amply justified by the good results that have followed to the State. There can be no doubt that had the exceptional yield of 1906-1907 reached the market, a fall in prices, disastrous alike to the planters and to the State, would have resulted. The smaller crops of the succeeding years have favoured the release of the stored surplus without any lowering of prices, and the bold experiment has so far been successful. [Illustration: THE PRADO MANSION HOUSE, SÃO PAULO.] A succession of large crops, both in Brazil and other producing countries of the world, would mean real disaster to São Paulo, but experience goes to show that irregular crops are the general rule, and that full years are inevitably followed by lean ones. The only developments that the State of São Paulo has had to watch carefully are the increasing outputs of newer plantations in Mexico, the West Indies, and the northern republics of South America, all of which are gradually increasing the area under coffee cultivation. São Paulo alone could produce all the coffee necessary to meet the world’s demand, were all her available land allowed to be placed under cultivation, so that the policy of restriction is almost forced upon her. The rapid development of this State is one of the outstanding features of South America, and is all the more remarkable when one considers the comparatively short time that has elapsed since its staple industry was first commenced. CHAPTER XXIX _The Forest_ An excursion through the unexplored bush in South America is no light undertaking, and after a few hours employed in making his way through primeval forest the traveller obtains a fair idea of some of the terrible ordeals which had to be passed through by the early Spanish invaders and buccaneering marauders. Besides being hampered by heavy armour and accoutrements, they were dependent for food on the wild animals they killed or the roots and fruits they discovered, unless by chance they encountered natives from whom they could obtain frugal supplies. The uncertainty of obtaining subsistence, the dangers which lay in wait for them from the poisoned arrows of the natives, and the risks they ran of losing their way, all added to the perils of their expeditions. For in most favourable circumstances a journey over hills clad with the densest vegetation, and across streams and rivers inhabited by obnoxious reptiles, is distinctly trying. At the invitation of a friend I started out to visit a camp occupied by himself and his fellow-surveyors situated on the hills lying to the west side of the Chagres River. I prepared for this journey in a costume which in my ignorance I thought suitable for the occasion, including heavy boots and leggings, and a complete change of clothing in case of emergencies. At the headquarters in the town from which we started it was politely pointed out to me that I evidently did not understand the sort of country we were to travel through, and if the rig-out I had assumed was