1883.] The Naturalist Brazilian Expedition. 353 
more, it gave little trouble. Since 1860 it has been constantly 
growing worse; two of the three channels are now impassable 
and the other threatens to become so. The Brazilian govern- 
ment has several times sent engineeers to study the obstruction, 
and many schemes have been proposed for its removal, but all 
have been more or less visionary and the expense involved by 
carrying them out would be enormous. Yet the importance of the 
question is very great. A region as large as New England and 
with a thriving population of over 700,000 is threatened with 
complete commercial isolation. For if the Rio Grande channel 
is closed, all the lake ports will be shut off from communication 
with the ocean; the sea-coast itself is without harbors, and the 
nearest ports of Santa Catharina could only be reached by long 
and expensive railroads. It has been proposed to cut a ship canal 
from one of the lakes to the ocean, at some favorable point, and 
perhaps this would be feasible, but it would be necessary to make 
an artificial port at the ocean end of the canal, and even if the 
works were successfully completed, their utility might soon be de- 
stroyed by the formation of new sand-bars. In the midst of these 
conflicting schemes the Rio Grandenses are anxiously looking 
for another great storm which shall once more open their ports 
to the world. 
As we approached this doughty bar we counted a dozen vessels 
lying outside, Waiting for an opportunity to enter; some of them, 
we were told, had been there for six months. Inside of the bar 
at least an equal number were waiting for an exit. When the 
Weather permits it a small boat is anchored over the bar, and 
Soundings are constantly taken from it with poles; the depth is 
indicated by signal flags from the boat and from a tower on the 
ore. Owing to the sudden changes ship-masters are obliged to 
watch these signals very closely, so as to profit instantly by a 
favorable indication. We heard of one poor fellow, an American 
skipper, I believe, who had fretted and fumed for four months in- 
Side of the imprisoning bar; his small fortune was dependent on 
the Success of a voyage for which he had contracted, and which 
the bar threatened to prevent. One day the signals suddenly 
Went up to twelve feet, the depth which his ship required. Over- 
ga he at once weighed anchor and ordered all sails to be set; 
"5 m he approached the bar the flags came down again, and he 
Was obliged to turn back. The chagrin and disappointment were 
