116 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



which, besides, were full of holes, and had the 

 beasts of burden- driven after us till we reached a 

 spot rising above the water, where the boat waited 

 for us, and where the people and the baggage were 

 successively embarked. The mules were then all 

 fastened to a long rope, one behind another, and 

 driven into the river, where they swam after the 

 boat, the people in which endeavoured, by con- 

 tinual calling, to encourage them. All reached 

 the other bank in safety, and we soon after had 

 the satisfaction of seeing the baggage also landed 

 without receiving any damage. We had the more 

 reason to congratulate ourselves on escaping this 

 danger, for we learnt upon our arrival, that a ca- 

 ravan which had crossed the preceding day had 

 lost some animals. 



The village of Mandu, situated in a low coun- 

 try almost entirely covered with w^ood, was.founded 

 five and twenty years ago by a capitao, its position 

 being favourable for the trade from Taubate and 

 Quarantingueta to Minas. By this route, the 

 Paulistas import European goods, and take, in re- 

 turn, cheese, marmalade, tobacco, and some coarse 

 cottons. The Caldas da Rainha, a warm sulphur- 

 eous spring, which is two days' journey to the 

 west of this place, and has lately become very fa- 

 mous, likewise contributes to the number of per- 

 sons who visit this hamlet, which consists only of 

 a few poor clay huts. On the following day, we 

 experienced similar difficulties in crossing to the 



