1867.] . SENATE— No. 52. 15 



indebted for a series of photographic portraits of Indians, 

 and of the various cross-breeds arising between Indians, 

 whites and blacks, taken by him at Manaos. Mr. Thayer 

 was also very successful in collecting at Serpa and at Lago 

 Alexo. Although zoological research and the forming of 

 collections for the Museum were the chief objects of my jour- 

 ney, I also made as complete a geological survey of the Valley 

 of the Amazons as was possible under the circumstances. As 

 my results in this direction do not, however, especially affect 

 the interests of the Museum, I need enter into no details con- 

 cerning them here. I should, however, add, that I made the 

 largest collection ever brought together of palm woods and 

 fruits, bringing away many complete stems of palm trees, or, 

 where this was not possible, fragments large enough to show 

 their structure, and preserving the fruits in alcohol. This is 

 especially valuable in a Comparative Museum like ours, inas- 

 much as we seek to combine the past history of the organic 

 world with its present condition, and there is no family of 

 plants now existing so illustrative of the ancient forests as the 

 palms. 



In conclusion I would state, that this Brazilian Expedition, 

 fitted out and sustained by individual generosity, was treated 

 as a national undertaking, and welcomed by a national hospi- 

 tality. From the moment of our landing in Rio de Janeiro, 

 the government offered me every facility for my undertaking. 

 Nor was this an empty civility. We found ourselves guests in 

 every public conveyance, and our large collections were con- 

 stantly transported free of freight. On our arrival at Para, 

 the Amazonian Steamship Company, through their agent, Mr. 

 Pimenta Bueno, to whom my companions and myself were 

 constantly indebted for the warmest hospitality and the most 

 efficient aid, placed a fine steamer, furnished with everything 

 needed by the whole party, at my disposition for one month. 

 Returning somewhat later from the Solimoens or Upper Ama- 

 zons, I found a steamer of war awaiting me at the mouth of the 

 Rio Negro, which had been sent up by order of the Emperor 

 for my use during the remainder of my stay in the waters of 

 the Amazons. Nothing could exceed the courtesy of the com- 

 mander and officers, or the hospitality with which we were 

 treated during the many weeks we passed on board the 



