Evening star., 1925-12-03
ny COL. =. II. FAWCETT, r. r. &. S.
Special Dispatch 20 The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.

RN col. u. II. FaNCETT, II. X. q. >.
Special Dispatch TO The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.
IlI-From the Land of Bugs and
Snakes.
CAMP FAWCETT latitude l3.45,
Longitude 54.30, Matto Crosse. Brazil,
May so. by courier to Rio Janeiro.
We are now eight days beyond civih-
n tion's farthest outpost, in the midst
of the unknown and uneXplored wilds
Of Matto Crosse.
'Fo send this letter cost infinite eff
fort. for this region is what is called
by the local Indians a ''mundicia'-
hat is. a land of bugs: The main of
fender is a fly smaller than the little
period at the end of each sentence in
an American newspaper 1t is called
porVin." and is the wiCllcdeSt fly. on
earth. almost invisible. biting like a
mosquito. and very active. He assem-
hieS in millions. and gives a human
being no peace. Men frequently go
mad from his bites.
Then the porvins are aided by bees
nf all sizes. which have peculiar APP
petite for salt perspiration.
The slightest physical effort seems
10 he a challenge to those insect
enemies. and it has proved incredibly
difficult to write. Since | started this
their appearance species of wasp.
which stingS right and left. apparently
because it is the habit 10 sting or bite
In these parts
Nets in Constant Use.
Our mosquito nets are in use day
and night. although they are no pro
lection against the porVin. which sail
hlithely through even the fine mesh
of our heat nets.
From Fort Bakair'. whence | sent
my previous dispatches. our journey
has been no bed of roses. We have
cur our way through miles Of Ger
rada. "a forest OF low dry scrub; we
have crossed innumerable small
streams by swimming. fording and
bridging: we have climbed rocky hills
IF forhiddins aspect: we have been
ca ten by bugs
Raleigh Rimeil the third member of
our party. is still bootless from his
lame foot. tho result of an infected
insect bite. have therefore, urged
him TO go back if he felt at all uneasy,
"u he insists on going on.
Oar two guides so back from here
They are more and more nervous
IS we push farther into the Indian
country. and they hate the Land of
Bugs. one was bitten yesterday
by an unCumplonly vicious form of
tick, which caused his whole leg TO
swell. or the lesser ticks we are
all full our hodieS covered with bites
and very itchy.
Worlds Most Mulish Mule.
Our mules have developed an an
noying habit of laundering into
wasp nests. causing themselves and
Us plenty Of trouble. Today Ger
,tN nly ,l,,
got into a bog and sat down on a
wasp nest The more persistently
the insects hit ner. the more deter
mined she was TO stay We solved
the problem by lighting Il fire under
her
All our animals survive. Seven or
eight will 20 on with us. the rest so
back to Cuyaha with the guides
We have picked the best OF the
animals for our push into the jungle.
including Charlie. Il mule which bears
4 curious resemblance to the one and
only Charlie: Dumdum, named be
cause of his bullet head and Sore
head, q fOrlOTn- looking specimen. The
Dock is orr best horse whose only
frailty is an Unsuitable thirst, and
his fellows include Ginger and
Tummy. peculiarly foolish horse
with a bell goes along as focus for
We shall not get into interesting
country for another two weeks After
mat we shall be among the Indians
with all the adventures which that
implies. II is difficult country to en-
tor and to penetrate. | shalt con-
Time To prepare dispatches from
iime to time, in hopes of being able
TO get them out eventually through
some friendly tribe of Indians. But
doubt if this will be possible.
Studying Snakes.
Meanwhile. we shall make further
studies of snakes. II is remarkabIa
how little is known about snakes
among the general public. Here in
Erazil the general ignorance is re-
sponSlble for all manner of super
stltions and many tragic mistakes.
Few people are aware that there is
a recognized evolutionary chain be-
tween the poisonous and non-poison-
Gus varieties. The non-poisonous are
iarSe-eyed. very active ana aggressive,
Rad-tcmpered lot armed with small
teeth which they are very ready To
use From them developed the variety
which are normally harmless to
human beings and animals. possessing
pair of back retractile teeth which
tre not brought into action in biting