vin PREFACE 



18,000 feet, and the cold and storms — especially the hailstorms of 

 mid-afternoon — were at times most severe. 



It is also a pleasure to say that Mr. Paul Baxter Lanius, my 

 assistant on the lower Urubamba journey, rendered an invaluable 

 service in securing continuous weather records at Yavero and else- 

 where, and in getting food and men to the river party at a critical 

 time. Dr. W. G. Erving, surgeon of the Expedition, accompanied 

 me on a canoe journey through the lower gorge of the Urubamba 

 between Rosalina and the mouth of the Timpia, and again by pack 

 train from Santa Ana to Cotahuasi. For a time he assisted the 

 topographer. It is due to his prompt surgical assistance to vari- 

 ous members of the party that the field work was uninterrupted. 

 He was especially useful when two of our river Indians from 

 Pongo de Mainique were accidentally shot. I have since been in- 

 formed by their patron that they were at work within a few 

 months. 



It is difficult to express the gratitude I feel toward Professor 

 Hiram Bingham, Director of the Expedition, first for the execu- 

 tive care he displayed in the organization of the expedition's 

 plans, which left the various members largely care-free, and sec- 

 ond, for generously supplying the time of various assistants in the 

 preparation of results. I have enjoyed so many facilities for the 

 completion of the work that at least a year's time has been saved 

 thereby. Professor Bingham's enthusiasm for pioneer field work 

 was in the highest degree stimulating to every member of the 

 party. Furthermore, it led to a determination to complete at all 

 hazards the original plans. 



Finally, I wish gratefully to acknowledge the expert assistance 

 of Miss Gladys M. Wrigley, of the editorial staff of the American 

 Geographical Society, who prepared the climatic tables, many of 

 the miscellaneous data related thereto, and all of the curves in 

 Chapter X. Miss Wrigley also assisted in the revision of Chap- 

 ters IX and X and in the correction of the proof. Her eager and 

 in the highest degree faithful assistance in these tasks bespeaks 

 a true scientific spirit. 



Isatah Bowman. 



