368
THE RONCADOR RIVER 368
FOSSIL SKULL OF A GIANT ANIMAL DISCOVERED BY AUTHOR (SIDE VIEW) 376
FOSSIL SKULL OF GIANT ANIMAL (SEEN FROM UNDERNEATH) 376
A GRAND ROCK ("CHURCH ROCK") 384
CHURCH ROCK (SIDE VIEW) 384
QUADRANGULAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONNECTED BY NATURAL WALL OF ROCK
WITH THE VERTICAL-SIDED RANGE IN BACKGROUND 388
QUADRANGULAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWING ROCKY WALL
CONNECTING IT WITH THE NEIGHBOURING RANGE 392
AUTHOR'S CARAVAN IN THE HEART OF MATTO GROSSO 392
A GIANT DOME OF LAVA 396
CAMPOS AND CHAPADA OF MATTO GROSSO 396
MARVELLOUS SCENERY OF THE CENTRAL BRAZILIAN PLATEAU. "CHURCH ROCK"
STANDING IN THE CENTRE (_Coloured Plate_) 400
A STREET OF DIAMANTINO 404
THE DOGS OF THE EXPEDITION 404
MATTO-GROSSO GIRL, A MIXTURE OF PORTUGUESE, INDIAN AND NEGRO BLOOD 412
BRAZILIAN CHILD, A MIXTURE OF PORTUGUESE AND NEGRO 412
MAP SHOWING AUTHOR'S ROUTE 432
MAP SHOWING THE ARINOS AND ARINOS-JURUENA RIVERS 432

CHAPTER I

The Heart of Brazil--Brazil, its Size and its Immense Wealth--Rio
de Janeiro--Brazilian Men of Genius--Sao Paulo--The
_Bandeirantes_--The Paulista Railway

"MORE than three months to reach the spot?" asked the cinematograph man
in amazement. "Then perhaps Monsieur is on a journey to Mars or the moon!
There is no spot on earth that takes so long to reach." (Hearty laughter
at his own wit.)

That exclamation, and wise words that follow, came from the assistant of
one of the largest firms of cinematograph appliances in Paris, where I
had called in order to purchase a moving picture apparatus and 10,000
metres of film to be used on my forthcoming journey across the South
American continent.

The shop assistant had very honestly warned me that if the films were to
be used in a damp, tropical climate, they must be exposed and developed
within three months of their manufacture. After that time they would
become so perforated and fogged as