the opposite side of the range, at an elevation of 1,200
ft. we found the dry bed of a streamlet, which flowed in a northerly
direction when it did flow at all. On emerging from the wide hill
mass--about 18 kil. across--we found ourselves among a lot of _burity_
palms on the western spur of the Serra Azul. When we were actually upon
them, the Blue Mountains lost their blue appearance and were more of a
greyish green, owing to the vegetation which covered most of their
slopes. The range was formed of three distinct terraces, the lower one
being of greater height than the two upper ones. A number of low hill
ranges starting from the main range branched off like spurs towards the
south. The uppermost terrace of the main range was supported on a high
vertical wall of red rock.

On meeting the Rio Coralzinho we skirted it for some distance through the
forest, then marched among a great many domes, small and large; after
which we crossed a wonderful field of huge monoliths, superposed
boulders, and rocks of all kinds of fantastic shapes.

We had marched 30 kil. that day. We encamped on the River Piraputangas--a
tributary on the left side of the Cuyaba Grande River--the Cuyaba Grande
being in its turn a tributary on the right of the Cuyaba River.

The Cuyaba River described almost an arc of a circle--in fact, quite a
semicircle--its birth taking place in the Serra Azul. Where we crossed it
we were only a short distance to the west from its point of origin.

Where we had made our camp we were in a large grassy plain about six
kilometres long and nearly two kilometres wide. The rainy season was fast
approaching. We came in for a regular downpour during the night,
accompanied by high wind, which knocked down all our tents, as the pegs
would not hold in the soft, moist ground. We had a busy time endeavouring
to protect the baggage. We all were absolutely soaked. The minimum
temperature was 52 deg. Fahr. In the morning, after the wind had abated and
the rain had stopped, we were enveloped in thick fog.

We had descended to so low an altitude as 750 ft. above the sea level on
the north side of the Serra Azul--the lowest elevation we had been at for
some considerable time. We had descended altogether from the highest part
of the great Central Brazilian plateau. From that point all the waters
would be flowing to the north-east or north. We were, in fact, within a
stone's throw--to be more accurate, within the radius of a few
kilo