400 ilussian Natural Hisim^y Expedition in Brazil, 



whole province are designated. Hence take their origin the 

 Aguapeky (Agoapiki) and Guapore, the first a tributary to 

 the Paraquay, and the latter to the Amazon. Arrived at 

 the town of Matto-Grosso, he extended his researches even 

 to the confines of the Brazilian empire. On his way thither, 

 he came to the village Cazalvasco, where he met with the 

 Xiquitos (an emigrant mission from Peru) ; several of them, 

 he remarked, were able to write and read their language; 

 and in their religious service, instead of an organ, they use 

 violins, which several of them played tolerably well. Having 

 much enriched his collections, he returned again to Matto- 

 Grosso, at a short distance from which he was overtaken by 

 a terrible thunder-storm. After his arrival, he had to deplore 

 the loss of his very dear friend and fellow-traveller M. Adrian 

 Taunay, the painter to the expedition. Trying to get under 

 shelter before the storm reached him, this gentleman rode off 

 from the rest of his companions, who were yet at a consider- 

 able distance from the town ; and in his hurry he lost the 

 footpath, and came to the bank of the river Guapore, but on 

 the side opposite Matto-Grosso. Having passed the ferry a 

 good way, and finding at the moment no boat to bring him 

 across, he was seen, by an old woman on the other side, to 

 drive his horse before him into the river. The animal got 

 safely over ; and, shortly after, his master threw himself, 

 clothed as he was, into the current, at that time very rapid, 

 but, losing his strength about the midst of the stream, he was 

 drowned. He was seen by no person but the old woman, who 

 chanced to be at the same time on the river-side, and she 

 was unable to render him any assistance. She immediately 

 alarmed a great many of the inhabitants ; but they could not 

 find him sooner than the third day. After this melancholy 

 accident, M. Riedel experienced many difficulties ; besides, 

 his health was impaired from the putrid atmosphere at that 

 unwholesome place, inundated, in general, about four months 

 in the year. 



The vegetation of Matto-Grosso M. Riedel states to be 

 little different from that of Cuyaba, notwithstanding many 

 rare and new plants were discovered. Amongst others, he 

 found in the native woods a most singular plant, in size a 

 large tree (Calycophyllum) : one phyllum or leaflet of the 

 calyx grows into a large heart-shaped petiolate leaf, of a 

 bright crimson colour: giving the tree, at a distance, the 

 appearance of being covered with large beautiful crimson 

 flowers. He likewise discovered at that spot a curious kind 

 of the numerous Leguminosse, which had a trunk quite flat, 

 about 1 ft. broad, and but I in. thick, climbing up to the 



