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to it, fixed at a distance on one side of the table, so that some of 

 the guests had to take their repast standing. The very beasts in the 

 out-houses were better provided for than the master, if we might 

 judge from the healthy condition of those we saw, whose slothful 

 apathy could be matched only with that of the swine they fed. 



We left Resequinha an hour after day-break, and entered on some 

 clayey ground which caused our mules to come down frequently, as 

 they were unshod. The day being Sunday we found some difficulty 

 in procuring fresh mules, as they were all engaged in taking their 

 masters to mass. After proceeding about a league and a half we 

 arrived at the fazenda de Gama, consisting of a good mansion and 

 some out-buildings. The house, which is the residence of a major, 

 stands on an eminence in a fine open country, beautifully interspersed 

 with clumps of trees and small patches of wood, but wholly uncul- 

 tivated and destitute of inclosures. The land appeared much burnt 

 up, and ill supplied with water, but the valleys, we were told> 

 abounded in numerous streams and rivulets. Having stopped at the 

 door we were saluted by the voice of a fine motherly-looking lady 

 apparently about forty, who invited us to alight, which we readily 

 obeyed, having occasion to change our baggage mule. Two young 

 ladies, the daughters of the one whom we had first seen, came on 

 the gallery to welcome us. As the morning was cool, they were 

 covered with purple mantles of baize which left only a part of the 

 face exposed, but shewed us sufficient to prove that the females of 

 this province, here called mineras, are above mediocrity in personal 

 charms. This opinion was confirmed on entering the house, where 

 these ladies appeared to much greater advantage ; they were in the 

 bloom of health, rather tall in stature, and in their air and gestures 

 extremely graceful. We had just entered into conversation when 

 in came our soldier to announce that the baggage mule was loaded, 

 and that the day was so far spent as barely to allow time enough to 

 reach the next station before night. This honest fellow for the first 

 time on our journey was the bearer of unwelcome news. I asked 



