I/O Through the Brazilian Wilderness 



white. The other bird, called a nun or waxbill, is about 

 the size of a thrush, grayish in color, with a waxy red 

 bill. It also burrows in the level soil, the burrow being 

 five feet long; and over the mouth of the burrow it heaps 

 a pile of sticks and leaves. 



At this camp the heat was great — from 91° to 104° 

 Fahrenheit — ^and the air very heavy,, being saturated with 

 moisture; and there were many rain-storms. But there 

 were no mosquitoes, and we were very comfortable. 

 Thanks to the neighborhood of the ranch. We fared sump- 

 tuously, with plenty of beef, chickens, and fresh milk. 

 Two of the Brazilian dishes were delicious: canja, a thick 

 soup of chicken and rice, the best soup a hungry man 

 ever tasted ; and beef chopped in rather small pieces and 

 served with a well-flavored but simple gravy. The mule 

 allotted me as a riding-beast was a powerful animal, with 

 easy gaits. The BraziliEin Government had waiting for 

 me a very handsome silver-mounted saddle and bridle; 

 I was much pleased with both. However, my exceeding- 

 ly rough and shabby clothing made an incongruous 

 contrast. 



At Tapirapoan we broke up our baggage — ^as well as 

 our party. We sent forward the Canadian canoe — 

 which, with the motor-engine and some kerosene, went 

 in a cart drawn by six oxen — and a hundred sealed tin 

 cases of provisions, each containing rations for a day for 

 six men. They had been put up in New York under the 

 special direction of Fiala, for use when we got where we 

 wished to take good and varied food in small compass. 

 All the skins, skulls, and alcoholic specimens, and all the 

 baggage not absolutely necessary, were sent back down 



