lmost flat country we reached the Rio Claro--"the Limpid River"
(elev. 1,250 ft. above the sea level), 200 metres wide, and flowing along
a winding course in a general direction of south-west to north-east. Wide
beaches of sand and fine gravel were to be seen on the convex or inner
curves of its channel. Along the banks there was luxuriant vegetation,
which hung down and dipped into the water.

Diamonds were to be found in that river. At low water curious eruptive,
highly ferruginous rocks showed in the river bed, some in the shape of
spherical balls riddled with perforations, as if they had been in a state
of ebullition, others as little pellets of yellow lava, such as I had
before encountered between Araguary and Goyaz, and which suggested the
spluttering of molten rock suddenly cooled by contact with cold air or
water.

We encamped some three kilometres from the Rio Claro, on the streamlet
Arejado, where again we were devoured by mosquitoes. Although we all had
thick mosquito nets, and although we slept wrapped--head and all--in our
respective blankets, the brutes managed to find their way in and stung us
with incredible vigour. We were fresh blood for them. The irritation
caused by their bites was a torment.

We were now getting closer to the country where we were to meet the
terrible wild Indians, the most ferocious and cruel cannibals on earth,
according to the accounts heard in Goyaz. My men were already beginning
to lose heart. With the sleepless night due to the mosquitoes, and the
heavy atmosphere caused by a fast-approaching thunderstorm, they were
morose in the morning. With the exception of Alcides and the negro
Filippe, the others came insolently forward and refused to go any
farther. They shoved the muzzles of their rifles under my nose; they
wished to be paid up instantly and go back. With a little patience it was
easy to get out of difficulties of that sort, if you possessed the gift
of keeping calm.

Faithful Alcides, who had a fiery temper, seized his rifle and was about
to fire at them, when I took the weapon from him.

"Do not shoot them, Alcides: these men have been good (_sic_) until now
because they were in good health. They are bad now because they are ill.
I will cure them."

And so saying I felt the pulse and forehead of the astonished rioters.

"Yes, indeed, these men are very, very ill. They need medicine. Alcides,
get the castor oil--the large tin."

I had two kinds of castor oil: