Across Unknown South America 
CHAPTER i 
The Heart of Brazil — Brazil, its Size and its Immense Wealth — 
Rio de Janeiro—Brazilian Men of Genius—Sao Paulo— The 
Bandeirantes — The Paulista Railway 
“ 4TORE than three months to reach the spot? ” asked 
JLy Jl cinematograph man in amazement. “ Then 
^ perhaps Monsieur is on a journey to Mars or the 
moon! There is no spot on earth that takes so long to 
reach.” (Hearty laughter at his own wit.) 
That exclamation, and wise words that follow, came 
from the assistant of one of the largest firms of cine¬ 
matograph appliances in Paris, where I had called in 
order to purchase a moving picture apparatus and 10,000 
meters of film to be used on my forthcoming journey 
across the South American continent. 
The shop assistant had very honestly warned me that 
if the films were to be used in a damp, tropical climate, 
they must be exposed and developed within three months 
of their manufacture. After that time they wmild become 
so perforated and fogged as to he quite useless. I 
had remarked that it would take me more than three 
months to reach the spot where I should begin to take 
cinematograph pictures. 
“ Will Monsieur please tell where is the spot where 
he would be likely to use the films?” continued the 
assistant, still overcome with surprise. 
“ In the heart of Brazil.” 
VOL. I. — 1 l 
