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break that shewed the stratum (which appeared perpendicular) of 

 ferruginous matter, or probably it was a strong vein which traversed 

 the mountain. I was not a little surprised to find that the road, for 

 above half a mile, was covered with rich iron-ore. 

 tj'j.We passed a place called Alto de Virginia, where, as well as in 

 the vicinity^ to a considerable extent, there are gold-washings, which 

 bear the general name of Labras de Virginia. I examined the heaps 

 of debris, but found in them nothing but rounded quartz and ferru- 

 ginous matter. Journeying half a league further, we came to the 

 gold-washings of St. Antonio de Oro Branco, where hillocks of the 

 same materials abounded ; and we soon afterwards entered tlie poor 

 and almost deserted village of the same name, containing about five 

 hundred souls. We had an interview with the commandant, but 

 could obtain nothing in the way of refreshment; indeed the few people 

 we saw were so needy, that far from being able to supply our wants, 

 they seemed to crave all we had to satisfy their own, and eyed us 

 as if they expected we had brought them something. Glad to get 

 away from this wretched place, we continued our journey through a 

 succession of fine valleys, and arrived about four o'clock at the foot 

 of a tremendous mountain, overhung with clouds. The ascent was 

 so steep that, judging it in vain to attempt to ride, I dismounted; 

 our soldier, who was a lighter man than myself, exchanged mules 

 with me, and up we went in a zig-zag direction for half an hour, when 

 we found ourselves immersed in a thick cloud, which for some time 

 hindered us from seeing our way. We were at length able to pro- 

 ceed, and in many parts had to mount up ledges nearly two feet 

 perpendicular, which we performed without alighting, as our saddles 

 were secured from slipping off behind by a strong strap passing 

 round the mule's neck. It is considered very unsafe to dismount in 

 these ascents, for the animals go much less steady when led than 

 when ridden. At seven o'clock we reached the summit, where, 

 though night was setting in, we found it necessary to rest half an 

 hour, and then proceeded a league in the dark without our baggage 



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