Furthermore, I have the full conviction that the future of that industry competently managed will offer in Amazonas, and in order to be more exact, in Brazil, more guarantees of success than in any other region in the world. M. LOBATO. [Illustration: RUBBER-WORKERS’ HOME NEAR LAKE INNOCENCE.] BRAZIL The States of Amazonas and Matto-Grosso, and the Acre Territory The Commercial Association of Amazonas exhibits samples of rubber from the States of Amazonas and Matto-Grosso, and from the Acre Territory, having been authorized by the respective Governments for this purpose. STATE OF AMAZONAS The main stream of the River Amazon flows through the entire territory of this State, and within its boundaries is joined by many tributaries. The boundary with the State of Pará is formed by the same river, and that with Matto-Grosso and the Republic of Bolivia by the Upper Madeira River. The River Javary, a tributary of the Solimões (or Upper Amazon), forms the boundary with Perú, as does the Upper Rio Negro (the waters of which connect with the Orinoco through the Cassiquari Canal), with Venezuela. Before the formation of the Federal Acre Territory, the upper reaches of the Rivers Acre, Purús, and Juruá also constituted the frontiers of the State of Amazonas with Perú and Bolivia. The capital of the State, Manáos, is situated in the bay of the Rio Negro, three days distant by steamer from the capital of the adjoining State, Pará. The nearest European port, Lisbon, can be reached in thirteen days, and New York in eighteen days. Manáos is the turning-point for ocean going steamers from the United States of America, and Europe, as well as from the South of Brazil. The companies engaged in the transatlantic service are: =The Booth Steamship Co., Ltd.= (British), with four sailings each way to and from Liverpool per month, calling at Itacoatiara, Pará, Madeira, Lisbon, Leixoes (Oporto), Vigo and Cherbourg, and three sailings to and from New York per month, calling at Pará and Barbadoes. =The Hamburg-Amerika Line= and =Hamburg-Sudamerikanische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft= (German), with two sailings per month to and from Hamburg, calling at Pará, Madeira, Lisbon, Leixoes (Oporto), Havre and Antwerp. =The Booth Steamship Co., Ltd.=, also runs two lines, one from Liverpool and the other from New York, as far as Iquitos, the capital and principal port of the Loreto province of Perú. Maritime communication with Southern Brazil is maintained by the “=Lloyd Brazileiro=” and the “=Cia. de Commercio e Navegação=,” the former having six steamers per month, and the latter three. The voyage from Manáos to Rio de Janeiro occupies from 14 to 16 days. [Illustration: MAP OF MANÁOS]