Chief Antonio had already accompanied Karl von den Steinen on his first two Xingu expeditions (1884, 1887). As a result of these expeditions, his influence grew and at times he rose to become the dominant figure in the region (1884, 1887, cf. Schmidt 1928: 86, Kraus 2004: 362-376). Dating according to Schmidt 1928: 86, where he describes his visit to the "Simão Lopez post [reference to his own expedition 28 years earlier], which had in the meantime been established for the protection and civilisation of their fellow tribesmen [the Bakairí]".