^^Novemberi92'S:  }  Mulfofd  Biologicd  Explofatiofl.  819 
be  studied  must  be  very  rich  in  its  variety  of  both  plants  and  animals. 
It  is  probable,  moreover,  that  its  paleontological  records  are  of 
great  interest.  Into  this  field  of  collection,  however,  the  party 
cannot  enter,  because  of  the  time  required  for  the  collection  of  fossils 
and  the  weight  of  the  specimens. 
On  reaching  the  Rio  Negro,  the  party  will  descend  to  its  mouth 
at  the  Amazon,  which  they  expect  to  reach  early  in  July,  thus  avoid- 
ing the  rainy  season  north  of  the  Amazon.  At  this  time  the  dry 
season  will  begin  south  of  the  Amazon,  and  the  party  will  then  com- 
mence the  ascent  of  the  Madeira,  the  largest  southern  tributary  of 
the  Amazon.  Steamers  run  direct  from  Manaos  on  the  Amazon, 
to  the  lowest  cataract  of  the  Madeira.  From  there  a  railroad  runs 
to  a  point  above  the  highest  fall,  where  small  steamers  ply  to  points 
well  toward  the  sources  of  the  Madre  de  Dios,  Beni  and  Mamore, 
tributaries  of  the  Madeira.  Various  points  on  all  of  these  streams 
will  be  visited,  according  to  the  time  available,  and  the  party  will 
then  proceed  by  canoe  or  raft  as  far  into  the  eastern  Andes  as  pos- 
sible, later  crossing  the  mountains  by  mule-train  and  emerging  via 
La  Paz,  at  one  of  the  Pacific  ports.  Should  time  suffice,  a  stop 
will  be  made  on  the  return  journey  for  an  incursion  into  Colombia 
on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains,  where  some  important  drugs  are 
to  be  found. 
During  about  six  months  of  the  year  that  the  exploration  is 
•expected  to  occupy,  the  party  will  be  entirely  isolated  from  civilized 
sources  of  support,  and  dependent  on  their  own  resources.  Since 
the  country  abounds  in  fish  and  game,  and  since  many  sources  of 
food-supply  in  the  form  of  wild  vegetation  are  known  to  Dr.  Rusby, 
it  would  be  possible  to  subsist  largely  on  the  natural  food  supplies 
of  the  country.  The  obtaining  of  such  supplies,  however,  would 
■consume  much  precious  time  that  would  otherwise  be  devoted  to 
scientific  collection  and  recording.  For  this  reason,  a  food  supply 
sufficient  for  the  entire  time  will  be  carried  into  the  wilderness. 
These  supplies  have  been  carefully  selected,  so  as  to  provide  a  daily 
ration  that  is  both  wholesome  and  agreeable,  since  Dr.  Rusby  has 
learned  by  experience  that  many,  if  not  most,  of  the  ills  from  which 
such  travelers  suffer  have  their  basis  in  poor  nutrition.  An  ample 
supply  of  medicines  will  also  be  taken.  Since  one  does  not  know 
what  particular  medicine  may  be  needed,  a  full  supply  must  be  made 
available.  Quinine,  in  the  form  of  the  bimuriate,  will  of  course, 
be  the  principal  item  in  this  line.    The  onset  of  malarial  fever  may 
