(• 129 ) 



good lady gave me a hearty repast of milk, and we entered into 

 some conversation respecting her dairy, in which I learned that she 

 knew no other mode of making butter than that of agitating the 

 cream in a jar or bottle ; and her notions of cheese-making were 

 equally defective. In looking about the grounds for an hour, while 

 our mules rested, I noticed an excellent fence, formed by planting 

 a strong thorny shrub, that seemed of very rapid and luxuriant 

 growth. The few cows that were grazing in the inclosures ap- 

 peared to be of a superior breed, but were not managed with either 

 method or foresight. The principal produce of the farm is Indian 

 corn, and a little cheese ; the latter is only made occasionally, when 

 there happens to be a sufficient supply of milk for the purpose. 



We were here shewn various samples of earthy matter, wrapped 

 very carefully in paper, and preserved with great secrecy, under the 

 names of platina, silver, &c. They proved to be merely small crys- 

 tals of brilliant iron ore, and pyrites. 



Proceeding a league over a fine country, we reached the Rio 

 Grande, a stream as large as the Derwent at Derby, which we 

 crossed in a canoe, our mules swimming after us as usual. We 

 passed several groupes of Aborigines, and occasionally saw many of 

 their huts and places of abode. The road now led along the bases 

 of some huge bold mountains of granite, from whose summits rushed 

 fine cascades of water. The low ground was interspersed with frag- 

 ments of the same rock, lying in heaps in every direction. In many 

 places the grass was so tall that it reached above the skirts of my 

 saddle, and, the weather being wet, rendered me very uncomfort- 

 able. After a laborious, and latterly a slow progress, we arrived by 

 sun-set at the house of Father Thomas de Nossa Senhora da Con^ 

 cep^ao, who kindly accommodated us for the night. 



The house was new, and neatly built, containing only four rooms, 

 with boarded floors ; a convenience very rarely to be met with in 

 these parts. It is absolutely encircled with fine streams, abounding 

 with water-falls, which render the roads to it at all times indifferent, 



s ' 



