NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



637 



Paul's, and intimated that they lay in the direct line between the 

 two places. 



As we proceeded down a narrow dell, the Mountains on either hand 

 became more lofty and picturesque ; the tops of those on our right we 

 could not see ; those on the left, across the stream, rose with great majesty 

 to the height of eleven hundred feet, covered to the summit by a fine 

 sheet of variegated forest, relieved by many projections of naked rock. 

 In S'.ich a situation the people of Mantiqueira have their residence, but 

 seem to have thought it unnecessary to add to their advantages those of 

 industry and cleanliness. 



Some years ago, this place was much talked of as the scene of mur- 

 ders, "superstition raising her edifice on the basis of facts. The passage 

 through it had long been an object of terror, and vows were made to the 

 Patron Saints, for safe convoy, under whose guardian care the great body 

 of travellers passed without molestation, but many disappeared, and not a 

 trace of them remained. At length, a young Priest being desired to con- 

 vey a letter to the Mines, — the Post not being at that time established,— 

 dreamed, as he alleged, that it contained some villanous information ; 

 and attributing the dream to the Holy Virgin, whose votary he was, he 

 determined secretly to communicate the letter to a person in office. On 

 being carefully opened, it was found to contain the description of a 

 person, who was about to leave Rio with a large sum of money, of his 

 attendant and the animals which they rode. It mentioned, also, the day 

 he was to set out, and the places where he intended to rest. The letter, 

 being re-sealed, was conveyed to its address, and proper means were 

 taken to secure the writer, and preserve the victim. He was, however, 

 exposed to some danger. Approaching a trough, placed by the side of 

 the road, to water his horse, he was suddenly la^oed by an unseen hand, 

 his servant seized, and they and their mules dragged away towards the 

 woods. Sufficient help being at hand, they were soon rescued, and the 

 banditti taken. On their trial it came out, that the principal agents in 

 the business were three brothers, wealthy and respected, one of whom, 



residing in the city, was accustomed to collect and transmit such inform- 



3 Y 



