THE INDIAN CEMETERY OF THE GRUTA DAS MTJMIAS. 209 



since they have afforded no human remains. All the caverns, con- 

 trary to the opinion of many, are natural excavations, and offer 

 no signs of being, even in part, the work of man. 



The lower and larger cavern is perfectly visible from the low- 

 lands to the north, but as it is quite difficult of access, it does not 

 appear to have been visited by civilized persons until, in 1871, 

 Sr. Antunes, the administrator of the plantation, succeeded with 

 much difficulty in reaching it. He, however, saw nothing of the 

 archaeological treasures it contained, and their discovery remained 

 to be made by Dr. Manoel Bazilio Furtado, a gentleman, who, 

 much interested in the study of antiquities, has already made ex- 

 plorations of a sepulchral cavern, and of a rock shelter on the 

 head waters of the Rio Itapemerim, an account of which he has 

 promised to furnish me. 



As soon as Dr. Bazilio knew of the existence of the caverns of 

 the Morro de Diogo Velho, he visited and examined them, finding 

 human remains in the larger one, thus proving it to be an ancient 

 Indian burial-place. Several other visits were made to the cave, 

 not only by Dr. Bazilio, but also by the Conselheiro Diogo Velho, 

 and by Dr. Rozendo Muniz. About three months ago, Sr. Diogo 

 Velho invited Dr. Ladislau Netto, the well-known Director of the 

 Museu Nacional of Rio, to visit and examine the locality, and to 

 facilitate the exploration he caused roads to be cut and steps and 

 ladders to be constructed. 



Dr. Netto had the kindness to invite me to accompany him, and 

 was so good as to delay the excursion until I could find time to 

 go with him. On the 6th of December, we left Rio in company 

 with Sr. Albuquerque, one of the assistants of the Museum, and 

 M. Glaziou, the Director of the Passeio Publico of Rio, and a 

 man who has probably done more than any one else in the way of 

 actual botanical exploration in Brazil. As my task in this paper 

 is simply to give an account of the scientific results of our explo- 

 rations, I shall attempt no description of our most interesting 

 journey to the Fazenda of Fortaleza, and I shall be obliged to 

 limit myself to saying that we were overwhelmed with kindfless$s , 

 and attentions by the hospitable Conselheiro and his friends. 

 Dr. Diogo Velho placed at the disposition of Dr. Netto more than 

 twenty slaves, under the superintendence of Sr. Antunes, and, 

 accompanied by his associates Dr. Machado and Dr. Bazilio, he 

 assisted us personally in the work of exploration. 



