The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

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AMAZONTA AXD LA PLATA.
1850 the yellow fever made its first appearance, struck down two-thirds of the
inhabitants, and drove the rest to seek safety in flight.
Since then Para has made astonishing progress, the population increasing more
than sixfold and the exchanges over tenfold in four decades. All the retail busi-
ness and a considerable amount of the foreign trade, as well as several of the
industries, are in the hands of recent Portuguese immigrants, who here display a
great spirit of solidarity.
Although over 60 miles from the sea, the channel at Para is still 23 feet deep,
giving access to large vessels, which here ship rubber (the finest in the world),
cacao, hides, drugs, Peruvian straw hats, and other produce, in exchange for
preserves, breadstuffs, and European wares of all sorts. Most of the exchanges
are with the United States, England, and France in the order named.
Hound about Para are several little trading places, such as Vigia, at the
entrance of the estuary ; Salinas, on the white cliffs facing seawards ; Braganga,
farther east, a watering place now connected by rail with Para ; Cameta, on a
high bluS west of the Tocantins, which is here five miles wide.
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