230 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



and exacted tribute from the squaws in the form of several 

 gallons of chicha. 



Utiarity was a profitable collecting-place. Many small 

 rodents and a few larger mammals, including a soft-shelled 

 armadillo collected by Colonel Roosevelt, were taken, and 

 a number of birds besides. We spent five days in the vil- 

 lage (Colonel Roosevelt arrived three days after we did), 

 at the end of which time Father Zahm and Mr. Sigg started 

 back home. A short time later Mr. Fiala left the expedi- 

 tion for his trip down the unexplored Papagayo. Mr. Fiala 

 undertook this work voluntarily, well realizing the hazard- 

 ous nature of the venture ahead of him. He carried the 

 undertaking to a successful close, but barely escaped with 

 his life. 



The first telegraph-station along the line was located at 

 Utiarity. It was conducted by a young Brazilian; his wife 

 acted as schoolmistress and was doing a really noble work 

 in educating the younger gereration of Parecis along men- 

 tal and moral lines. The second telegraph-station was on 

 the banks of the Rio Juruena, approximately one hundred 

 kilometres away ; it required five days to reach this place. 



By this time the order of the expedition had settled down 

 to a regular routine. We arose as the first sharp blasts of 

 a bugle smote the silence of early morning. A short time 

 later the faithful Juan, a colored man who was as big-hearted 

 and obliging as he was tall and powerful, appeared with 

 coffee. At about eight o'clock a bountiful breakfast was 

 served. Then we mounted the riding animals which were 

 brought and saddled by the camaradas, and started on the 

 day's ride. Each person was advised in advance of the dis- 

 tance to be covered, and it was easy to locate the camping- 

 site by watching the numbers on the telegraph-poles; there 

 were eleven of these to the kilometre, and as they were num- 

 bered consecutively it was of course simple to arrive at the 

 numeral that marked the end of the day's ride. Usually 

 we made camp at about 4 p. m., but sometimes it was much 

 later. The cook and his assistants immediately began to 



