A SCENE IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO SAO FRANCISCO. 



This photograph, which was taken near the village of 

 Urubu, in the state of Bahia, a short distance from the 

 river, shows the general character of this upland region, 

 with its flat plains sparsely covered with vegetation, and 

 occasional round topped hills. The compact shrubs in the 

 foreground, on one of which clothes have been hung to dry, 

 are Aimona spinescens t a rare, spiny species whose soft, 

 oval, brownish-orange fruits were previously unknown to 

 science. The dugout canoe is the chief means of transpor- 

 tation in this region, though communication with the out- 

 side world is maintained through the small river steamers 

 which ply between Joazelro, in Bahia state, and Pirapora, 

 1300 kilometers upstream in Minas Geraes. The people are 

 of a mixed Indian and negro blood, unprogressive , with 

 only the hoe, the brush hook, and the facao or heavy knife 

 to carry on their agricultural pursuits, which are limited 

 to the cultivation of mandioca, maize, sugar cane, and a 

 few other crops. Brazilian Expedition photograph No. D 

 1916. Taken February 17, 1914. 



