32 



paper would make one of the most valuable contributions 

 that the Commission could make to Brazilian geograph- 

 ical and geological science. A few years ago Mr. Car- 

 penter published in the United States a very short article 

 on the same subject, which for its novelty and its clearness 

 attracted general attention. The memoir written for the 

 Commission is a ver}^ much more extensive and valu- 

 able document, presenting for the first time clearly the 

 methods chosen after long experience by the United 

 States Government, for the exploration of a region 

 almost identical with Brazil in its leading features, and 

 which has been sanctioned b}^ the most eminent of ex- 

 plorers. 



" Dr. Freitas, though suffering from the effects of his 

 journey on the Amazonas, has continued faithfully to 

 perform his arduous duty of translating into Portuguese 

 the palccontological reports of Messrs. Derby and Rath- 

 bun. I cannot speak in too high praise of his fidelity 

 and industry. As it was simply impossible for one per- 

 son to translate the material rapidly accumulating from 

 the different members of the Commission, I found it 

 necessary to call in the aid of my friend, Dr. Americo 

 dos Santos, who, during the last two months, has done 

 everything in his power to aid in the work, translating 

 carefully the memoir of Mr. Carpenter and various papers 

 embraced in the voluminous relatorios on the Lower 

 Amazonas. 



" In accordance with the custom of other commissions 

 and museums, I have employed an experienced Italian 

 artist as a preparador of specimens, and for the making 

 of casts and reproductions of rare fossils and antiquities 

 to be sent abroad, and about one thousand reproductions 

 in plaster-paris are nearly ready for distribution, and I 

 feel sure that this work will be most highly appreciated 

 abroad, especially at this time when American antiquities 

 are sought for with so great an avidity." 



