Evening star., 1928-06-18
BY CoMDR. GEORGE M. DYOTT.
BY Radio to The Star and North American
Newspaper Alliance.

BY Radio to The Star and North American
Newspaper Alliance.
BAIKAIRI POST, Matto Crosse,
Brazil, June 18-"Our stay at Baikaffi
Post has been short, but we have made
many discoveries Col Fawcett came
here twice, and on his second trip fol-
lowed his old trail north toward the
Paranatinga and Tapajos Rivers AS
originally planned and reported in let
ter to his wife.
Our scouts, who have been follow
ing this trail, find it turns back after
some miles and goes east to a river
called Kuluseva, an affiuent of the
Xingu River We leave tomorrow for
this river and We will pick up his trail
10 miles northeast of this place.
This information throws more light
on Col. Fawcett's movements, and 1t
looks as If he made detour inten-
tionally so as to mislead any who might
follow him.
we have had much trouble with
bullock drivers. They went on strike
and refused to go in the direction we
wanted on account of Indians. They
also wanted more money in view of de-
lays. Fortunately, was able to han
die the situation. and now all is we'll
and We move forward at once.
Insects Troublesome.
we all have been badly treated by
insects. The dry season is the worst
time for ticks and other Objectionable
creatures that make day and nights
one long torment. We have seen no
remains of old civilization Of any kind,
but in many places rocks torn by wind
and ram look actually like remains Of
buildings
This is our last touch with the outer
world. There will be no one except
indians from now on until many
months have passed They may be
friendly or may not A tribe caught a
negro a few months back and rubbed
MIN with sand, thinking that he was
dirty and needed washing. Every one
Is in fine condition and we are all itch
ing to get ahead.
Col. Fawcett left Bakairi Post MAY
8, 1925. 1t took us four DAYS to get
here on muleback from San Manocal
making total of six from Cuyaba. The
tran Col. Fawcett took north was over
much longer route. but TO follow his
tran would have been waste of time.
hence our reason for cutting across
country.
We had trouble getting this far.
The bullockS broke up some of their
cargoes when fording rivers, damaging
the radio equipment. Our cameras
were also injured. The insects are now
very troublesome. az the rains have
stopped and the country is drying UP.
Our 'camaradas' are very nervous OF
Wild animals and snakes OF nights and
Indians of day.
Report Colonel Slain.
"On the way here We heard that Col.
Fawcett had been murdered by bandits,
who thought he mad much money. but
this seems most improbable and we can
not find any confirmation. It is we'll
known that life hangs by string In
this remote region Of Matto Crosse
There is only one lsw, so the saying
goes, and that is number "a on the
Colt revolver. which We are capable OF
enforcing In an emergency. With our
heads shaved we look like crowd of
bandits ourselves.
Reports circulated that Col. Fawcett
was descending the River of Death are
false. A man called Calvao, described
In Rio de Janeiro newspapers, told how
he had seen him go and had gone down
that river and found Col Fawcett s
last camp. This was all pure inven-
ton. The story started because Col.
Fawcett wrote in one space that he had
crossed Rio Manso, which Is another
name for River of Death. There are
many rivers call Rio Manso, and the
one Col. Fawcett wrote about flows
north of Cuyaba to Rio Novo. This
then settles the point about the River of
Death. Col. Fawcett never went near
II, as he travelled north to Rio Novo and
west to Baikairi Post
We are now wondering where his
trail will take us. AS vet there is
much uncertainty. win It be west
TO the Tapajos via the Paranatinga
River, among the friendly Castrabis,
whose women cut their hair short and
the men leave 1t long9 win 1t be
north to the xingu country, where the
warlike Suyas dwell, who put circular
blocks OF wood In their lower lips and
hang large pieces in their ears? Or
VIII 1t be more west TO River Paraguay,
the land OF the ferocius Gayapos. who
Ming clubs at their enemies to break
their legs and then finish them at
leisure
I'VE are now on the Amazon water
shed overlooking an undulating sea of
low hills that stretch away as far as
human eyes can carry. 1t is a tangle
ending In jungle growth; q land of
mystery. blue In the light of the fad
ing sun To this trackless zone Col
Fawcett and his party plunged past
three years ago with the hope of dis
covering some of its secrets. Like others
before him. he never came back. We
will follow his trail Who knows what
Is In the future for US?
With limited resources at our dis
posal we can't attempt very much Air.
planes would have been more help. but