48 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



CHAPTER IV. 



RIDE UP COUNTRY. 



Paraopeba. 



July 29, 1883. On arriving at Carandahy last night, I 

 went at once to the post-office, but heard no tidings of the 

 missing letters ; then, as the horses were waiting, I started 

 with my camarade, who met me at the hotel, for this 

 place a long, rather difficult, very lonely and somewhat 

 weird ride, especially when there is no moon, which was 

 the case last night. It is mostly through forest, which in 

 the deathlike stillness of a pitchy dark night has a very 

 gaunt appearance. We were over three hours riding the 

 eleven miles, and arrived here at nine, to find Mr. Bithell, 

 who came over with us in the Cotopaxi, and is now looking 

 about for work with us, having nothing particular to do, 

 and I hope he will be successful.* He came up from Rio 

 de Janeiro the day I went down, so passed me in the train, 

 and has been vegetating here ever since, daily expecting 

 my return. 



I am now going further up country, as it is necessary to 

 see the chief without delay, and Mr. Bithell is to accompany 

 me, which I am glad of, especially as he can speak the 



* He was with us from September until we left Brazil, and was then 

 engaged on the Trans- Andine Railway from Buenos Aires to the Pacific. 



