ARRIVAL AT RIO, AND JOURNEY TO QUELUZ. 29 



being from October to March ; but no one stops work 

 longer than is absolutely necessary, even during the rains. 



We had the usual solid breakfast. There are only two 

 meals a day, as a rule, in Brazil — breakfast and dinner — 

 the first about eleven, and the latter about four ; there is no 

 difference between them, except that sweets are not served, 

 as a rule, after breakfast. Coffee comes at the end of each 

 meal, when the wine is removed. After breakfast we went 

 to the engineers' offices, examined plans and sections of the 

 lines and extensions now in course of construction, looked 

 over the best maps that are to be had, and had another 

 long talk. Our party then broke up, I having to return to 

 Carandahy, while my three companions started for Ouro 

 Preto to interview the President of the Province. Ouro 

 Preto is a nine-hours' ride from Queluz. 



I left Queluz for Paraopeba station at 12.15, alone with 

 the guide, and the three horses we were taking back, fresh 

 ones being engaged for the Ouro Preto journey. I found 

 my book, "Colloquial Portuguese," most useful, and 

 managed to say everything I wanted to my man ; though 

 he, presuming on my powers, poured out a great deal I 

 could not quite grasp. Most of the return journey we went 

 the same way as we came yesterday, but followed the mule 

 track for the last few miles, which portion we traversed 

 yesterday on the engine. We passed many ox-carts on the 

 road. From ten to sixteen oxen are yoked to each cart, 

 which only carries about a ton, and they travel two and a 

 half to three leagues a day (ten or twelve miles). The 

 wheels are solid, and the axles keep up the most awful 

 humming screech the whole time, which informs you half a 

 mile off that they are coming ; so you have time to get off 

 the road into the forest, or whatever may be at the road- 

 side. The warning is, therefore, useful, because sometimes 



