BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON. 101 



His family dislike the idea of our railway going through 

 their property, and, in fact, as I told you, tore up a foot- 

 bridge and some of our pegs ; but they are now quite 

 friendly to us, personally, as I have also mentioned. I 

 therefore sent down a man with my card to the widow, 

 " with much sympathy and condolence." The result was 

 a letter from one of the sons-in-law, which I translate : 



" Illmo. S r - Dr. Hastings Charles Dent. 



"MY FRIEND AND SIR (= MY DEAR SIR), 



" My father died at two o'clock this morning. If 

 you would do us the charitable favour of assisting at the 

 funeral to-morrow, at midday, at the Olhos d'Agua, we 

 should be grateful. 



" Your obliged friend, 



"ANTONIO TORQUATO DE FONSECA." 



The letter was written with violet ink and sealed with 

 a violet wafer. The writer saw my messenger, and said he 

 hoped I would be able to go to the house about 6 a.m. 

 As a compliment I felt bound to do this, for it is good to 

 humour the people, especially when they are unfavourable 

 to the work. 



This morning accordingly, attended by a camarade, 

 I went to the fazenda, arriving at 6.30, and was received 

 by some of the sons and sons-in-law. After exchanging 

 a few words, I was taken into an inner room to have coffee 

 and cakes. A few minutes later the widow came in, 

 attended by two daughters, and I had to condole with 

 them. They really all appeared very sorrowful, and the 

 old lady looked miserable, though hardly more so than 

 the last time I saw her, when she knew her husband was 

 dying. We had a little talk, and she told me that one of 



