484 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



account. My watch had been carelessly left at our last lodging place, 

 and this gentleman was modestly put upon sending a person back to the 

 house we had left, and after us to Villa Rica. 



Having crossed the bed of a considerable stream, flowing to the South, 

 the banks of which were much torn, we saw on our left, upon a high hill, 

 the village of Lagoa Dourada, together with an extensive, but transient, 

 view towards the North and East ; the country soon opening, as before, 

 towards the West. The aspect of this district is much like that of the 

 Dorsetshire Downs, though on a larger scale ; its wide extent aggra- 

 vating the dreariness of travelling over land, little of which presents any 

 marks of being appropriated ; and where, on every rising ground, we 

 saw the same bold horizon, at the distance of from fifty to a hun- 

 dred miles. 



As we ascended one of the short and steep hills, the slipperiness of 

 the road occasioned the guide's mule to fall, and its owner to exhibit a 

 most disgusting specimen of brutal ferocity. Nothing, I believe, saved 

 the poor creature from becoming an instant sacrifice to his rage, but the 

 timely recollection, that, if he took its life, he would be obliged to walk 

 and carry its saddle and bridle. 



Shortly afterwards we reached a house, standing in a rich, pleasant 

 country, and which, in comparison with the common bareness, might 

 be called woody. It had once been the abode of affluence ; but now, 

 together with the large farm attached to it, appeared in a most wretched 

 state of neglect. This farm was originally extensive, and had been 

 enlarged, I was told, by a process not unusual in Brazil. The owner of 

 an estate is suffered to leave his land and other taxes unpaid to the 

 Fazenda Real, until the estate is seized by the Government, at the 

 instigation of some wealthy neighbour, who paying the arrears possesses 

 himself of the land. In this transaction the forms of justice are strictly 

 observed, and the estate appears to be transferred to the highest bidder 

 at an auction ; but in reality favouritism supersedes what is lawful and 

 right, for no one is found hardy enough to bid against a man of wealth 

 and influence. It seems, indeed, to be adopted through the whole of 



