LIFE IN ENTRE RIOS, MINAS GERAES. 153 



to dine en famiUe at three, for which I was hardly pre- 

 pared after a substantial breakfast such a short time before. 

 I told him of the difficulty that had arisen, and recapitu- 

 lated the vindication of my route, with which he entirely 

 concurred, stating that he had no doubt the President had 

 been influenced by the opposition of the company I have 

 referred to. Senhor Joao Baptista is very much interested 

 personally in the direction the railway takes, as by follow- 

 ing my proposed course it will, on leaving this town, pass 

 for some three miles or more up a valley which is owned 

 by him, and is all in cultivation ; but, with a true spirit 

 of self-sacrifice, he is willing that his land should be taken, 

 if it be necessary for the public good. On leaving him 

 I went to the office, and reported my interviews to our 

 chief. 



Since Lent began there have been two or three com- 

 municants every Sunday at the ten o'clock Mass. It is the 

 first time I have seen people receive the Communion in 

 Brazil ; but the members of the Roman Church are less 

 careful in that matter than the devout members of our own 

 Church. Can it be owing to the preliminary compulsory 

 confession ? Before Ash Wednesday the priest announced 

 that during Lent meat was only to be eaten once a day, 

 but on Sundays two or three times, if required. 



March 20. Occasionally foreign wanderers pass through 

 the town. A month ago two murderous-looking cut- 

 throats put up for the night at the hotel, in an outer room. 

 They were taken in free by the landlady, as they stated 

 that they were sellers of " holy pictures " and were very 

 poor. Later in the evening, however, they were found 

 counting piles of bank-notes. They went away after re- 

 maining two days ; but as they, sitting at their door, 

 watched me outside mine, knowing I was alone in my 



