LIFE IN ENTRE RIOS, MINAS GERAES. 153 



to dine en famille at three, for which I was hardly pre- 

 pared after a substantial breakfast such a short time before. 

 I told him of the difficulty that had arisen, and recapitu- 

 lated the vindication of my route, with which he entirely 

 concurred, stating that he had no doubt the President had 

 been influenced by the opposition of the company I have 

 referred to. Senhor JoSo Baptista is very much interested 

 personally in the direction the railway takes, as by follow- 

 ing my proposed course it will, on leaving this town, pass 

 for some three miles or more up a valley which is owned 

 by him, and is all in cultivation ; but, with a true spirit 

 of self-sacrifice, he is willing that his land should be taken, 

 if it be necessary for the public good. On leaving him 

 I went to the office, and reported my interviews to our 

 chief. 



Since Lent began there have been two or three com- 

 municants every Sunday at the ten o'clock Mass. It is the 

 first time I have seen people receive the Communion in 

 Brazil ; but the members of the Roman Church are less 

 careful in that matter than the devout members of our own 

 Church. Can it be owing to the preliminary compulsory 

 confession .' Before Ash Wednesday the priest announced 

 that during Lent meat was only to be eaten once a day, 

 but on Sundays two or three times, if required. 



March 20. — Occasionally foreign wanderers pass through 

 the town. A month ago two murderous-looking cut- 

 throats put up for the night at the hotel, in an outer room. 

 They were taken in free by the landlady, as they stated 

 that they were sellers of "holy pictures" and were very 

 poor. Later in the evening, however, they were found 

 counting piles of bank-notes. They went away after re- 

 maining two days ; but as they, sitting at their door, 

 watched me outside mine, knowing I was alone in my 



