THE ROOSEVELT-RONDON SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION 61 
hammocks. This was the most dangerous 
part of the whole Nhambiquara country. 
Campos Novos was reached February 16. 
Formerly the third telegraph station was 
located here, but it now stands on the Rio 
Nhambiquara, a league away. We were on 
the border of the great Cerro de Norte, a 
vast tract of country comprised of high, 
broken plateaus or mesas covered with 
luxuriant grass. Many small streams flowed 
through deep gorges, and 
near some of the water- 
courses, tall dense forest 
grew. ‘The soil is fertile 
and would produce crops 
of corn and rice; cattle in 
great numbers could be 
reared on the extensive 
mesas, and the climate is 
cooland healthful. There 
are few portions of South 
America so well suited for 
colonization by Euro- 
peans, but on account of 
the remote location and 
the lack of means of com- 
munication, it will be 
several decades before this 
vast and fruitful region 
will become inhabited. 
After leaving the Cerro 
de Norte, February 23, we 
again entered chapaddao 
country; but the wiry 
grass and stunted trees 
were gradually being su- 
perceded by forest. Occa- 
sionally all other vegeta- 
tion gave way to large 
areas of wild pineapples. 
There were many square 
miles of them, bearing 
fruit which was small but 
of delicious flavor. 
We added few speci- 
mens to the collections 
after leaving Utiarity. Animal life was not 
abundant, and the rapid pace at which the 
expedition was compelled to move left no 
time for collecting. At José Bonofacio, 
which was reached February 23, an interest- 
ing rodent, somewhat resembling a gopher, 
was taken. In order to secure the single 
example it required a half day’s time and the 
assistance of five Nhambiquara. A reward 
of bunches of coral beads had been offered 
the Indians if the animal was secured, so 
they immediately began work with sharpened 
sticks and with their hands. By noon they 
had excavated ten cubic yards of earth 
and won the prize. The expedition had 
gone on ahead but was overtaken in the 
evening. 
At a camp named Siete de Setembre the 
two divisions of the expedition were reunited. 
Captain Amilear and his party had arrived a 
Parecis babies at Utiarity 
day or two before, and a halt was made to di- 
vide the equipment and provisions between 
what were to be the Duvida and Gy Parana 
parties. The Rio da Divida was only ten kilo- 
meters away, and on February 27 we stood on 
the bridge that spans the river and watched 
Colonel Roosevelt and his party in seven 
canoes disappear down the stream. Colonel 
Roosevelt was accompanied by his son Ker- 
mit, Colonel Rondon, Lieutenant Lyra, Mr. 
