632 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



river, or its immediate neighborhood, at Ma- 

 naos, Ega, Obydos, and elsewhere. Wherever 

 they sojourned, whether for a longer or a 

 shorter time, the scientific work went on un- 

 interruptedly. There was not an idle mem- 

 ber in the company. 



From the time he left Rio de Janeiro, Agas- 

 siz had the companionship of a young Brazil- 

 ian officer of the engineer corps, Major Cou- 

 tinho. Thoroughly familiar with the Amazons 

 and its affluents, at home with the Indians, 

 among whom he had often Hved, he was the 

 pearl of traveling companions as well as a val- 

 uable addition to the scientific force. Agassiz 

 left the Amazonian valley in April, and the 

 two remaining months of his stay in BrazU 

 were devoted to excursions along the coast, es- 

 pecially in the mountains back of Ceara, and 

 in the Organ mountains near Rio de Janeiro. 



From beginning to end this journey ful- 

 filled Agassiz's brightest anticipations. Mr. 

 Thayer, whose generosity first placed the ex- 

 pedition on so broad a scientific basis, con- 

 tinued to give it his cordial support till the 

 last specimen was stored in the Museum. 

 The interest taken in it by the Emperor of 

 Brazil, and the liberality of the government 

 toward it, also facihtated all Agassiz' s aims 



