Wee Rie Vl Cat 8 A ity IS 
aE cas oa 
690 Geographical and Geological Exploration in Brazil. [August, 
Ouro Preto have been selected as the geologists, Sir. Campos 
and Sñr. Oliveira. Mr. Derby will remain in Rio de Janeiro and 
direct the work from there. 
The survey has been received with enthusiasm in the province 
of Sao Paulo, and it is hoped that Mr. Derby may succeed in 
keeping this enthusiasm alive. 
In view of the treatment of Professor Hartt and his works by the 
Brazilian Government, most scientific men may be somewhat skep- 
tical as to whether the Brazilians have the patience necessary to 
carry on, even for ten years, a work from which they expect results 
more striking and more tangible than purely scientific ones. Much 
however is to be hoped for from the intelligent Paulistas. Theirs 
is the great coffee region of Brazil, the wealthiest and most en- 
lightened province in the empire. The soil is fertile, the climate _ 
2 is remarkably fine, the people educated and the very types of 
_ hospitality. There is every reason then to hope for valuable 
| results from the work begun. It certainly is undertaken in the 
most promising part of the Poni and is in the hands of the | 
man, who, by more than ten years’ residence in that country and 
by acquaintance with the people and the geology, is best fitted to 
carry it to a successful issue. 
POSTSCRIPT.—Since the above was written the definite instructions, given by the 
~ provincial assembly regarding the work of the commission, have been received, 
_ The following, quoted from these instructions, will give a further idea of what is to 
be — of these explorations : 
“ Besides the geodetic and geographical work, collections will be made and infor- 
mation obtained, as far as possible, concerning the various branches of natural his- — 
sory, a: — being poan to the — oe eonna SEBET “ oe 
ficial; to the einditigns of the various k Behiches of industry i in ‘te different a a 
_ the province ; to the diseases peculiar to cultivated plants and domestic animals, 
gether with the means employed for abating these evils. of 
__ While the commission is not supplied with the requisite personnel for meee 
: this character, the chief ed — m — re Mei POTS either within or my 
out the empire, sending th examination, or for 
purpose in teresting to science for 2 
“The collection shall be icermihie to the public, and shall form the nucleus 
provincial museum.” ; 
: ane field party left teas hc of ‘So. Paulo, on the ate of May, to fe 
the explorations of the Rio 
o Grorocicat LABORATORY INDIANA Untv., BLOC TON, IND. 
