ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
bone of any animal, nor, indeed, impressions on rock of 
leaves, twigs, or other parts of plants. The farther one 
went on, the more one had proof that that portion at least 
of the American continent had never been submerged in 
its entirety. 
Some rocks displayed on the surface peculiar perfora¬ 
tions such as would be produced by incessant water 
dripping over them, but these were caused, I think, merely 
by water falling over them while they were in a molten 
state; other rocks were thoroughly polished on the 
surface, as if sand or other gritty substance had flowed 
with great force over them, mixed with water — perhaps 
during a period of volcanic activity and torrential rains. 
Geological research was somewhat difficult for a 
passing traveller in that region, for everything was 
smothered in vegetation. Only here and there, in the 
cuts of rivers, was I able to judge a little better of the 
actual formation of the land. 
We camped on the stream Agua Limpa, which duly 
deserved its name of “ clear water ” (elevation 1,470 feet). 
It flowed south. On May fourth, going through forest 
again over a hill (elevation 1,650 feet), we obtained a 
glorious view of the immense expanse to the west and to 
the southwest — a great stretch of greenish, long, sweep¬ 
ing lines with a plateau in the background. A somewhat 
taller hill rose at one end of it. We then descended to 
another deliciously clear river, which deserved as well as 
the previous one the name of Agua Limpa (elevation 
1,450 feet), but this one flowed north into the Rio Claro. 
The land was fine, sparsely wooded all the time, absolutely 
flat, but getting slightly undulating beyond that stream. 
It seemed wonderful land for agricultural purposes. 
After passing the Indian River, the Bom Successo, 
and another stream, all three flowing south, we swerved 
more to the northwest, climbing up on an elevated spot, 
from which we obtained another glorious panorama. A 
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