# Colonel Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon — Through the Brazilian Wilderness character guide > Colonel Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon in Through the Brazilian Wilderness by Theodore Roosevelt. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Colonel Rondon, Rondon **First appearance:** 0005-i-the-start ## Snapshot A Brazilian army colonel who has spent decades stringing telegraph wire through uncharted jungle, he co-leads the expedition with a quiet rigor Roosevelt openly reveres. ## Who they are Rondon is the expedition's Brazilian spine: a sertanista who knows the backcountry, its peoples, and its rivers, and whose name Roosevelt inscribes with the words 'Gallant Officer, High-Minded Gentleman, and Intrepid Explorer.' His authority rests on discipline and self-effacement — he reads Thomas à Kempis on deck while others skin jaguars — and on a lifetime of pushing lines through country that resists them. His partnership with Roosevelt sets the expedition's tone: two stubborn men of very different nations bound by the same appetite for the unmapped. ## In the story ### [Frontispiece 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/frontispiece-1) Pictured with Colonel Roosevelt at Navaïté on the River of Doubt. ### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/dedication) Dedicatee, described as a gallant officer, high-minded gentleman, and intrepid explorer. ### [Frontispiece 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/frontispiece-2) Rondon accompanied Roosevelt on the expedition shown. ### [Through the Brazilian Wilderness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/through-the-brazilian-wilderness) Co-leader and guide, providing expertise on the region. ### [The Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/i-the-start) Brazilian Army colonel and explorer who is to meet Roosevelt at Cáceres with assistants and scientists. ### [III: A Jaguar Hunt on the Taquary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/iii-a-jaguar-hunt-on-the-taquary) Inspects the outfit and participates in the jaguar hunt. ### [IV: The Headwaters of the Paraguay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/iv-the-headwaters-of-the-paraguay) Reading Thomas à Kempis on the Nyoac; his past explorations and mapping of the Juruena and Gy-Paraná rivers are detailed, including the discovery of the River of Doubt. ### [Up the River of Tapirs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/v-up-the-river-of-tapirs) Leads the expedition, shares a tent with Theodore and Kermit, and is noted for his prior explorations of the Sepotuba and the Gy-Paraná. ### [VI: Through the Highland Wilderness of Western Brazil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/vi-through-the-highland-wilderness-of-western-brazil) Gave presents to the Parecís Indians, including calico prints and scented oil; named a river and mountain range after the explorer Franco; established a telegraph station in the former palace of the captain-general. ### [VII: With a Mule Train Across Nhambiquara Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/vii-with-a-mule-train-across-nhambiquara-land) Leads the expedition, demonstrates diplomacy with the Nhambiquara, and is fondly regarded by them. ### [VIII: The River of Doubt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/viii-the-river-of-doubt) Takes compass readings for surveying, discusses possible river routes with Lyra, and goes on a hunt. ### [Down an Unknown River Into the Equatorial Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/ix-down-an-unknown-river-into-the-equatorial-forest) Receives reports on side rivers, notes the uniqueness of ancient rock carvings, and kills game for food. ### [X: To the Amazon and Home; Zoological and Geographical Results of the Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/x-to-the-amazon-and-home-zoological-and-geographical-results-of-the-expedition) Roosevelt credits Rondon and his Telegraphic Commission for the previous six years of exploration that made the descent of the River of Doubt possible. ### [Appendix A: The Work of the Field Zoologist and Field Geographer in South America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/appendix-a-the-work-of-the-field-zoologist-and-field-geographer-in-south-america) Mentioned as a leader in geographical exploration of unknown country in South America. ### [Appendix C: My Letter of May 1 to General Lauro Müller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/appendix-c-my-letter-of-may-1-to-general-lauro-m-ller) Acknowledged as a colleague and leader in the exploration work. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/endnotes) Cited for his official report and letter exposing the fraudulent claims of Mr. Savage Landor. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Featured in photographs with Colonel Roosevelt and at the monument erected by him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/characters/colonel_rondon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_brazilian_wilderness_se/characters