BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 211 



and are called the Travessia nova ; these lead, at various distan- 

 ces from the Rio San Francisco, up to the sources of tiie river 

 Calinde, and then, following the course of the latter, descend 

 to Oeiras. A third road, commencing at the little village of 

 Sotrado on the river, follows the devious windings of the 

 Rio Piauhy ; this is termed the Travessia Velha. We now 

 pursued the former track, and to our sorrow found a great 

 scarcity of water ; a common misfortune in this country 

 during the dry season, which lasts from August to Decem- 

 ber. The whole Sertao that here stretches itself between 

 the western tributaries of the Rio San Francisco and the 

 source of the Rio Pontal, is cursed with a hot and dry 

 climate, drying up annually the few brooks that intersect it. 

 The individual Fazendeiros^ who have settled themselves in 

 this country, supply their own wants by means of cisterns, 

 in the advantages of which the thirsty travellers generally 

 partake. Still, it is often the case, that half the oxen and 

 horses, driven across this tract from Piauhy, perish from 

 drought before reachina^ the Rio San Francisco. 



After leaving the Registo do Joazeiro, and its hospitable 

 inhabitants, we struck out of the high road towards Melan- 

 zias; because much rain had lately fallen there, and the ex- 

 tensive meadows around were clothed with delightful verdure. 

 We slept in the open air, slinging our mats to the trees in 

 the Catinga forest, and enjoyed sweet repose ; the flowery 

 bushes breathing a delicious perfume, and the budding spring 

 giving us a pleasing anticipation of the success which should 

 attend our journey through Piauhy to the desired Maranhao. 

 Wiio could have thought of the perils and disastrous events 

 which awaited us ? 



During the night, our mules strayed far and wide, and in 

 the morning we found that the straps for their feet had been 

 stolen. This was the first and last case of such robbery 

 which we met with ; for, though in Brazil such conduct is 

 not visited, as elsewhere, with the deprivation of the offend- 

 er's ears, yet the Brazilians, in general, respect the traveller, 

 and do not thus expose him to the danger of losing bis 



