PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF ORTON AND PERU, 223, 
Why may not benevolent societies be organized in every Christian nation of 
the world for the purpose of transporting the starving millions of Persia, India 
and China to the fertile plains and Italian skies of the great Madiera plateau of 
South America? a country that could never be wanting in beef, rice, plantains, 
corn and fish. 
After fourteen days of paddling we reached the rapids of Guajaramerim in 
Brazil, only eight leagues distant from those unexplored lands, the object of our 
long and expensive journey. Here the soldiers mutinied, and, with charged mus- 
kets leveled at the Professor’s breast, deserted us, taking away with them one-half 
our outfit. Slowly we made our way back up stream to Santa Ana and there 
changed to ox carts and saddle horses for a journey of 200 miles west through the 
cattle estates of the pampas. The country is nearly level and its general appear- 
ance much like of the prairies of Illinois previous to their settlement. Our route 
was not distant from the timbered line of the river Yacuma. Other pieces of tim- 
ber were seen and clusters of the graceful fan palm. It is a beautiful, quiet, pas- 
toral country. Each of the carts were drawn by two pairs of oxen yoked to- 
gether after the Spanish method by straight sticks fastened with thongs back of 
_the horns. The carts were entirely of wood, well made, without one particle of 
iron in their construction. Upon the carts were placed boxes of rawhide for the 
reception of the baggage so that while crossing the many streams that drain the 
pampas, the Indians, oxen and carts were all swimming at the same time. 
At the time of our visit cattle were reckoned scarce and high-priced. A few 
years previous they existed in such vast numbers that the government at La Paz 
sold permits for their slaughter at $1 per head of those notbranded. Millions of 
cattle were killed for their hides and tallow. In 1877 a cattle estate, land and all, 
was valued at eight pesos ($6.40) per head for all those over one year of age. 
Tigers are greatly feared and are destructive to young stock. Each estate keeps 
twelve to fifteen powerful dogs to watch and fight the tiger whose skin will cover 
as much ground as that of a cow. 
In the latter part of July we arrived once more in sight of the mountains at 
Los Reyes. At this point is he who addressed you two years ago on ‘‘ Peruvian 
Antiquities’—Dr. Edwin R. Heath. He arrived in Los Reyes last September 
by way of the rivers Amazon, Madeiraand Mamoré. He is engaged in studies 
and making collections in the interests of science and getting ready an expedi- 
tion to work out the unfinished task of Prof. Orton—an undertaking full of diffi- 
culty and danger—but for the accomplishment of which he possesses the experi- 
ence of those who have gone before him, a long and intimate acquaintance with 
the Spanish character, language and of their country, and an indomitable ener: 
‘gy; and if he fails in the task before him it will only be from want of sufficient 
funds. 
But to return to the expedition of 1877. Arrived at the foot of the moun- 
tains the next two stages must be made on foot—r18o miles. Engaged sixteen In- 
dians for the baggage, each one carrying sixty pounds besides his own food and 
