BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON. 107 



some poor, some bond, some free ; but all kneeling de- 

 voutly all, at least outwardly, reverent, attentive, and 

 intent upon that service, which, they trusted, was to be a 

 source of refreshment and assistance to their departed 

 friend or master. 



November 4. We went in for the day to Brumado to 

 see one of the partners of the firm,* who arrived with Roberts 

 on September 29. He also brought up with him my old 

 friend Bithell, who, you remember, went with me on my 

 ride up country. They have just returned from riding all 

 over the projected route and visiting the different members 

 of the staff. When they came to my camp and dropped 

 Roberts here, I was at work some three miles off; and 

 though I returned as quickly as I could, after the mes- 

 senger came to call me, I was unable to get back in time 

 to see them, as they wished to reach Brumado before 

 nightfall. 



November 7. I must not indulge too much in descrip- 

 tions of camp-life, or you will be bored ; but having 

 some time since referred to our cooking, I must now say 

 that, as a rule, our sole food is chickens, which are cooked 

 in two ways only " refogado," or stew, and " asado," or 

 roast. Having told you the way of preparing the refo- 

 gado, I will now mention the asado, which I happened 

 to see one day, when, it being very wet, I was plotting 

 some work in the tent. Our swarthy cook ran a long stick 

 through the trussed chicken to act as a spit, and then, 

 squatting on his heels, turned it round and round in the 

 ruddy flame. When the bird was getting dry, he twirled 

 round as on a pivot, dipped his hands into a calabash of 

 pork fat, and, taking out some of the pomade-like stuff, 

 plastered it with his fingers over the browning chicken ! 

 * Mr. Leathom Earle Ross. 



