New Britain herald., 1930-01-13

LulLOt , -Nolt. IIll'o i9 t4iN otSoiIt Of series of three articles by J. Tozzi Galvao, explorer, on his trips into the Brazilian hinterland.
 By J. TOZZI GALNAO
 Rio De Janeiro. Jan. 1S (UP)- Gold diamonds, strange people and wild beasts-thc enchanting reali- ties of adventure yarns-await those who venture into the vast unknown region between the Araguaya river and the River of Doubt, or Roose- welt river, southern tributaries of the Amazon. These two waterways limit millions of square miles of wild territory covering parts of the state of Para, Matto Crosse, and AmaZonas.
 Hostile Indians hold off the in- truder at arrow point This re- zion also holds the secret 10 the fate of the Britshi explorer, Colonel P. W. Fawcett, and his party, now missing more than three years.
 It is said in Brazil that no white man has ever returned from trip on the upper 'Rio das Mortes. v which runs into the Araguaya- Hence the fatal connotation- "River of Deaths"
 Shoot Poisoned Arrows
 To the northwest of the River of deaths lies the great Serra do Roncador, or Snoring Mountains. where the approaches to the hin- terland are guarded by several tribes of Indians, the most mo- torious being the so-called Chav- antes. These do away with strang- CTS by the efficient method Of shooting at them from dark jungle recesses with long arrows tipped with sharp bones which have been poisoned with the deadly "curare.' Catching a "jararacussu" snake, a reptile as dangerous as the cobra, the Chavantes make it bite and kill small animal. such as rabbit or wild pig. This victim IS put in clay pot and left to decay with the poison, and in it are stuck the ar row points which thus acquire their murderous charge. A bamboo cov- ering for the tip protects the user. i Cause of Hostility
 I will try to explain the cause for ! the Indians hostility toward white | men from documents and legends which I came across while eXplor- ing that region.
 In 17S5, a band Of advcnturers, called a "bandcira," started from Para in an attempt to cross the great wilderness and reach Villa Bella ttoday known as the city of Matto Crosse. partly in ruins) on the upper Guaporc river. Villa | Bella was at that time the capital of the province Of Matto Crosse, and the most important gold min ing center Of the rcgiou, with 20,- GOO slaves working there. These band evidently were de- tcrmined 10 try the most danger ous route, and how they ever thought to cover the 2.0Oo miles between their starting point and their goal l am unable to say However, they got as far as the Serra do Eoncador before encount- CTS with wild animals as well as other hardships had reduced the original number Of 450 men by more than 100.
 Here they discovered loads 0. that metal said to be the root of al evil. and with fabulous wealth 1T
 their hands these men became al
 most insane with greed.
 To mine this gold was q simple
 matter of doceiving the Indian:
 and making them slave for gold II
 the minc. When they were worked
 to death there were always more tt be had for the asking. Tho Indian!
 finally discovered they were bein: , made the victims of treachery, and z motivated by primitive fury. the. , made a general attack against tn , Portuguese, who barricaded them , selves in their wooden houses. Tn
 Portuguese also rushed off 10 mel
 towards civilization, hoping the would soon find a settlement ant
 return with aid. This was a fata separation. for the Indians manage, soon 10 break through the fortifica tons of the remaining Portugues
 and maSsacred all.
 1. Apparently only ono of inc 1 : messengers ever met any of his ow, . r&cc again, because only then wa
 this great tragedy of early advcn > turc learned
 One day strange bronzed maj wand cred into a settlement whicl
 was later destined 10 become tn
 capital Of the state of Matto Gross , 1 Co,oroJ ,,-;,l,