CHAPTER XII. 



JOURNEY NORTHWARDS. 



A.D, 1817. 



REASONS FOE UNDEUTAKING THE JOUENEY. PEEPAEATION FOE IT. SOLDIERS 



AT POETO d'eSTEELLA. — -MILITAEY SYSTEM OF BRAZIL. PACKING OF MER- 

 CHANDIZE FOR THE INTEEIOR. MODE OF CONVEYING IT. PLAINS OF INHO- 



MEEI'm. -r— MANDIO'CA. SEERO DOS ORGANOS. HEADS OF THE PIABu'nA.— 



ITAMARETE'.— RANCHOS.^ — MODE OF FARMING. — MANNERS OF TRAVELLERS. — ■ 



CHARACTER OF MY COMPANIONS. ESTATES OF PADRES, LUIZ, AND COEEEIO. 



WATEE MILLS.-^BEATING OF HOESE SHOES. SCANTY SUPPLY OF LUXURIES. 



. — STEANGEES FEOM MATTO GEOSSO.^ SNAKES.— SOWING OF MILHO. LAEGE 



TEEES. PEGADO. FAEM AND FAEMEE THEEE. A GAMELLEIEO. CEBOLAS- 



HUNTING DOGS.-:— ITINERANT BLACKSMITHS. CLAYING OF SUGAES. EFFECT 



OF GAEU'PA. — r POWEE OF VEGETATION. PAEAHY'ba. OCCURRENCES AND 



REMARKS THERE. ANTs' NESTS.^ PARAHYBU'NA, RICHNESS OF THE RIVER.: — 



BARS OF GOLD. THEIE CEETIFICATES.— MODE OF SEAECHING FOR GOLD DUST. 



AS my engagement to reside in Brazil would close in 1818, the 

 previous year necessarily became a leisure one, and I wished to visit 

 some gentlemen, with whom I had long traded, in the Province of 

 Minas Geraes ; partly with a view of strengthening old acquaiiitancej 

 or laying a foundation for new connections ; partly to take my leave of 

 some whom I should probably see no more ; and also to become better 

 acquainted with a country, in whose fate and improvement I had been 

 interested for the last ten years. So soon as my purpose was known, 

 several friends in the city interested themselves, and made anxious 

 preparation for my comfort on the road ; and their good offices availed 

 me greatly. It was arranged that I should travel in the slowest of all 



