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the mountains, here are frequent rains, accompanied by thunder 

 and lightning. Numbers of fine springs burst forth from various 

 parts of the hills, and form rivulets with falls, which, as here is 

 plenty of fine timber, afford every means for working machinery. 

 The owner lives in opulence, and is so humane and liberal to his 

 people, that they seem to revere him as a father. We were much 

 pleased with the air of domestic comfort and contented industry, 

 which we observed among them on visiting their dwellings in the 

 evening. Some of the negro-children were at play ; others of more 

 advanced age were assisting the women to pick cotton ; and the men 

 were scraping and preparing mandioca. Their cheerfulness was not 

 at all interrupted by our approach, nor did they betray any uneasy 

 feeling of constraint in the presence of their superiors. In lieu of 

 candles, which are seldom to be met with but in the capital, they 

 burn oil, extracted from the bean of the palm, or from a small spe- 

 cies of ground-nut, here called meni. 



About noon, on the following day, horses being provided, and a 

 soldier appointed for our guide, we left the fazenda, accompanied 

 by its hospitable owner, Captain Ferrera, who conducted us half a 

 league on our way. The river, along which we passed in an easterly 

 direction, bursts through vast masses of rock with great force, and 

 in some parts forms considerable falls. The Captain, ere we parted, 

 led me to a water-course, in which were found pieces of granite 

 covered with manganese in a botryoidal form. After crossing the 

 river twice, we arrived at what is called the first register, or search- 

 ing-house, distant about two miles from the fazenda. This station 

 is guarded by a corporal and a private soldier, who are charged 

 with the receipt of various tolls, and are empowered to search pas- 

 sengers, in order to prevent the smuggling of gold-dust. After 

 shewing my passport, I took leave of Captain Ferrera, who made 

 me promise to pay him a longer visit on my return. 



We had been warned of the badness of the roads, and were by 

 no means agreeably deceived in them, for we were nearly four hours 



