228 THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN WILDERNESS 



milk; and there were goats, pigs, turkeys, and chickens. 

 Most of the buildings were made of upright poles, with 

 roofs of palm thatch. One or two were of native brick, 

 plastered with mud, and before these there was an enclo- 

 sure with a few ragged palms, and some pineapple plants. 

 Here we halted. Our attendants made two kitchens: one 

 was out in the open air, one was under a shelter of ox-hide. 

 The view over the surrounding grassy hills, riven by deep 

 wooded valleys, was lovely. The air was cool and fresh. 

 We were not bothered by insects, although mosquitoes 

 swarmed in every belt of timber. Yet there has been 

 much fever at this beautiful and seemingly healthy place. 

 Doubtless when settlement is sufficiently advanced a rem- 

 edy will be developed. The geology of this neighborhood 

 was interesting — Oliveira found fossil tree-trunks which he 

 believed to be of cretaceous age. 



Here we found Amilcar and Mello, who had waited for us 

 with the rear-guard of their pack-train, and we enjoyed our 

 meeting with the two fine fellows, than whom no military 

 service of any nation could produce more efficient men for 

 this kind of difficult and responsible work. Next morn- 

 ing they mustered their soldiers, muleteers, and pack-ox 

 men, and marched off. Reinisch the taxidermist was with 

 them. We followed in the late afternoon, camping after 

 a few miles. We left the ox-cart at Campos Novos; from 

 thence on the trail was only for pack-animals. 



In this neighborhood the two naturalists found many 

 birds which we had not hitherto met. The most conspic- 

 uous was a huge oriole, the size of a small crow, with a 

 naked face, a black-and-red bill, and gaudily variegated 

 plumage of green, yellow, and chestnut. Very interesting 



