CHAP. IV] THE FARQUHAR SYNDICATE 117 



trees, both at sunset and after sunrise. Although there 

 was no deep forest, merely belts or fringes of trees along 

 the river, or in patches back of it, we frequently saw 

 monkeys in this riverine tree-fringe — active common 

 monkeys and black howlers of more leisurely gait. We 

 saw caymans and capybaras sitting socially near one 

 another on the sand-banks. At night we heard the 

 calling of large flights of tree-ducks. These were now 

 the most common of all the ducks, although there were 

 many muscovy ducks also. The evenings were pleasant 

 and not hot, as we sat on the forward deck ; there was 

 a waxing moon. The screamers were among the most 

 noticeable birds. They were noisy ; they perched on 

 the very tops of the trees, not down among the branches ; 

 and they were not shy. They should be carefully pro- 

 tected by law, for they readily became tame, and then 

 come familiarly round the houses. From the steamer 

 we now and then saw beautiful orchids in the trees on 

 the river bank. 



One afternoon we stopped at the home buildings, or 

 headquarters, of one of the great outlying ranches of 

 the Brazil Land and Cattle Company, the Farquhar 

 syndicate, under the management of Murdo Mackenzie 

 — than whom we have had in the United States no 

 better citizen or more competent cattleman. On this 

 ranch there are some seventy thousand head of stock. 

 We were warmly greeted by McLean, the head of the 

 ranch, and his assistant Ramsey, an old Texan friend. 

 Among the other assistants, all equally cordial, were 

 several Belgians and Frenchmen. The hands were 

 Paraguayans and Brazilians, and a few Indians — a hard- 

 bit set, each of whom always goes armed and knows 

 how to use his arms, for there are constant collisions 

 with cattle thieves from across the Bolivian border. 



