CUYAVABOS CREW. 



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common atlas — " Geral mountains." The situation of this fort is usually 

 called " Lamego," and the river "Guapore." There are a few wild Indians 

 roaming about the country on both sides of the river, of which very little 

 is known. They never make their appearance at the fort, and the 

 commandante never troubles himself about them. He sits in his castle 

 for months without seeing a stranger, grumbling at the cold southeast 

 winds. His rheumatic pains are better when the warm northwest winds 

 clear away the clouds. The negro soldiers plant sugar cane, pine apples, 

 and produce a few oranges. The government rations are farinha, sent 

 from Matto Grosso, and beef when they can get it from the "Baure" 

 Indians, in Bolivia, whence this portion of the inhabitants of Brazil re- 

 ceive their coffee, chocolate, and sugar, by the rivers Machupos and Mag- 

 delina. 



This side of the Madeira Plate presents a very different appearance 

 from the Andes side. The commandante tells me he has navigated the 

 low lands between this fort and the town of Matto Grosso, formerly 

 called Villa Bella. The negro cook of the commandante prepared us a 

 supper of chicken and rice. We slept comfortably and soundly in the 

 guard-house after our harassing voyage. The Cuyavabos crew wanted to 

 return to Exaltacion at once. I told them they must wait until we decided 

 whether it was necessary to go on to Matto Grosso. The captain shook 

 his head and said, no, Senor. Every man of the crew declared that the 

 correjidor of Exaltacion had directed them to return home as soon as they 

 landed us here. Whether this was so or not we are ignorant, but as the 

 correjidor particularly told them before me to take us to Matto Grosso, I 

 was curious to see what our chances would have been in case we were 

 entirely dependent upon this boat's crew. Tney refused positively to go 

 up the Itenez any further, saying they had never been to Matto Grosso, 

 and knew nothing of the river, but must hurry back and gather their 

 crop of sugar. They traded three raw hides for a few fish-hooks. The 

 commandante gave them a written passport to return to Exaltacion. 

 Their canoe was light, and they paddled swiftly down through the rocks, 

 with the current, as though they were glad to escape a longer journey. 

 I doubt if they could have been persuaded, under any circumstances, to 

 make the voyage to Matto Grosso. They landed us here the seventh 

 day out, and will be full nine days returning against the current of the 

 Mamore. 



Every day two of the soldiers are detailed to catch fish for the garri- 

 son. Although the trip from San Joaquin to the fort can be made in 

 three days with beef, the men say they seldom get it." The monthly 

 mail was despatched from the fort while we were there. A small boat 



