The
Xingu River, the next large river west of the
Tocantins[?], is a true tributary of the
Amazon River. It was but little
known until it was explored in 1884-1887 by
Karl von den Steinen[?] from
Cuyaba[?]. Travelling east, 240 miles, he found the river
Tamitatoaba[?], 180 foot wide, flowing from a lake 25 miles in diameter. He descended this torrential stream to the river
Romero, 1300 foot wide, entering from the west, which receives the river
Colisu[?]. These three streams form the Xingu, or Parana-xingu, which, from 73 miles lower down, bounds along a succession of rapids for 400 miles. A little above the head of navigation, 105 miles from its mouth, the river makes a bend to the east to find its way across a rocky barrier. Here is the great cataract of
Itamaraca, which rushes down an inchned plane for 3 miles and then gives a final leap, called the fall of Itamaraca. Near its mouth, the Xingu expands into an immense lake, and its waters then mingle with those of the Amazon through a labyrinth of eanos (natural canals), winding in countless directions through a wooded archipelago.