ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
and as we used cordite cartridges with bullets of high 
penetration, there was still a prospect of a bullet going 
through one or more of us. Once or twice again a rifle 
went off unexpectedly by accident. It would have been 
terrible for any one of a nervous temperament to be 
travelling with such companions. On previous expedi¬ 
tions I had generally trusted in myself, but on this 
particular one I was so disgusted that I had made up my 
mind to trust in Providence alone. I did well, for had I 
done otherwise I might have fared much worse than I did. 
We went over a pass (elevation 2,400 feet) between 
two small domes, quite barren but for a scanty growth of 
short, dried grass. We were marching over masses of lava 
and conglomerate with innumerable, marble pellets. We 
found ourselves within a regular circle of low hills, 
enclosing a shallow depression. Subsequently we came 
to a second and then to a third similar depression. 
Continuing in a northwesterly direction, we again 
obtained a gorgeous view of the treble portal , by which 
word the Brazilians describe a monumental entrance of 
any kind. That is just what those three immense gaps in 
the plateau looked like: an immense wall of rock forming 
a high barrier, with three gigantic, natural gateways. 
After finding a stream of good water on the west side 
of the plateau, we rose again higher, obtaining a splendid 
bird’s-eye view of the picturesque depression we had just 
crossed. The effects of erosion following those of vol¬ 
canic activity were evident enough upon the entire land¬ 
scape. On the west side we had a horseshoe-shaped, 
vertical wall, seemingly containing an extinct crater, and 
yet another on the north side of the western end of the 
elongated ellipse which was there formed. 
With some difficulty we managed to get the animals 
up to the summit of the plateau (elevation 2,580 feet). 
From there we obtained a sumptuous view beyond. An 
immense dyke of brilliant red rock, flat-topped, lay maj es- 
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