halted for lunch, one of the crew died of yellow fever. After
lunch a grave was dug and the corpse duly deposited in it.

We had not gone far when the trading boats of Colonel Brazil, under the
care of Mr. Joao Pinto, came in sight on their way down the river.
Therefore I abandoned the idea of going up to S. Manoel, as, had I not
taken the opportunity of going down with Mr. Pinto, I might have had to
wait up the river some two or three months before I had another
opportunity.

Again I met with the greatest kindness on the part of Mr. Pinto when I
transhipped from the Peruvian boats.

In a few hours, travelling rapidly down stream, I was once more at
Albuquerque's hut, where Mr. Pinto most kindly offered to halt one day in
order that I might wait for the men who had gone in search of my baggage
in the forest.

[Illustration: Where the Madeira-Mamore Railway begins.]

[Illustration: Madeira-Mamore Railway, showing Cut through
Tropical Forest.]

Next day, October 16th, as I was in great suspense lest the men should
not arrive in time--Mr. Pinto being pressed to get quickly down the river
with some thousands of kilos of rubber he had purchased--my men
eventually arrived with part of the baggage. They had abandoned the rest
in the forest, including my valuable botanical collection, which had
taken me so many months of careful labour. Alcides said that the termites
had played havoc with all my things. The wooden boxes had been almost
entirely destroyed, as well as most of the contents. I was glad,
nevertheless, to get back what I did, the man Benedicto on that
occasion behaving splendidly--even going back to the spot where the
tragic scene had taken place with the Indian Miguel on our outward
journey and recovering some of my instruments which I had abandoned
there.

In the afternoon of October 16th I bade goodbye to Albuquerque, and gave
him a present of L20 sterling, as he would not accept payment for the
hospitality he had offered me.

With a powerful crew of men we sped down the river quickly. In a couple
of hours we had already arrived at the rapids of the Capueras. After
passing the island of Pombas before entering the rapids, we encountered
the first rapid of Sirgar Torta; then the second rapid of Baunilla--named
after the vanilla plant. The third rapid of the Capueras group was called
Chafaris; then the fourth was the Campinho.

We went along the banks of the beautiful island of Antas, after which we
halt