TRAILS 
again to 2,900 feet near Paneiras station. Then, through 
beautiful grazing country, gently undulating, we de¬ 
scended and mounted and went round sweeping curves, 
which formed in places regular loops not unlike a horse¬ 
shoe. Two pits producing a considerable quantity of 
lime existed some two kilometres from Paneiras. Weak 
attempts were noticeable here and there at growing coffee. 
We were now in an eminently wonderful pasture land, 
getting more and more beautiful as we neared Uberaba, 
where we found ourselves on almost flat country at an 
elevation of 2,900 feet, with hardly any trees at all and 
with a delicious climate. The town of Uberaba, with 
some 12,000 people, was situated at a slightly lower 
elevation — only 2,700 feet. 
Uberaba was perhaps the most important distributing 
centre in the western part of Minas Geraes, for many 
trails branched from that place to various distant points 
in the farther interior. The most important trail was the 
one to Sta. Rita do Paranahyba, thence to the capital of 
Goyaz Province via Marrinhos and Allemao; whence a 
second trail went to Fructal via Concei^ao das Alagaos. 
A third, to Sant’ Anna do Paranahyba, going on the 
whole almost due west, but with great deviations, went 
almost across South America as far as Pulacayo, in 
Bolivia, crossing first the State of Matto Grosso in its 
southern and narrower point via Coxim and Corumba, 
then all Bolivia, eventually joined the La Paz- 
Antofagasta Railway line at Uyum (Pulacayo is con¬ 
nected by rail to Uyum), and ended at the Pacific Ocean. 
Another trail led to Monte Alegre; yet another to 
Uberabinha — although the railway had already con¬ 
nected that town with Uberaba. This last trail continued, 
making great detours, to Bagagem, then to Patrocino, 
from which place it deviated due north to Paracatu. 
There three ramifications occurred: one to Sta. Lucia, 
Pyrinopolis, and Goyaz (capital) ; the second to Jamar- 
43 
