and forming a cloud upon the summit. The roar of the immense volume of water falling was like deep thunder, and the whole scene impressive beyond description.

On examination this obstruction proved to be 114 feet high, and about half a mile in length. Both flanks were guarded by perpendicular walls of basalt of nearly 200 feet in height, and offered no alternative for the passage of the canoes otherwise than by making a long détour through the forest. This accordingly had to be done, and a timber-road of a mile and a half in length was constructed round the falls, and the canoes were dragged over it and again launched on the river above.

This operation, which was of a very laborious nature, took nine days to accomplish, notwithstanding the stimulus given during the latter part of the time by the appearance of several wild Indians of the Botocudo tribe. These Indians, however, who only live in very small families together, did not collect in sufficient numbers to give much cause for apprehension; though, from their proverbial brutish and treacherous character, it was necessary to be constantly on one's guard during that time.

On the 1st of September the River Imbauzinho was reached, where further supplies were awaiting our arrival, and on the 8th of the same month we landed once more at the town of Tibagy, having successfully accomplished, though after more than six weeks' incessant labour, a journey till then considered to be almost impossible.

As to the character of the river between Jatahy and Tibagy enough has already been said or implied; but it may be well to mark out the limits of three of the more widely-differing sections into which it may naturally be divided.

From Jatahy to the mouth of the Rio St. Jeronymo, the declivity, though great, is regular; and the river might be considered as one long rapid for the entire distance. Its width varies from 160 to 1100 yards.

From the Rio St. Jeronymo up to the "Salto Grande" the river passes through the grand mountain scenery of the Agudos and Apucarana range in a series of bounds over falls varying from 10 to 40 feet in height; and, though more difficult to navigate, the average declivity of its bed is here less than that of the preceding section. The average width of the river is also much diminished.

The next section from the "Salto Grande" to the town of Tibagy is remarkable by reason of the greater magnitude of its waterfalls proper (as distinguished from rapids or cataracts), and the general occurrence above them of long reaches of deep calm water. This section also contains gold and diamonds in

some abundance, neither of which were to be found below the Salto Grande.

The fall of the river from Tibagy down to its mouth is about 950 feet; making, therefore, the total fall, in a length of somewhat less than 300 miles, to be 1550 feet.

The exploration which has been attempted to be described, besides fulfilling the especial objects for which it was undertaken, has added also one more to the lengthening list of Brazilian rivers whose course has now been surveyed and mapped down.

Small and insignificant as the valley appears on a map of Brazil, yet from its position, connecting the great navigable water-system of the Paranapanéma, Paraná, Ivinheima, and Brilliante with one of the best harbours on the east coast (for a first-class carriage-road has already been constructed up the most difficult part of all, namely, the "Serra do Mar," between Antonina and Curitiba), it is of greater importance than many a larger and richer valley.

As has already been seen, it contains within itself every variety of climate, from the temperate to the tropical, and is suitable for the production of all kinds of necessary food. It has its pastures for the breeding of cattle, and its rich forestland for the cultivation of the various kinds of vegetable produce. Water and timber abound everywhere, and the climate throughout is unsurpassable in its salubrity.

What, then, is wanting in order that these great natural advantages may be utilised? The answer seems plain. What is wanting is a more enterprising, energetic, and, above all, honest race to take the place of the mongrel native. With this change everything else would follow. The Government is already liberal in its support, but, as everybody there knows, not one-tenth of the funds supplied ever go to their legitimate object. They are, in plain language, appropriated by the various officials through whose hands they have to pass.

It is this pervading low standard of morality which has hitherto paralysed, and will still continue to paralyse, the development of the country. Yet, in spite of all, some progress may be observed to be going on, notably in the district round the town of Tibagy.

Now, of all parts of the province of Paraná, this district is the most suitable for the foundation of an English colony. If, therefore, instead of spending thousands of pounds in the attempt to establish an English colony at Assungui-about which we heard so much a few years ago, which place, buried as it is amongst a mass of hills, mountains, and impenetrable forests, is altogether unsuited for its purpose-the same money had

been spent in founding the colony on a spot whose progressive capabilities were a matter of certainty, and where ample room existed for its development, much credit might have been saved to the Brazilian Government, and great profit gained by both parties.

The advantages which this district would afford to the English settler over that of Assungui may be briefly summed up as follows:-More suitable climate; pastoral as well as agricultural land; and more central position with reference to markets for produce. If English colonisation is ever to succeed at all in this province, it must be planted in some such locality as this, and not in the utter depths of isolation in which Assungui is buried. Let, then, the Assungui attempt be abandoned; the colony transferred to the neighbourhood of Tibagy; and the nucleus formed somewhere on the borders of the forest,-not in its far depths.

At Curitiba a large and thriving German population has sprung up out of very small beginnings-and why? Simply because the country and climate are suitable to the people, and there is a market for their labour. At Assungui these conditions are conspicuous by their absence; but at Tibagy they exist to an equal degree with Curitiba, and, for an agricultural colony, no part of the whole province could be better fitted.

New blood would in this way be introduced where it is most wanted, and where it would have the greatest effect. The laws of natural selection might safely be trusted to do the rest. And thus this rich and fertile valley, with an area of nearly 20,000 square miles, would have some chance of attaining, at no distant day, to a position worthy of its great resources.

At present, it must be remembered, it is, like many another rich but not easily accessible country, scarcely known even in its own province, and to the outside world it is altogether a "Terra incognita."

IX.-A Prince of Kashghar on the Geography of Eastern Turkistan. By R. B. SHAW.

[Read, June 26th, 1876.]

THE interest attaching to the mountain-region surrounding Kashgharia, of which portions have been recently brought to notice by the explorations of the several parties detached by Sir T. D. Forsyth's Mission, makes it worth while to review