FAZENDA LIFE. 101 



drift, the poorer growth upon decomposed rock in place. 

 Upon remarking this, we were told that the farmers who 

 are familiar with the soil select that in which they find 

 loose rocks imbedded, because it is the most fertile. 

 They unconsciously seek the erratic drift. It may not 

 be amiss to point out some of the localities in which 

 these geological phenomena may be most readily studied, 

 since they lie along the public road, and are easy of access. 

 The drift is very evident in the swamp between Maua and 

 Raiz da Serra on the way to Petropolis. In ascending 

 the Serra at the half-way house there is an excellent 

 locality for observing drift and boulders ; and beyond one 

 may follow the drift up to the very top of the road. The 

 whole tract between Villa Theresa and Petropolis is full 

 of drift. Just outside of Petropolis, the Piabanha has 

 excavated its bed in drift, while the banks have been 

 ravined by the rains. At the station of Correio, in front 

 of the building, is also an admirable opportunity for ob- 

 serving all the erratic phenomena, for here the drift, with 

 large boulders interspersed throughout the mass, overlies 

 the rock in place. A few steps to the north of the station 

 Pedro do Rio there is another great accumulation of large 

 boulders in drift. These are but a few of the localities 

 where such facts may be observed. 



On the evening of the 22d we arrived at Juiz de Fora, 

 and started at sunrise the next morning for the fazenda 

 of Senhor Lage, some thirty miles beyond. We had a 

 gay party, consisting of the family of Senhor Lage and that 

 of his brother-in-law, Senhor Machado, with one or two 

 other friends and ourselves. The children were as merry 

 as possible, for a visit to the fazenda was a rarity, and looked 

 upon by them as a great festivity. To transport us all with 



