed. he proposes to[32] penetrate, by some of the great tributaries of the amazon, into the interior of bolivar—for which purpose a steamer will be taken out in pieces. returning to the amazon, he will ascend this great river to its highest sources. the distance and means of communication between the pacific and the basin of the amazon will be minutely examined.
another scientific expedition has been sent out by the french government to its west india colonies and the northerly parts of south america, under m. charles deville, a report from whom was read at a meeting of the paris academy of sciences in june last. its publication was recommended.
the french government gave notice to the same academy, at its meeting on the 31st august last, of an intended expedition by lieut. tardy montravel, to the amazon river and its branches, with the steamer alecton and the astrolabe corvette; and invited the academy to prepare a programme with a view to facilitate the researches which m. de montravel is charged to make.
note.—the following is a list of the books relating to south america which have recently been published.
historia fisica y politica de chile segun documentos adquiredos en esta republica durante doze anos de residencia en ella, y publicada bajo los auspicios del supremo gobierno. 7 livr. 8vo. with an atlas of 27 plates. paris. 1844.
memoria geografico economico-politica del departmento de venezuela, publicada en 1824 por el intendente de ejercito d. jose m. aurrecoechea, quien la reimprime con varias notas aclaratorias y un apendice. quarto. madrid. 1846.
twenty-four years in the argentine republic, embracing the author's personal adventures, with the history of the country, &c. &c., with the circumstances which led to the interposition of england and france. by col. j.a. king. 1 vol. 12mo. new york. 1846.
travels in the interior of brazil, principally through the northern provinces, and the gold and diamond districts, in 1836-1841. by george canning. 8vo. london. 1846.
travels in peru, during the years 1838-1842, on the coast, and in the sierra, across the cordilleras and the andes, into the primeval forests. by dr. j.j. tschudi. 2 vols. 12mo. new york. 1847.
mr. thomas ewbank is preparing for the press a work on brazil, being observations made during a twelve months' residence in that country. from a personal acquaintance with this gentleman, his reputation as a man of observation, and his well known capacity as a writer, we think a valuable book may be expected.