270 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



journey, till they have become used to their bur- 

 dens, and to proceed in a regular train. Our 

 countryman, Mr. Von Eschwege, who had already 

 made many excursions in this country, was the only 

 one who did not regard it ; but we, being novices, 

 were filled with uneasiness and alarm. The latter 

 increased when we perceived that one of the mules, 

 whose load was also very valuable, did not make 

 its appearance. It had run back into the city, with 

 its cargo, where it would probably have soon found 

 another master, if the Arieiro had not been so for- 

 tunate as to discover it at last in the harbour, al- 

 ready in the hands of strangers, and to bring it back 

 to us. Fatigued by the troublesome search, and 

 riding backwards and forwards, we were obliged, 

 though scarcely a league from the city, to halt near 

 the royal country-seat of S. Cristovao, in order to 

 collect the scattered mules and drivers. After we 

 had passed the greatest part of the day here in 

 anxious expectation, we at length set out again 

 with our caravan in good order, crossed the side 

 roads leading to Canta-Gallo and Minas, and at sun- 

 set, reached Campinho, a fazenda, with a venda 

 attached to it, situated about three leagues from 

 Rio, where the necessary provisions for the passing 

 caravans are sold. Such shops are met with on 

 the greater part of the road from Rio de Janeiro to 

 S. Paulo, and to the principal places in Minas 

 Geraes, and as the plantations lie in the moist 

 tracts, or in the forests far from the road, these are 



