Through the Brazilian Wilderness · Chapter
Up the River of Tapirs explained
The expedition ascends the Sepotuba River, making camp at Porto Campo.
What happens
The expedition ascends the Sepotuba River, making camp at Porto Campo. They hunt tapirs and white-lipped peccaries, observe wildlife, and learn about Colonel Rondon's prior explorations. The chapter reflects on the tapir's evolutionary history and the challenges of wilderness travel.
Themes in this chapter
Exploration and Adventure
The chapter details the ascent of the Sepotuba River, a swift and challenging waterway, and the hunting of tapirs in dense jungle and papyrus swamps.
Nature and Wildlife
Rich descriptions of birds, snakes, piranhas, tapirs, and white-lipped peccaries, along with observations of their behavior and ecology.
Human Endurance and Resilience
Recounts Rondon's 1909 expedition where the party survived for months on game, fruits, and wild honey, enduring fatigue, exposure, and fever.
Scientific Inquiry
The chapter includes a paleontological discussion on the evolutionary history of tapirs and horses, and the collection of specimens for the American Museum of Natural History.
Characters to notice
- Colonel Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon
Leads the expedition, shares a tent with Theodore and Kermit, and is noted for his prior explorations of the Sepotuba and the Gy-Paraná.
- Kermit Roosevelt
Slept in the same tent as Theodore Roosevelt; photographed by Fiala.
- Theodore Roosevelt
Narrates the chapter, participates in the tapir hunt, and reflects on the evolutionary history of the tapir.
- George K. Cherrie
Observes and collects many bird specimens at Porto Campo.
- Leo E. Miller
Observes birds and takes photographs of the hunt.
- Lieutenant João Lyra
Accompanies Sigg back to Cáceres to retrieve overlooked items; noted as a chief assistant on Rondon's 1909 expedition.
- Anthony Fiala
Carries a camera during the tapir hunt and photographs Kermit Roosevelt.
- Jacob Sigg
Takes Lieutenant Lyra back to Cáceres in a rowboat to retrieve overlooked items.
Key passages
“The Sepotuba River was scientifically explored and mapped for the first time by Colonel Rondon in 1908, as head of the Brazilian Telegraphic Commission.”
Colonel Rondon first scientifically explored and mapped the Sepotuba River in 1908 while leading the Brazilian Telegraphic Commission.
Highlights Rondon's prior exploratory work on the same river.
“The work of exploration accomplished by Colonel Rondon and his associates during these years was as remarkable as, and in its results even more important than, any similar work undertaken elsewhere on the globe at or about the same time.”
Rondon's explorations were as remarkable and important as any other contemporary exploration in the world.
Emphasizes the significance of Rondon's achievements.