The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-01-09
T0EXP[ORE Amazon
Scientists Charter Yacht to Visit
South America.
Characteristics Of Country and Habits
Of Tribes That Live There to Be
Studied for Months by Mem
bers Of Expedition.

Philadelphia.-Aboard the Mermaid,
a 120-foot steam yacht, the members
of the University Of Pennsylvania
South American expedition left here
for the Amazon. The yacht will voy.
age by way Of Porto Rico. Barbados
and Trinidad to Para, at the mouth
Of the Amazon, and will then steam
up the great river into n of Its up
per tributaries, proceeding up the I'M
charted stream until the shadows
check her. She will then be moored
and serve as headquarters. for the ex-
ploring parties, which will use the gas
oline launch and canoes with which
she is equipped in order to reach those
points on the river which are not
navigable by the yacht herself. When
the observations shall have been COM
pleted In any given locality the ~collec1
lions will be assembled on the yacht,
which will then pass on to the next
tributary to be explored. Para or
Manaos will serve as a base of sup,
plies, according to the region of the
Amazon basin to- which the expedition
directs its attention for the time being,
The main purpose of the expedition
is to study the Indian tribes of the
Amazon valley, which have not been
studied in detail, and to collect for
the university museum specimens Of
their arts, industries, customs and
modes of life. Their songs will be re,
corded on the photograph, and their
dances and various activities will be
reproduced by the moving-picture cam,
era. Systematic studies will be made
q the native languages, religious and
social systems and decorative art. In
brief, the expedition seeks to furnish
as complete a record as modern meth,
DDS can afford of the native life of tho
Amazon valley and to illustrate these
studies by adequate collections assem-,
bled in the university museum.
The .remoteness and %seclusion OF
many of the tribes which will ba
studied is indicated by the fact that
such a condition as that reported on
the Putamay river can exist in thu
face of modern civilization and with,
out interference from any local gov.
eminent. !,
While the study of native life forms
the main object of the expedition, 9th.
er aspects of exploration will not ba
neglected. A medical Investigator will
accompany the party for the purpose
of studying beri-beri and other fatal
macmillan tn tho Amazon rel
gion, and the fora and fauna of thI
country will receive due attention.
The man selected by the museum t1
nave charge of the expedition is Az
got Lange, whose experiences in thu
5ungles of the Amazon two years agci
when accompanying a party of rubbe}
hunters. nearly cost him his life;
With LANCE will be associated an
ethnologist, a naturalist, a PHYSICAL
and a moving picture photographer:
The physician chosen for the post Is
DR.. Franklin Church of New York.
No danger is anticipated from tho
natives, who are peaceably inclined
and h%ospitable to strangers. In dea'}
ing with these tribes many simpl !
gifts will be made in exchange fol
feather work, bows and arrows AMI
blowguns, drums and musical instr,]
ments, decorated calabashes and potI
terry. T,