expedition could locate the spot
with great ease.

It was interesting to note that a Brazilian expedition had discovered
some fossil bones of a gigantic animal some 200 kil. south-west of that
place, and other remains of a giant animal had been found by another
Brazilian expedition on the banks of the Paranatinga River, some 400 or
500 kil. north-east of our position.

We were encamped on the bank of the Rio Pedra Grande--the stream of that
name which we had passed that day being merely a tributary. During the
night we had observed a double-ringed lunar halo. The moon was almost
full. From the horizon directly under the moon were innumerable
radiations, not converging toward the moon but, curiously enough, the
first two at a tangent to the larger halo, the others at equal intervals
on each side.

At sunrise, before the rain-storm began, we were treated to wonderful
cloud and light effects. The lower portion of the sky, of brilliant
yellow and vivid green, was surmounted by golden and red streaks of
wonderful vividness. Later, over the great natural gateways, the sky
formed itself into concentric arches of blazing yellow and red, rendered
intensely luminous by contrast with the heavy black clouds which were
fast collecting overhead. No sooner was the sun well above the horizon
than we came in for a heavy downpour.

[Illustration: Fossil Skull of a Giant Animal discovered by Author.

(Side view.)]

[Illustration: Fossil Skull of Giant Animal.

(Seen from underneath.)]

The temperature had been higher (minimum 60 deg. Fahr.) than usual during the
night, and heavy. The elevation of our camp was 2,030 ft. above the sea
level.

CHAPTER XXIV

A Swampy Valley--Impressive Scenery--"Church Rock"--Escaping
before a Forest Fire--The Rio Manso--Difficulties of marching
across Virgin Country--Beautiful Rapids

ON leaving camp (June 15th) I noticed that the hills on which I had found
the fossils formed a semicircle to the west. Rising quickly to an
elevation of 2,070 ft., we were in sight of two great table-lands which
stood to the west. In crossing the river I found a number of other
fossils, among which was one that appeared to be the petrified foot of an
animal of enormous proportions.

We soon crossed the little stream Lazinha, which flowed into the Pedra
Grande. As we travelled over two ridges (altitude 2,100 ft. and 2,130
ft.) separating deep basins, and the weather cleared a little, the vi