LIFE IN ENTRE RIOS, MINAS GERAES. 141 



street, near the principal houses. When I was here before 

 it was the post-office. 



The terms are a hundred milreis a year. The house 

 has only one story, which contains one large apartment 

 some thirty feet square, to the right and left of which are 

 two small rooms — the one our bedroom, the other Roberts's 

 dressing-room — which all face the street. I have also a 

 dressing-room ; and there are besides two storerooms, a 

 large kitchen, a bakehouse, and an outhouse. The prin- 

 cipal rooms are about fifteen feet high, and are ceiled with 

 plaited bamboo ; but there is only an uneven mud floor 

 throughout, except in our little bedroom, which is boarded. 

 We have two windows to the street, which are glazed. Our 

 bedroom possesses three doors, but no window ; and the 

 other rooms have no casements, only the usual shutters. 



The bargaining for the house was just completed when 

 our oxjcart arrived ; and when we had stowed away all our 

 property, we came to the conclusion that a little furniture 

 might be advisable, as all that was then in the house were 

 two long forms in the large room ; so after a few inquiries 

 we secured a bedstead for me, and a little table, which 

 we use at meals, and also for our drawing-board during 

 office hours. 



My health has improved wonderfully, even in the short 

 time I have been here. I told you some weeks ago of two 

 sores on my right hand, which I thought were poisoned 

 scratches; they improved ; but shortly afterwards every 

 scratch or bite that I had on my hands, or legs, or face, 

 festered in the same manner. A brilliant scarlet line of 

 inflammation ran up each arm, and my right leg was so 

 swelled I could hardly walk. Otherwise I was quite well ; 

 but never having a sore before, I wonder much what occa- 

 sioned them, and suppose it was want of butcher's meat, 



