ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
wading chest-deep across the streams. We crossed the 
Riberao Chabo or Guebo, twenty-five metres wide and 
three feet deep, at an elevation of 730 feet, then we waded 
through another stream flowing south, with a zone of won¬ 
derful palmeiras along its banks. We then emerged into 
a magnificent plain with a barrier of low hills to the north¬ 
west. Six kilometres farther we waded across the 
Planchao stream, five metres wide and six inches deep. 
Marching on horseback was delightful, the maximum 
temperature being only 74° Fahrenheit in the shade. 
Another stream, flowing from north to south, the Plan- 
chaonzinho, whose foul water was quite disgusting to 
drink, although beautifully limpid, was then negotiated. 
I was delighted at meeting with so many streams, for 
there was nothing my men hated more than to get into 
the water. They felt very sorry for themselves, to be 
struggling along as best they could, following the animals 
like humble sheep instead of being comfortably mounted 
on quadrupeds. We travelled a considerable distance 
through campos, but owing to some baggage which had 
been lost, we eventually had to retrace our steps as far as 
the Planchaonzinho River, on the banks of which we 
encamped. This was unfortunate, as the water had a 
sickening flavour and made even our coffee and tea taste 
like poison. 
Misfortunes never come alone. In overhauling my 
baggage I discovered, to my dismay, that my men, in 
order to force me to go back the way we had come, had 
gradually thrown away most of the provisions, which 
should have lasted us some six to seven months longer. 
We had only sufficient food to last us a few days. The 
men confessed their misdeed. The country provided 
absolutely nothing to eat, and I had to face the problem 
of either dying of starvation or falling back on some place 
where we could purchase fresh provisions. It was out 
of the question, unless one wished to commit suicide and 
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