critically, for a strenuous piece of work like the exploration of the Duvida, the food was somewhat bulky.  A ration arrangement such as I used on my sledge trips North would have contained more nutritious elements in a smaller space.  We could have done without many of the luxuries.  But the exploration of the Duvida had not been contemplated and had no place in the itinerary mapped out in New York.  The change of plan and the decision to explore the Duvida River came about in Rio Janeiro, long after our rations had been made out and shipped.

“Matte” the tea of Brazil and Paraguay, used in most of the states of South America, should not be forgotten.  It is a valuable beverage.  With it a native can do a wonderful amount of work on little food.  Upon the tired traveller it has a very refreshing effect.

Doctor Peckolt, celebrated chemist of Rio de Janeiro, has compared the analysis of matte with those of green tea, black tea, and coffee and obtained the following result: 

  In 1,000 parts of green tea black tea coffee matte
  Natural oil 7.90 0.06 0.41 0.01
  Chlorophyl 22.20 18.14 13.66 62.00
  Resin 22.20 34.40 13.66 20.69
  Tannin 178.09 128.80 16.39 12.28
  Alkaloids: 
  Mateina 4.50 4.30 2.66 2.50
  Extractive substances 464.00 390.00 270.67 238.83
  Cellulose and fibres 175.80 283.20 178.83 180.00
  Ashes 85.60 25.61 25.61 38.11

Manner of preparation:  The matte tea is prepared in the same manner as the Indian tea, that is to say, by pouring upon it boiling water during ten to fifteen minutes before using.  To obtain a good infusion five spoonfuls of matte are sufficient for a litre of water.

Some experiments have been made lately with the use of matte in the German army, and probably it would be a valuable beverage for the use of our own troops.  Two plates and a cup, knife, fork, and spoon should be provided for each member of the party.  The United States Army mess-kit would serve admirably.  Each man’s mess-kit should be numbered to correspond with the number on his duffel-bag.

An aluminum (for lightness) cooking outfit, or the Dutch oven mentioned, with three or four kettles nested within, a coffee pot or a teapot would suffice.  The necessary large spoons and forks for the cook, a small meat grinder, and a half dozen skinning knives could all be included in the fibre case.  These outfits are usually sold with the cups, plates, etc., for the table.  As before suggested, each member of the party should have his own mess-kit.  It should not be carried with the general cooking outfit.  By separating the eating equipments thus, one of the problems of hygiene and cleanliness is simplified.