up the River of Tapirs 157 



—who is not only an exceedingly efficient naturalist and 

 explorer in the tropics, but is also a thoroughly good 

 citizen at home — is the chairman of the school board of 

 the town of Newfane, in Vermont. He and the colonel, 

 and Kermit and I, talked over school matters at length, 

 and were in hearty accord as to the vital educational needs 

 of both Brazil and the United States: the need of com- 

 bining industrial with purely mental training, and the 

 need of having the wide-spread popular education, which 

 is and must be supported and paid for by the government, 

 made a purely governmental and absolutely nonsectarian 

 function, administered by the state alone, without inter- 

 ference with, nor furtherance of, the beliefs of any 

 reputable church. The colonel is also head of the Indian 

 service of Brazil, being what corresponds roughly with 

 our commissioner of Indian affairs. Here also he is tak- 

 ing the exact view that is taken in the United States by 

 the stanchest and wisest friends of the Indians. The 

 Indians must be treated with intelligent and sympathetic 

 understanding, no less than with justice and firmness; 

 and until they become citizens, absorbed into the general 

 body politic, they must be the wards of the nation, and 

 not of any private association, lay or clerical, no matter 

 how well-meaning. 



The Sepotuba River was scientifically explored and 

 mapped for the first time by Colonel Rondon in 1908, as 

 head of the Brazilian Telegraphic Commission. This was 

 during the second year of his exploration and opening of 

 the unknown northwestern wilderness of Matto Grosso. 

 Most of this wilderness had never previously been trodden 

 by the foot of a civilized man. Not only were careful 



