38 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



6. Eio Sao Francisco and Eio Itapicuru east of Joazeiro. 



7. Eio Agua Branca and Eio Negro of Eio Sao Francisco and Eio 

 Palma of Eio Tocantins. 



8. Eio Grande of Eio Mamore and Eio Pilcomayo of Eio Paraguay. 



9. Eio Branco of Eio Negro, Eio Parii, Eio Trombetas and Eio Esse- 

 quibo. 



10. Corrego da Boa Ventura of Eio Guapore and Corrego de la For- 

 tuna of Eio Paraguay. 



Even if these streams, however, were previously connected, the con- 

 nection would have been so small and at such altitudes that nothing 

 but the highland fauna could have interchanged. Besides, all these 

 streams have and have always had waterfalls in some part of their 

 courses. 



Plate XIII shows in a general way that no continuous waterway exists 

 between Eio Paraguay and Eio Guapore, as has been so often erroneously 

 stated. Several years ago, an attempt was made to cut a canal between Eio 

 Guapore and Eio Jauru, but it was given up on account of the intervening 

 distance (about 20 miles) and the nature of the material to be removed. 

 A grandson of the man who attempted to make this canal hauls rubbei 

 over this divide in an ox cart, but it is far more difficult than by the 

 Bolivian trail from San Ignacio past San Matias to Descalvados. 



The former trail (Villa de Matto Grosso by the way of Jauru to Sao 

 Luiz de Caceres) is only 301 kilometers long, while the latter trail (Villa 

 de Matto Grosso to Bastos, las Encruzijadas, San Matias and Descalvados 

 or Sao Luiz de Caceres) is 488 kilometers, but it is much smoother. 

 While following this latter trail, I had ample opportunity to observe that 

 no connection exists between the Eios Alegrete and Agoaphey. In fact, 

 Eio Santa Eita flowing off this same sierra has one waterfall about 400 

 feet high. All of these rivers are nothing more than creeks. 



The writer found that the nearest as well as the lowest approach be- 

 tween the headwaters of Eios Guapore and Paraguay is in the region of 

 the Corrego de Boa Ventura and la Fortuna; but even though there is a 

 break in the continuity of the Piano Alto in this region, firm hills of con- 

 siderable height separate these creeks, which are not more than ten feet 

 wide and three feet deep and at least four miles apart. 



Dr. Alipo Miranda de Eibeiro, Secretary of the Brazilian National Mu- 

 seum, was a member of the telegraph commission which has explored the 

 northern portion of the Paraguay Eiver. He explored Eio Jauru and 

 Sepatuba and found large waterfalls in each of these rivers. On the other 

 side of the divide, the commission found two large waterfalls in Eio 

 Juruena which flows into Eio Tapajos. One of these falls was about 400 



