The Highland Wilderness 195 



On the edge of the cliff below the falls Colonel Ron- 

 don had placed benches, giving a curious touch of rather 

 conventional tourist-civilization to this cataract far out in 

 the lonely wilderness. It is well worth visiting for its 

 beauty. It is also of extreme interest because of the 

 promise it holds for the future. Lieutenant Lyra in- 

 formed me that they had calculated that this fall would 

 furnish thirty-six thousand horse-power. Eight miles off 

 we were to see another fall of much greater height and 

 power. There are many rivers in this region which 

 would furnish almost unlimited motive force to populous 

 manufacturing communities. The country round about 

 is healthy. It is an upland region of good climate ; we 

 were visiting it in the rainy season, the season when the 

 nights are far less cool than in the dry season, and yet 

 we found it delightful. There is much fertile soil in the 

 neighborhood of the streams, and the teeming lowlands 

 of the Amazon and the Paraguay could readily — ^and 

 with immense advantage to both sides — ^be made tributary 

 to an industrial civilization seated on these highlands. A 

 telegraph-line has been built to and across them. A rail- 

 road should follow. Such a line could be easily built, for 

 there are no serious natural obstacles. In advance of its 

 construction a trolley-line could be run from Cuyaba to 

 the falls, using the power furnished by the latter. Once 

 this is done the land will offer extraordinary opportuni- 

 ties to settlers of the right kind: to home-makers and to 

 enterprising business men of foresight, coolness, and 

 sagacity who are willing to work with the settlers, the 

 immigrants, the home-makers, for an advantage which 

 shall be mutual. 



