The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

Kermit, Simplicio, and João were fighting for their lives in the water. While Kermit and João survived, Simplicio was assumed drowned. The expedition now had 21 men and only five canoes, as Kermit’s boat was lost along with 10 days’ worth of rations and boat-building tools. Needless to say, Rondon was furious that Kermit had disobeyed his orders. However, Simplicio’s death neither shocked nor deterred him (213). Somewhat of a loner, Rondon was closer to his dogs than his men. On March 21, when the expedition resumed, some of the men had to walk given the shortage of boats.

On that day, Rondon took his dog Lobo hunting and thought that he heard the cry of a spider monkey. It was not, but rather the imitation call of Indigenous persons, who shot Lobo with poisonous arrows when he approached. Rondon stayed still and was able to escape back to camp. Upon inspection of the dog later, Rondon realized that this was not the work of the Nhambiquara but an unknown group. To make matters worse, another boat had been lost in attempts to transport it over rapids. Facing hostile Indigenous people and dwindling supplies, the group could not retreat but had to go forward.