human
It has a great many branches, being joined, it is said, by four hundred and thirty-six rivers and upward of two thousand streams; so it drains an area of from two hundred and fifty thousand to six hundred and fifty thousand square miles, as variously estimated. It begins to form its delta one hundred and thirty miles from its mouth, by throwing off a branch which flows northward into the Atlantic. It has several navigable mouths, and the main stream is divided by a line of islands, into two channels, each two miles wide. The river is four miles wide at Bolivar, a town more than two hundred and fifty miles from the mouth of the river, which is there three hundred and ninety feet deep.
gpt
Why, it's a grand, big river, said Chester.
human
Much obliged for the information, Captain. I had forgotten, if I ever knew, that it was so large, and with its many tributaries drained so large a territory.
gpt
And do you wish to visit it--or a part of it? queried the Captain.
human
How is it with you, Cousins Annis and Ronald?
gpt
I am willing--indeed, should prefer--to leave the decision to other members of our party,
human
What do you say, Grandma Dinsmore? asked Violet.
gpt
I think you look as if you would rather not go.
human
And that is how I feel--thinking of the mosquitoes,
gpt
They certainly are very objectionable, said the Captain.
human
I can't say that I am at all desirous to try them myself. And I doubt if they are more scarce on the Amazon than on the Orinoco. One traveler there tells us, 'At night it was quite impossible to sleep for mosquitoes; they fell upon us by myriads, and without much piping came straight to our faces as thick as raindrops in a shower. The men crowded into the cabins and tried to expel them by smoke from burnt rags, but it was of little avail, though we were half suffocated by the operation.'
gpt
That certainly does not sound very encouraging, my dear,
human
The Amazon is a grand river, I know, said Harold,
gpt
And this one of your patients would not be willing to encounter them, even if such were the prescription of her physician,
human
Nor would this older one,
gpt
Then we will consider the Orinoco as tabooed, said the Captain;
human
Well, my dear, if there is a difference of opinion and choice among us--some preferring scenery even with mosquitoes, others no scenery unless it could be had without mosquitoes--suppose we divide our forces--one set land and the other remain on board and journey on up the river.
gpt
Ah! and which set will you join, little wife?
human
Whichever one my husband belongs to, she answered.
gpt
Man and wife are not to be separated.
human
Suppose we take a vote on the question and settle it at once,
gpt
A good plan, I think,
human
Yes, assented the Captain.
gpt
Cousins Annis and Ronald, please give us your wishes in regard to rivers and mosquitoes.
human
I admire the rivers, but not the mosquitoes, and would rather do without both than have both, laughed Annis, and her husband added,
gpt
And my sentiments on the subject coincide exactly with those of my wife.