able.

As I was unpacking the different cases in order to sort out the baggage,
I came to the box where I expected to find the precious fossil human
skull and the vertebrae I had discovered in Matto Grosso. To my horror the
fossils were to be found nowhere. I asked Alcides and the other men, and
pressed them for an answer. I received a terrible blow indeed when they
confessed that nearly a month before, one night while I was asleep, they
had taken the valuable possessions and had flung them into the river.
Their excuse was that the loads were heavy enough in carting baggage
along the rapids, and they would not be burdened with what they called
"stupid stones."

This last bit of infamy turned me so much against my men that I could not
bear the sight of them. It will be easily understood that when you go to
such great expense and risk as I did in obtaining valuable material, and
had obtained it, to be deprived of it through the ignorance and meanness
of one's own men, who were treated with the greatest generosity from
beginning to end, was certainly most exasperating. In a half-hearted way
I packed up all the other things and made ready to continue the journey.
The contempt I had for my men from that day, nevertheless, made it quite
painful to me to be in their company. At S. Manoel the men gave me no end
of trouble. Benedicto refused to go on any longer. The other men wanted
to halt there for a month in order to recuperate their strength. Filippe
the negro was drunk, and slept all the time we were there.

I know too well that on expeditions it is fatal to halt anywhere;
therefore I was anxious to push on at once. The night before our
departure Mr. Barretto gave a grand dinner-party in my honour, long
speeches being read out by him and his assistant, when we sat down on
rough wooden benches and packing-cases to a most elaborate meal of fried
fish, grilled fish, boiled fish, tortoise eggs--quantities of
them--stewed pork and roast pork. A whole sucking-pig adorned the table.
The greatest happiness reigned that night at table, and I owe a deep debt
of gratitude to Mr. Barretto for his exquisite kindness during the two or
three days I was his guest. My men were also asked to the banquet, and
had a good fill. But I felt extremely sad, quite broken-hearted, over the
loss of the fossils, and I could really enjoy nothing notwithstanding
outward appearances.

After dinner, when my men had retired, Mr. Barretto and his assistan