INCONCEIVABLE TREACHERY 
Rio, requesting me to do all I can to prevent your 
going on.” 
Such treachery seemed inconceivable to me, and I 
took no notice of it. I again requested the Presidente 
to endeavour to find me men and animals, as nothing 
would deter me from going on. If no Brazilians came, 
I said that I would go alone, but that the value of the 
expedition would naturally suffer, as I should thus have 
to leave behind all the instruments, cameras, and other 
impedimenta, which, single-handed, I could not possibly 
carry. 
It was my intention to travel northwest from Goyaz 
City as far as the river Araguaya. There I wanted to 
descend the Araguaya as far as the Tapirapez River — 
a small tributary on the west side of the Araguaya, shown 
on some of the very incorrect existing maps approximately 
in latitude 11° south, and on others in latitude 9° and 
some minutes south. Proceeding westward from that 
point again, I proposed crossing over to the Xingu River, 
then to the Tapajoz, and farther to the Madeira River. 
It was necessary for me to hire or purchase a canoe in 
order to descend the Araguaya River as far as the 
Tapirapez. 
Believing that perhaps I might be able to find men 
without the assistance of the Governor, I tried every 
possible channel in Goyaz. I sent men all round the 
town, offering high pay. I applied to the commanding 
officer of the Federal troops. I applied to the Dominican 
monks, who have more power in Goyaz State than all the 
officials taken together. 
The Father Superior of the Dominicans shook his 
head at once and told me that, much as he wished to oblige 
me, I was asking for something impossible. He was right. 
The people were so scared of the Indians, and of the 
horrors of camping in the jungle, that no money in the 
world would ever induce them to move out of their town. 
105 
