462 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 







second negro walking in front to see where it was possible to 

 pass without getting completely out of depth. These streams, 

 not quite deep enough to allow the horse to swim, and with 

 such a broken bottom that he is in constant danger of fall- 



^3 



ing, are sometimes more difficult of passage than a river. 

 We met with only one accident, however, which, as it did no 

 harm, was rather ludicrous than otherwise. The negroes had 

 left us, saying there was no more deep water in the road, and 

 when we came presently to a shallow stream we entered it 

 quite confidently. It was treacherous, however, for just on 

 its edge was a soft, adhesive bog-mud. Jn entering, the horses 

 stepped across this quagmire, but their hind legs were in- 

 stantly caught in it. Major Coutinho, who was riding at my 

 side, seized my bridle, and, spurring his own horse violent- 

 ly, both the animals extricated themselves at once by a 

 powerful effort. Our servant, who followed behind, was not 

 so fortunate ; he was mounted on a small mule, which 

 seemed likely to be swallowed up bodily for a moment, so 

 suddenly did it disappear in the mire ; the man fell off, and 

 it was some minutes before he and his animal regained the 

 road, a mass of mud and dripping with water. We reached 

 Ceara at five in the afternoon, having made a journey of five 

 leagues. Every one tells us that the state of the roads is 

 most unusual, such continuous rains not having been known 

 for many years. The sickness in the city continues un- 

 abated, and a young man who was attacked with yellow- 

 fever in the next house before we left has died in our 

 absence. Everywhere on our journey we have heard the 

 same complaints of prevalent epidemics, and the authorities 

 are beginning to close the schools in the town on account of 

 them. The steamer is due in a day or two, and we are mak- 

 ing our preparations for departure. We should not bid good 



