12 PICO GRANDE. — SHORT ROAD TO THE CURRAL. [chap. i. 



fatigue ; so in single file we wind round and round again by 

 tortuous paths, repaid each step by new appearing wonders. 

 Another hour of such ridiug brings us to the foot of 



PICO GRANDE. 



The baskets are assembled, and the provisions emptied out ; 

 gentlemen vie with each other in attentions to the wants of 

 their fair companions ; the best seat is recommended, the 

 umbrella carefully arranged to save the trouble of holding it, 

 and the plate filled with the choicest of the feast. To food 

 and rest, and pure invigorating air, what a zest is added, if 

 you have any soul for nature, by looking out on the one side 

 on the Pico Kuivo, on the embattled Torrinhas, on the 

 rugged Sidrao and Arriero, and on the other on the long un- 

 broken Paiil, with the Serra dAgoa clothed in forest verdure 

 ever green below it. 



The journey back is generally performed rapidly, the 

 horses know they are going home, and their riders do not 

 stop so much to look about them. If you get back at seven 

 o'clock, I will venture to say you will be quite ready for bed 

 at nine, to dream of the Curral and hair-breadth escapes, and 

 to wake at daylight to the consideration of what shall be your 

 next expedition. 



SHORT ROAD TO THE CURRAL. 



There is a shorter wav to the Curral than the one that has 

 just been described, approaching it from the other side. A 

 zigzag road leads clown to the bottom, where the scene is 

 varied by cottages, gardens, and plantations ; these enable 

 you to appreciate the loftier features of the scene by com- 

 parison. If you wish to make a long day of it, you may 



