40 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



these men, as by most Brazilians. Meanwhile, they add 

 to the picturesqueness of the scene at night, when the 

 brilliant moon shines from the cloudless sky on the clearing 

 surrounded by the dark forest, upon the white and green 

 tents and on the ox-carts ; while her white light contrasts 

 with the ruddy flame of the camp fires, which are sur- 

 rounded by men sitting on their heels, some roasting and 

 pounding coffee, some cooking their suppers, some smoking, 

 but all talking. The sight is rather poetic ; but I fear the 

 men do not feel much romance when they retire under 

 their own ox-carts to sleep in the frosty air, with very little 

 to cover them. 



I have been rearranging my luggage, with a crowd 

 of men and boys standing round, who take up and examine 

 everything, criticizing, admiring, or asking questions about 

 the different articles. 



Cidade de Entre Rios, Antigo Brumado de Suassuhy. 

 July 17, 1883. — The bullock-carts with the instru- 

 ments and luggage of the three sections of the survey 

 beyond Brumado, left Paraopeba on the isth inst. for this 

 place. I have already told you how these vehicles crawl 

 along, but forgot to mention that when I asked the drivers 

 why they did not oil the wheels to prevent the heart-rend- 

 ing screech, they said that the oxen delighted in it, and 

 would not go without it ; in fact, powdered charcoal is rubbed 

 on the axles to increase the noise ! There's no accounting 

 for taste ! Our carts are heavily laden, and always keep 

 together. When they have to descend a stiff hill, some of 

 the oxen are unhitched and yoked to the back, so as to 

 pull against the cart, and prevent its running down quickly. 

 On the other hand, when ascending, two teams are yoked to 

 one cart to pull it up ; it is then left at the top, while the 



