BRAZIL: East of the River of Doubt

At smoky, industrial São Paulo, the Chicago of South America, divine protection was invoked last week for a band of 100 men. A Brazilian flag was blessed at Mass and the 100 shoved off for the wilder ness. Northwest toward an uncharted, un spoiled piece of the earth went flashy Colonel Flaviano Mattos Vanique with 30 technical experts, 70 roustabouts and science's most modern equipment. Their object: to open for colonization the Mato Grosso (Big Woods) province, half again the size of Texas; to map topography, explore for gold, diamonds, rubber and...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!