DROUGHTS 135 



Even in normal times the rivers soon empty themselves and for 

 quite six months the river beds are dry and are used for the cultivation 

 of beans and other vegetables. It is by digging holes into the river 

 bed that many villages procure their only drinking water supply, 

 even in ordinary seasons. 



The years of great droughts are long remembered ; it is perhaps 

 due to the hardships suffered by the inhabitants of these districts 

 during famine periods that they are generally a hardened race, strong, 

 and frugal by habit, though somewhat indolent, but when put to it, 

 they can work. 



The following were the years of " Grande Secca," as the droughts 

 are called: 1877/78, 1898, 1905, 1908, 1915, 1919, and the years of 

 very heavy rains were : 1882, 1888, 1894, 1899, 1910 to 1914, 1917 

 and 1921. In these years as much as l,oOOmm. rain fell. During 

 the normal season the rainfall is about 600mm. ; when he gets 

 that quantity of rain, in about three falls, the '"sertanejo" (name of 

 the inhabitants of the Sertao, or upland) is quite satisfied. 



The rains generally cease about the beginning of June, but un- 

 fortunately for the first growth of cotton this year they started again 

 in July. Our journey was made slower in consequence of the rains ; 

 it was intended that we should travel through these States by motor 

 car, but once off the main roads this mode of travel became impossible, 

 the cars would not cover more than a few miles a day, as we had to 

 spend hours in lifting and pushing them out of holes and muddy places. 



The greatest difficulty was encountered when crossing rivers, as 

 bridges do not exist. The following illustration shows one of the 

 several crossings of river beds which were unexpectedly filled with 

 water owing to the late rains. Finally we had to abandon the cars 

 and take to horses, a much quicker way of travel than by motor in 

 muddy country with no roads or only an old worn-out road, covered 

 with grass, " malvas "" and even brushwood. Through travelling on 



Crossing the River under Difficulties 



