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at times by turning to take a view of Rio de Janeiro, and the bay, 

 which from this lofty eminence appeared to great advantage. With 

 some difficulty we reached the summit, which, as I supposed, is 

 four thousand feet above the level of the sea ; the atmosphere was 

 at least ten degrees colder than on the plain. 



Our next halting place was a small village called Corgo Seco, 

 situated in a most rugged and uneven district, with not half an 

 acre of level ground in any part of its vicinity. Having taken some 

 refreshment here, we proceeded to Belmonte, a beautiful spot, 

 situated by the edge of a rapid stream, which washes the base of 

 an immense mountain of granite on the left. We journeyed along 

 this stream until we reached a station called Padre Correo, from the 

 name of its owner. It consists of a house and chapel, with a hand- 

 some area in front. The father maintains a large establishment of 

 negroes, many of whom are employed in beating out mules' shoes 

 from the cool Swedish iron, after they have been forged into form. 

 For these articles there is a considerable demand, as the unwrought 

 material pays no duty on this side the river Paraiba, while on the 

 other it is taxed full 100 percent., which is also the case with salt. 

 The great consumption of these necessary articles has probably in- 

 duced Government to lay these heavy duties upon them, but certainly 

 every principle of good policy furnishes an argument against the 

 measure. Padre Correo received us very hospitably, afforded us 

 an asylum for the night, and assisted us in regulating our baggage 

 by supplying a pair of cane panniers for one of the mules, which 

 proved very serviceable. Before sun-rise we were awakened by the 

 clatter of hammers in the forges ; the weather was dewy, and so 

 cold that my thermometer was down at 46*^. We passed some time 

 in viewing the garden, which was in tolerable order, and contained 

 some fine peach trees in blossom. Our host informed us, that he 

 had a good plantation a few miles distant, but his chief concern 

 was the selling of corn and shoes for the use of the mules. 



