The height of the lands, formed in the center of this vast valley, hinders the tributary from remaining in a regular channel, and the waters escaping from both sides ramify in a labyrinth of rivers and false rivers. The lateral branches follow in the zones of the lakes, to the confluence of the Taquary and Miranda Rivers, which descend from the mountains on the East. These receive in the upper region, a tributary called the Coxim, which travelers consider one of the most picturesque rivers of Brazil. It is curious to see, in some places, the waters of the Coxim crowded between perpendicular walls 50 meters in height and the small vessels floating on their bosom at the bottom of an opening not more than 10 or 12 meters in width. THE CLIMATE The climate of Matto Grosso is relatively warm in the lower parts and those overflowed by the high waters of the Paraguay and other rivers. In the region of the tablelands the climate is cool and healthy. The movement of the air columns is determined by the open passage way between the Andes mountains and the highlands of Brazil, as well as in the center of the South American continent, and are held by it. The warm winds, coming from the region of the Amazon, are succeeded in the Winter time by the winds which blow from the cool pampas. In the high parts of the circle of hills and mountains which surround the tablelands of Matto Grosso, the cold goes below the freezing point. The copious rains brought by the cooling winds refresh the central tablelands of Brazil and then dash themselves against the sides of the Andes. They fall with great regularity in the Summer and are frequently accompanied by thunderstorms. According to observations taken by some, the annual fall of water is 3 meters, and in Cuyabá about 135 days of the ordinary year are rainy ones. ITS SITUATION The State of Matto Grosso, from its geographical situation in the Continent of South America, placed at the point of separation of the two great basins of Brazil, contains at the same time the flowers and faunae of the Amazon and Plata regions. Nevertheless, the tropical flora predominates with its infinite variety of vegetable forms in all the forest regions, that is to say, along the banks of the rivers, and among the famous species found along the shores of the River-Sea, there are few which are not found in the region of the Upper Guaporé, and specimens of which may not be seen.