ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
bouring shrub! Really, those people of Goyaz were an 
amusing mixture of simplicity and superstition. 
One great redeeming point of the people of Goyaz 
was that they were extremely charitable. They had 
erected a huge building as a workhouse. It was entirely 
supported by charity. A small library had also been 
established. 
As I have elsewhere stated, I needed for my expedition 
no less than thirty men, so that they could, if necessary, 
carry all my instruments, cameras, provisions, ammuni¬ 
tion, etc., where animals could not get through. 
Fourteen long and tedious days elapsed in Goyaz. 
No one could be induced to come. In despair, I sent a 
despatch to the Minister of Agriculture, asking for the 
loan of at least four soldiers, whom I should naturally 
have paid out of my own pocket, as I had duly explained 
to the Presidente, who backed my request. To my regret, 
I received a reply from the Minister of War saying that 
at that moment the Government could not possibly spare 
four soldiers. It must be said that although the men of 
Goyaz did not shine for their bravery, it was not so with 
the ladies, several of whom offered, if necessary, to accom¬ 
pany the expedition and do, of course, the work of the 
men. I believe that they meant it. 
I have, indeed, the greatest respect and admiration for 
the noble self-sacrifice of the women of Goyaz. Devoted 
mothers and wives to men who deserved no devotion at 
all — nearly all the men had concubines — gentle, humble, 
thoughtful, simple, and hard-working, they did all the 
work in the house. They were a great contrast to the 
lazy, conceited, vain male portion of the population. Cer¬ 
tainly, in a population of 10,000 people, I met two or 
three men who deserved respect, but they were the 
exception. 
If the men were so timid, it was not altogether their 
fault; they could not help it. A look at them was enough 
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