348 APPENDIX A 



of life on the South American continent. There is, however, one seri- 

 ous criticism to be made on Haseman: the extreme obscurity of his 

 style an obscurity mixed with occasional bits of scientific pedantry, 

 which makes it difficult to tell whether or not on some points his thought 

 is obscure also. Modern scientists, like modern historians and, above 

 all, scientific and historical educators, should ever keep in mind that 

 clearness of speech and writing is essential to clearness of thought and 

 that a simple, clear, and, if possible, vivid style is vital to the produc- 

 tion of the best work in either science or history. Darwin and Huxley 

 are classics, and they would not have been if they had not written 

 good English. The thought is essential, but ability to give it clear 

 expression is only less essential. Ability to write well, if the writer has 

 nothing to write about, entitles him to mere derision. But the great- 

 est thought is robbed of an immense proportion of its value if expressed 

 in a mean or obscure manner. Mr. Haseman has such excellent thought 

 that it is a pity to make it a work of irritating labor to find out just 

 what the thought is. Surely, if he will take as much pains with his 

 writing as he has with the far more difficult business of exploring and 

 collecting, he will become able to express his thought clearly and force- 

 fully. At least he can, if he chooses, go over his sentences until he 



via the Canama. The guide, however, got lost, and after a few days they all returned 

 to the point of departure instead of going through to the Canama. 



Senhor Barreto, a gentleman of high standing, related this last incident to Fiala when 

 Fiala descended the Tapajos (and, by the way, Fiala's trip down the Papagaio, Juruena, 

 and Tapajos was infinitely more important than all the work Mr. Lander did in South 

 America put together). Lieutenants Pyrineus and Mello, mentioned in the body of this 

 work, informed me that they accompanied Mr. Landor on most of his overland trip be- 

 fore he embarked on the Arinos, and that he simply followed the highroad or else the 

 telegraph-line, and furthermore, Colonel Rondon states that the Indians whom Mr. 

 Landor encountered and photographed were those educated at the missions. 



Colonel Rondon's official report to the Brazilian Government and his letter to me are 

 of interest to all geographers and other scientific men who have any concern with the 

 alleged discoveries of Mr. Landor. They contain very grave charges, with which it is 

 not necessary for me to deal. Suffice it to say that Mr. Landor's accounts of his alleged 

 exploration cannot be considered as entitled to the slightest serious consideration until 

 he has satisfactorily and in detail answered Colonel Rondon; and this he has thus far 

 signally failed to do. 



Fortunately, there are numerous examples of exactly the opposite type of work. 

 From the days of Humboldt and Spix and Martius to the present time, German ex- 

 plorers have borne a conspicuous part in the exploration of South America. As represen- 

 tatives of the men and women who have done such capital work, who have fronted every 

 hazard and hardship and labored in the scientific spirit, and who have added greatly to 

 our fund of geographic, biologic, and ethnographic knowledge, I may mention Miss 

 Snethlage and Herr Karl von den Steinen. 



