A SCENE IN THE VALLEY OP THE RIO SAO FRANCISCO. 
This photograph, which was taken near the village of 
Urubu, in the state of Bahia, a short distance from the 
river, shows the general character of this upland region, 
with its flat plains sparsely covered with vegetation, and 
occasional round topped hills. The compact shrubs in the 
foreground, on one of which clothes have been hung to dry, 
are Armenia spines cens , a rare, spiny species whose soft, 
oval, brownish-orange fruits were previously unknown to 
science. The dugout canoe is the chief means of transpor- 
tation in this region, though communication with the out- 
side, world is maintained tnrough the small river steamers 
which ply between Joazeiro, in Bahia state, and Pirapora, 
1300 kilometers upstream in Mlnas Geraes. The people are 
of a mixed Indian and negro blood, unprogressive , with 
only the hoe, the brush hook, and the facao or heavy knife 
to carry on their agricultural pursuits, which are limited 
to the cultivation of mandioca, maize, sugar cane, and a 
few other crops. Brazilian Expedition photograph No. D 
1916. Taken February 17, 1914. 
