66 To the River Plate and Back 



where my learned companion showed me the collections 

 representing the minerals and fossils of the various 

 formations which he has been assembling for many 

 years. He conducted me through the laboratories; 

 and I was deeply interested in a number of fine relief 

 maps which he has prepared or has in process of pre- 

 paration. An unfinished relief of very large size, 

 showing the whole of Brazil, adjusted to the curvature 

 of a globe of immense size, particularly attracted me. 

 I was also very glad to see a relief map of Rio de Janeiro 

 and its environs and to receive from Dr. Derby a most 

 interesting and instructive account of the geology of the 

 district. We talked about the mines, of precious 

 stones and metals, and of the coal-fields of Brazil. 

 The question of a fuel supply is one of great importance 

 in all of the South American countries. The coal at 

 present used is imported from overseas. The deposits 

 of coal in Brazil thus far discovered are not extensive 

 in area and are of inferior quality, though by proper 

 treatment it is believed that these Brazilian coals may 

 be utilized to advantage. However, the development 

 of railways is likely to be much retarded by the lack 

 of cheap fuel. To sacrifice the great forests of valuable 

 woods to the devouring maws of steam-engines would 

 be a frightful act of vandalism. Fortunately, in the 

 vicinity of Rio de Janeiro and other cities in Brazil 

 there are fine waterfalls, and these are being harnessed 

 and used in the service of the electric railways. On the 

 broad plains of the south and the interior such sources 

 of power are of course lacking. There are reported to 

 be extensive beds of coal in Bolivia, but as yet they are 

 wholly inaccessible, though the problem of reaching 

 them is attracting attention. 



After leaving the Museum of Geology we repaired to 



