74 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



The next morning we were up early, but did not get 

 away till ten. I saw a pig running along the street with 

 a huge triangular piece of skin, some three inches long, 

 hanging down, torn off his back. I suppose he had been 

 caught by some of the fearfully strong thorns which abound. 

 Poor brute ! At 2 p.m., having crossed the divide and 

 examined the bare downs for the best point for the crossing 

 of the line, passing through a dense forest we reached a 

 fazenda, outside which we sat by the side of a stream for 

 lunch. We tried to go inside the fazenda, but the men 

 were all out and we got into the midst of some thousands 

 of bees which were swarming on the verandah, so we 

 thought it better to beat a retreat. I was tantalized by 



Q * 



seeing some huge Papilios (P. Thoas], Erycinidce, Pieridce, 

 Callidryas, and other lovely butterflies settling on the damp 

 earth beside the stream ; but, not having my net at hand, 

 had to be content with watching them. We then rode 

 along by a different route to the one I had travelled by 

 before, and, leaving the Pedra Branca far to the right, 

 arrived at Brumado at 5.45, sleeping, as usual, at the house 

 of Senhor Joao Baptista, who received us with his unfailing 

 genial and importunate kindness. 



The next day, August 13, we rode to Paraopeba, and 

 put up in our rooms at the hotel or inn near the station. 



Thus ended my fortnight's trip up country, which was 

 most enjoyable in every way, both from the pleasure of 

 seeing the country and from the universal kindness of 

 all those I came across, and it will be long ere I shall 

 forget it. 



