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CHAPTER III. 



PRELIMINARY EXPLORATIONS 



Estaqao Pdraopeba. 



July 13, 1883. — I returned last night from a three days' 

 expedition, exploring the country for locating the first 

 section of the railway, which is to go as far as Brumado.* 

 I went from here to Brumado {6\ leagues), thence to Suas- 

 suhy [2\ leagues), returning viA SSo Amaro (3 leagues) to 

 this place (3 leagues), making fi.fteen leagues in all, or about 

 sixty-three miles. 



Leaving Paraopeba on the loth inst. at 10 a.m., with 

 one native as my guide, I rode along towards Brumado, 

 taking observations all the way with aneroid and compass 

 to enable me to prepare a sketch map on my return, and 

 indicate the best route (approximately) for the railway. 

 We put up that night at a small hamlet called Serra dos 

 olhos d'Agua, about two-thirds of the way to Brumado. 

 As is usual in all the towns and villages here, there is a 

 large wooden cross on the roadside, with a cock at the top ; 

 at the foot a representation of the cloth of St. Veronica, 

 and a statuette of the Blessed Virgin Mary ; while nailed 

 to the cross are the instruments of the Passion — nails, 

 scourge, hammer, pincers, spear, miniature ladder, etc. 



* See map. 



