AMAZON, AMAZONS

chief river of g. America, rising in the Peruvian Andes in two great branches, the Ucayali and the Maranon, which unite at Nauta, in N.E. of Peru, after which the river flows over 3200 miles right acro Brazil, entering the Atlantic at the equator. The width increases from under two miles at the Brazilian boundary to fifty at the principal mouth; it is navigable for ocean steamers for about 2300 miles, and for smaller ve els about 180 miles farther. Trade is carried on by the A. Steam Navigation Company and_ by numbers of small steamers employed by rubber companies. The region it drains, an area of over 2,700,000 sq. miles, produces rubber, cotton, indigo, nuts, sugar, 1eacao, coffee, tobacco; and its course leads through vast impenetrable forests, where there are many natural channels which unite the different affluents. It is a rapid river, especially in times of flood; its waters abound in hundreds of kinds of fish, and great numbers of turtles are found. A great deal of silt is carried down, and has formed many islands, particularly near the mouth. } The principal ports are Tabatin ga, on Peruvian boundary, Teffe, Manaos, Obidos, Santarem, Macapa, in Brazil; and the chief trading city is Para, near the mouth. The A. has about 200 tributaries, many of which are navigab le. Besides Ucayali and Maranon the princiapura, Negro from the N., and the and Xingu from the 8S. Napo rises on N. side of Cotopaxi; its affluents include the Coca and Aguarico. Putumayo, or Ica, rises near Pasto and joins A. at Sao Antonio. Yapura flows parallel to Putumayo, rises in Columbian Andes, and joins A. by several natural channels. Negro is principal northern affluent of A. rises in Colombia, is joined by Branco, Uapes, and other streams, and unites with A. below Manaos. Javary forms part of boundary between Brazil and Peru, and unites with Maranon at Tabatinga. Jurua rises in Peru and is sluggish stream. Purus also rises in Peru, is joined by Acre or Aquiry, and unites with A. in lat. 4°S. Madeira is largest tributary of A.; its head waters, the Beni and Marmoré, rise in Bolivia and unite in lat. 10°30’ S.; in the upper reaches are many rapids; its affluents include the Blanco, Guapore, Mayutata, and it joins A. near Santarem. Xingu rises in Matto Gra o, has many falls and rapids, and forms lake near the mouth, uniting with A. by multitude of streams. Of the smaller tributaries, and Morona may be mentioned, all on the S. side. The To can tins is sometimes called a tributary of the A., but is not in reality. ment, Peru. Pop. 70,000. state, Brazil; capital, Manaos; rubber, cacao, nuts. Pop. 499,450. race of warlike women dwelling in Pontus; said to have cut or burnt off right breast that they might use their weapons more freely; men were not admitted to their dominions, but once yearly they met with the Gargareans in the mountains for the propagation of their race; male offspring were destroyed, or sent back to their fathers. See