Roosevelt, Kermit. Diary. 1913–1914.
. The Happy Hunting-Grounds. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1920.
. The Long Trail. New York: Metropolitan Publications, 1921.
Roosevelt, Theodore. Diary. 1878.
. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel (about Kermit while on Safari). June 24, 1909. Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library.
. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit (about Kermit’s injuries). September 2, 1913. Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library.
. The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt, ed. Elting E. Morison, John M. Blum, and John J. Buckley. 8 vols. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1951–54.
. “My Life as a Naturalist.” American Museum Journal, May 1918. http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/picks-from-the-past/12449/my-life-as-a-naturalist.
. Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1923.
. Theodore Roosevelt’s Letters to His Children, ed. Joseph Bucklin Bishop, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1919.
. Through the Brazilian Wilderness. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1914.
The Seattle Star. “Bats That Suck Your Big Toe, Diamonds in Rivers, Sweet Milk Trees—These Are Some Things Teddy Found in Jungles.” May 16, 1914.
Smith, Francis Gow. “Brazil’s Daniel Boone.” The Charleston Daily Mail. May 12, 1929.
The South American. “Colonel Roosevelt’s ‘Rio da Duvida’ ” Vol. III, No. 4, July 1914.
The Sun. “T.R. Puts His River Duvida on the Map for Scientists.” May 27, 1914.
The Syracuse Journal (Syracuse, Indiana). “Roosevelt Had Terrible Time.” May 21, 1914.
The Washington Herald. “Roosevelt, Addressing 3,500 People, Tells of Putting River on Map.” May 27, 1914.
Wynne, Arthur. “Steady Job Catching the Jabiru Bird.” The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana). April 19, 1919.
INDEX
For your reference, the page numbers that appear in the print version of this book are listed below. They do not match the page numbers in your eBook. Please use the “Search” function on your eReading device to find terms of interest. Page numbers in boldface indicate illustrations or photographs as they appear in the print version of the book.
Africa, Roosevelt’s safari in, 29–30, 48
Amazon jungle. See also animals; insects; Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt); Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition; trees
dangers of traveling in, 10–11
expedition plans, 10, 37, 40–44
American Geographical Society, 189
American Museum of Natural History
African specimens hunted for, 29–30, 30
South American specimens hunted for, 10, 45, 52, 84, 140
as South American trip sponsor, 42–44, 59–60
Anglo Brazilian Iron Company, 8–9
animals
buffalo, 29
bush deer, 144
camouflage of, 85–86
coral snake, 87
curassow, 101, 102
guan, 95
jacare-tinga bird, 175
jaguar, 45, 54
monkeys, 86, 113, 114, 144, 163–164, 170, 186–188
peccary, 114, 115
piranhas, 73–75, 74
pirarara, 170
sloth, 85, 86
tapir, 3, 54, 97
taxidermy of, 15, 64
vultures, 140
Anopheles mosquitoes, 102–103
Antonio, Joaquim, 177
araputanga tree, 125
Audubon, John James, 15
barrigudo (woolly monkeys), 86, 144, 163–164
Bell, John Graham, 15
boroshudas, 92
Brazil. See also Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition
Cinta Larga Indians, 3, 116–118, 188
Indian Protection Service, 67–68
Navaitê Indians, 83–84, 90
Nhambiquara Indians, 65–69, 66, 83–84, 90
Pareci Indians, 67
Rio de Janeiro, 7–8
Rondon hired by government of, 37, 40–41, 132
Rondônia named by, 189
Roosevelt in Rio de Janeiro, 33–37, 36
Sugar Loaf peak, 7, 38
Telegraphic Commission, 40, 52, 188
buffalo, conservation of, 29
Bull Moose Party (Progressive Party), 31
Bullock, Seth, 49
Cabral, Pedro Álvares, 65
Cajazeira, José Antonio, 78, 79
canoe travel and, 120
malaria treated by, 103
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony, 121–124, 122–123
Roosevelt’s illnesses and injuries treated by, 135, 156, 160, 165, 174
camaradas (canoeists and laborers)
bare feet of, 87, 92, 120
food rations, 55–56, 145
illnesses of, 163, 174–175
work of, 69, 76, 78, 99–101, 100, 103–104
camouflage, of animals, 85–86
canja (stew), 95
cannibalism, 117
canoes, 70–71
construction of, 99–104, 100, 125–126
loss of, 98–99, 115, 119–120, 134, 143, 148
moved through water by ropes, 5, 107, 129, 134–138, 143–146, 145–146
paddles for, 170, 173
plan to abandon canoes, 139–141
portage of, 89–90, 92–94, 93, 96, 97
Cherrie, George
arm injury of, 60–64
on canoe loss, 98–99, 101, 148
celebration at end of journey, 179
on Cinta Larga Indians, 117–118
on difficulty of journey, 170, 173, 175
drowning of camarada and, 107, 111
on food theft, 126
health of, during expedition, 134
hiring of, 59–60, 62–63
hunting by, 84–88, 164
insects and, 91–92
on murder by camarada, 151, 155
at National Geographic Society presentation, 184
on piranhas, 73, 74–75
on plan to abandon canoes, 139–140
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony, 121–124, 122–123
on river’s course, 75–76, 89, 147
Roosevelt’s health during expedition and, 143, 145, 146, 157, 165
on search for Julio de Lima, 168–169
views on Roosevelt, 80–81
on work of team members, 76
Cinta Larga Indians, 3, 116–118, 188
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 156–157
Convention Hall (Washington, D.C.), 183
Correia, Antonio, 138, 152, 170
Correia, Luiz, 78, 169–170, 175
Craveiro, Pedrinho, 149, 150
curare (poisonous plant extract), 65
da Fonseca, Hermes, 36
dysentery, 134, 175
1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders), 25, 25–26
fish. See animals
food
bush deer as, 144
canja (stew), 95
food poisoning from, 175–176
scarcity of, 144–145
hunted and gathered during expedition, 85, 94–95, 101, 133, 147, 163–164
jacare-tinga bird as, 175
monkeys as, 186–188
palm tops as, 101, 119
pirarara as, 170
rations chart, 130–131
theft of, 126, 127–128, 145, 149
Franca (cook), 95, 126, 135, 170
guan. See animals
Guaporé (Rondônia), 189
Harris, Cornwallis, 49
Harvard University, 19–21
Henrique (camarada), 76
Illustrated Natural History, The (Wood), 12
Indian Protection Service (Brazil), 67–68
insects
Anopheles mosquitoes, 102–103, 103
boroshudas, 92
camaradas bitten by
, 120
honey of bees, as food source, 94–95
insect repellent, 92
piums, 54
termites, 91–92
ticks, 134
walking stick insect, 85
Isabel (princess of Portugal), 36
jacare-tinga bird, 175
jaguar. See animals
“Kubla Khan” (Coleridge), 156–157
Lee, Arthur Hamilton, 31
Lima, Julio de
food theft by, 127–128, 145–149
hiring of, 79
murder by, 150–153, 165–166, 167–171
work of, 92
Lobo (dog), 75, 113–118
Lyra, João Salustiano, 79
canoe movement and portage by, 94, 105, 106–110, 138, 140, 143, 145–146, 155
on murder among camarada, 151
navigation and mapping work of, 76–77, 163, 165–166, 168
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony and, 121–124, 122–123
Maine (U.S. battleship), 25
malaria, 102–103, 133–134, 174–175
mapping
fixed-station surveying method, 76–77
importance of first map of Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt), 95–96, 127–132, 179–180, 183–188, 187
map of South America (1913), 2
moveable sighting process, 105
Rio Capitão Cardoso discovery, 167–168
Roosevelt’s drawing of, 181
Markham, Sir Clements, 184
Marques, Raymundo José, 177–178
McKinley, William, 26
Medora, North Dakota, 22, 22–24
monkeys
barrigudo (woolly monkeys), 86, 144, 163–164
consumed by fish, 170
Roosevelt on monkeys as food, 186–188
spider monkeys, 113, 114
Morgan, J. P., 26–27
Morley, John, 29
mosquitoes, 102–103
Müller, Lauro, 36–37, 40–41
National Geographic Society, 183–188, 187
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), 29–30
Navaitê Indians, 83–84, 90
New York City, Roosevelt’s nomination as mayor of, 24
New York State
Roosevelt as governor of, 26
Roosevelt’s election to Assembly of, 21, 22
Nhambiquara Indians, 65–69, 66, 83–84, 90
Osborn, Henry Fairfield, 29–30, 42–44
Paishon, Paixão, 99, 120, 128, 148–153
Palacio Guanabara (Rio de Janeiro), 35–36
Panama Canal, construction of, 29
Pareci, Antonio, 78, 116, 163, 169–170
Pareci Indians, 67
Peary, Robert, 184–185, 188
peccary, 114, 115
Pedro II, Dom (emperor of Brazil), 36
piranhas, 73–75, 74
pirarara, 170
piums, 54
portage, 88–90, 92–94, 93, 96–97
Portraits of the Game and Wild Animals of Southern Africa (Harris), 49
Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party), 31
quinine, 103
Republican Party
Roosevelt nominated for New York City mayor by, 24
Roosevelt nominated for New York State governor by, 26
Taft nominated for president by, 31
Rio Capitão Cardoso, 167–168
Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt), 50–51
canoes on first day of journey, 70–71
description of, 40–44
length of, 184
mapping of, 76–77, 95–96, 105, 167–168, 179–180, 181
National Geographic Society presentation, 183–188, 187
native populations living on, 3, 65–69, 66, 83–84, 90, 116–118, 188
renamed Rio Roosevelt, 121–124, 122–123, 189
river rapids, 88–90, 92–94, 96–97
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 7–9, 33, 35–36, 36
Rio Kermit, 121
Rio Roosevelt, naming of, 121–124, 122–123
Rondon, Cândido Mariano da Silva, 39, 96, 136–137, 144. See also Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition
childhood of, 37–38
Cinta Larga Indians and, 113–118
concern for Roosevelt’s health, 160–161, 163–164, 165
expedition planning by, 55–58
first meeting with Roosevelt, 46, 52
health of, 174
hiring of, for expedition, 37, 40–44, 132
jobs of, 38–40
Julio de Lima and, 155, 165–166, 167–171leadership style of, 75, 79, 80, 99, 109, 169
mapping methods of, 105, 127–132, 167–168
on murder of camarada, 151
Nhambiquara Indians and, 65–69, 66
recognition of, 188, 189
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony, 121–124, 122–123
Roosevelt’s trip plans and, 40–44
Rondônia, 189
Roosevelt, Alice (daughter), 22, 28
Roosevelt, Alice (first wife), 22
Roosevelt, Archie (son), 9, 28
Roosevelt, Belle (daughter-in-law), 47, 189
Roosevelt, Edith Carow (second wife), 25, 28, 33, 42
Roosevelt, Eleanor (daughter-in-law), 48
Roosevelt, Ethel (daughter), 49
Roosevelt, Kermit (son), 9, 28, 30
African safari of, 29–30, 48
bridge collapse accident and, 9–10
celebration of expedition by, 179
concern for father’s health, 139, 146, 157–161, 165, 173–174
drowning of camarada and, 106–111
on food theft, 127–128
health of, during expedition, 163, 174–175, 176
job with Anglo Brazilian Iron Company, 8
marriage of, 47, 189
on murder of camarada, 168
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony, 121–124, 122–123
rope skills of, 140, 145–146
travel to River of Doubt, 33, 46–52, 50–51, 59
views on father, 81
work of, during expedition, 76, 90, 94, 101
Roosevelt, Martha (mother), 22
Roosevelt, Quentin (son), 28
Roosevelt, Teddy, Jr. (son), 28
Roosevelt, Theodore “Teddy,” 6, 12, 18, 20, 27, 28, 96, 136–137, 191
African safari of, 29–30, 48
assassination attempt on, 42, 43
childhood of, 11–15, 17
death of, 189–190
deaths of parents and first wife, 21–22
early political career of, 21, 24–27
education of, 19–21
expedition members’ views of, 80–81
expedition plans of, 9–10, 37, 40–44
expedition team members chosen, 59–65, 62–63
health of, after expedition, 185
health of, before expedition, 15, 34–35
health of, during expedition, 1–5, 102–103, 133–135, 139–141, 143–146, 148, 155–161, 158–159, 163, 173–174
hunting by, 84–88
insects and, 91–92, 94
mapping and surveying, 77, 95–96, 128–132, 167–168, 181, 183–188, 187
on murder of camarada, 150–153, 165, 167–168
National Geographic Society presentation by, 183–188, 187
nickname of, 19
in North Dakota, 22–24
observations about expedition, 78, 83, 119, 178–179
as president, 27–29
presidential election of 1812 and, 30–31
Rio Roosevelt naming ceremony, 121–124, 122–123
River of Doubt drawing by, 181
Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition’s travel to River of Doubt, 45–55
as Rough Rider, 25–26
snake attack on, 87–88
speaking tour in South America, 8, 31, 33–37
sports training by, 17–18
travel to River of Doubt, 50–51, 53, 54
views of Nhambiquara Ind
ians, 69
wildlife collecting and hunting by, 10, 13–15, 14, 17, 29–31, 30, 84–88
Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition. See also animals; Brazil; camaradas (canoeists and laborers); canoes; food; insects; Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt); trees
beginning of, 45–55, 50–51, 52, 53, 54, 70–71
civilization found by, 173–181
drowning of camarada during, 106–111
food rations chart, 130–131
members of, 59–65, 62–63
murder of camarada during, 150–153, 155, 165, 167–171
Rio Roosevelt name and, 121–124, 122–123
river rapids and portage for canoes, 88–90, 92–94, 93, 96–97
Rough Riders, 25–26
Royal Geographic Society, 189
rubber trees, 105
San Juan Hill, Battle of, 26
Schrank, John, 42
Simplicio (camarada), 76, 106–111
sloth. See animals
Smithsonian Institution, 29
Spanish-American War, 25, 25–26
spider monkeys. See monkeys
St. Anthony’s fire, 174
Sugar Loaf peak (Brazil), 7, 38
Superior War College, 38
surveying, fixed-station method of, 76–77, 129. See also mapping
Taft, William, 30
tamandua (lesser anteater), 60, 61
tapir. See animals
taxidermy, 15, 64
Telegraphic Commission (Brazil), 40, 52, 188
trees
araputanga tree, 125
for canoe construction, 99, 100, 125–126
canopy of, 86
palm tops as food, 101, 119
rubber trees, 105
tatajuba tree, 125
Trigueiro (dog), 106, 107
U.S. Navy, Roosevelt as assistant secretary of, 25
Vandyck (steamship), 7, 35
vultures. See animals
Wilson, Woodrow, 31
Wood, J. G., 12
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to give a big thank you to Marisa Polansky, Paige Hazzan, Jessica Regel, and Kelly Smith for their enthusiasm and encouragement. I also want to thank Ellen Duda for another eye-catching book cover.
Thank you to the staff of the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, who gave me access to Kermit’s diary. To touch the actual diary that survived the trip down the River of Doubt a century later was truly a thrill in researching this story. A heartfelt thanks to my husband, Todd, who took photos of the delicate pages while I carefully turned them.
I am also grateful to Rodrigo Piquet, Chefia do Núcleo de Biblioteca e Arquivo do Museu do Índio in Brazil, for his assistance. Muito obrigado!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SAMANTHA SEIPLE is the author of Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska’s World War II Invasion; Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure; and Lincoln’s Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America’s First Private Eye. She has worked as a competitive intelligence specialist for a Fortune 500 company, as a librarian, and as a production and copy editor. Her education includes degrees in English, journalism, and library and information science. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.