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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. Thecountry is uncultivated, except in the valleys. Crossing a well-builtstone bridge, over a stream flowing northward, we passed a grist-mill.Peach trees were in blossom, and some few flowers. After a ride overthese barren heights, the sight of a fresh rapid brook gladdens the heartsof our mules. Matara post house is near a gorge in the range of mountains trend-ing southeast and northwest. The potatoes and barley are of good sizehere ; on the northwest side of a hill, I cut eleven stalks of wheat, pro-duced from one seed, and counted four hundred and fourteen grains fromthe heads of these sprouts. It is not unusual to see twenty stalks pro-duced from one grain—eleven is about the average. These crops areonly raised after a careful system of irrigation. The Indians lead thewater from the heights to a great distance; this seems to be a favoriteoccupation with them. Wherever water can be had, there the soilyields a rich harvest; in other places, the mid-day sun kills the youngstalks.
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BRIDAL TRIP ON THE ANDES. 29 One of our arrieros—a Quichua Indian—lias his wife; being justmarried, they are very fond. This appears to be her bridal trip. Mountedlike a man, on a white horse, her blue dress and scarlet manto showto advantage. She wears a straw hat, with broad ribband. Her hair,after their custom, is plaited and hangs in two braids over her shoulders.The Indians all salute her as she rides by, and has something pleasantto say to both; she bows and receives it smilingly, while he looksmodestly, and becomes very much engaged attending to his duties ;while nearly out of sight, among the mountains, he is constantly talkingby her side. Over these rough roads the arrieros generally travel on foot. Theywalk for days with more ease than the mules, and quite as fast. On theplains they trot along after the baggage for hours at a time. Messagesfrom the governors and sub-prefects are often sent to the prefect byIndians, on foot, rather than by horse or mule. The man cuts acro

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