LACK OF FORAGE 201 



their day homes. These were in and under the big, 

 white china insulators on the telegraph-poles. Hundreds 

 of spiders were already climbing up into these. When, 

 two or three hours later, we returned, the sun was out, 

 and not a spider was to be seen. 



Here we had to cut down our baggage and rearrange 

 the loads for the mule-train. Cherrie and Miller had a 

 most workmanlike equipment, including a very hght 

 tent and two light flies. One fly they gave for the 

 kitchen use, one fly was allotted to Kermit and me, and 

 they kept only the tent for themselves. Colonel Rondon 

 and Lyra went in one tent, the doctor and Oliveira in 

 another. Each of us got rid of everything above the 

 sheer necessities. This was necessary because of the 

 condition of the baggage-animals. The oxen were so 

 weak that the effort to bring on the carts had to be 

 abandoned. Nine of the pack- mules had already been 

 left on the road during the three days' march from 

 Utiarity. In the first expeditions into this country all 

 the baggage-animals had died ; and even in our case the 

 loss was becoming very heavy. This state of affairs is 

 due to the scarcity of forage and the type of country. 

 Good grass is scanty, and the endless leagues of sparse, 

 scrubby forest render it exceedingly difficult to find the 

 animals when they wander. They must be turned 

 absolutely loose to roam about and pick up their scanty 

 subsistence, and must be given as long a time as possible 

 to feed and rest ; even under these conditions most of 

 them grow weak when, as in our case, it is impossible to 

 carry corn. They cannot be found again until after 

 daylight, and then hours must be spent in gathering 

 them; and this means that the march must be made 

 chiefly during the heat of the day, the most trying time. 

 Often some of the animals would not be brought in until 



